S Henderson Stairway
Updated: December 14, 2020
What's Happening Now?
Thank you to those who participated in our online survey and the design drop-in session on to learn more about the project and next steps.
If you missed the event, or would like to revisit the content, you can review the materials. We will be reporting back what we heard from the community in the coming weeks. Stay tuned!
Project Background
Beginning in 2018, we began studying the feasibility of building a new stairway on S Henderson St between 39th Ave S and 41st Ave S (approx. 440 ft). The new stairway would better connect residents to the Rainier Beach light rail station, local schools, and Rainier Beach Community Center while helping to advance the City's Pedestrian Master Plan goals.
This stairway is currently planned to include multiple landings to meet ADA requirements, lighting, and a runnel for people to walk their bikes up the stairway. The planned staircase, which has received several community requests, provides a direction connection to Rainier Beach Station from South Beacon Hill and reduces walking distance by approximately 0.5 miles.
Visualization of stairway upon completion
Project Benefits
- Gain another neighborhood connector to schools, Sound Transit light rail, transit and businesses
- Clearly designate the space for a specific use and reinforce the neighborhood identity through place making and wayfinding
- Increase engagement opportunities through neighborhood walks, physical challenges, student-led events
- Walking improvements help make neighborhoods safer and more connected
Project Area
The new stairway would be located on S Henderson St between 39th Ave S and 41st Ave S.
Top of stairway - 39th Ave S
Bottom of stairway - 41st Ave S
Examples of placemaking, wayfinding and programming around Seattle
Nearby Projects
- Rainier Ave S Landslide Mitigation Project (reached substantial completion October 2020)
- S Kenyon St Neighborhood Greenway (speed cushions built by SDOT crews in August 2020)
- Safe Routes to School - Rainier Valley (remaining work paused until early 2021)
- Rainier Corridor Improvements - Phase 2 (Phase 2 to be implemented in 2020-2021)
- RapidRide/Transit-Plus Multimodal (SDOT expects to implement our improvements in 2022; Metro expects to upgrade to RapidRide in 2024)
- Rainier Valley Neighborhood Greenway (sections in this area are complete)
Project Materials
Project Planning Notice, December 2018
Visualization of Stairway, June 2020
Online Drop-in Session Presentation, November 2020
Funding
This project has received funding through a grant from Sound Transit.
Schedule
2017 | Project added to Pedestrian Master Plan |
2018 | Began feasibility study |
Early 2019 | Began planning and design, sent letter to area neighbors notifying of project initiation |
Due to construction costs, SDOT seeks outside funding | |
Fall 2019 | SDOT awared Sound Transit System Access Fund grant |
Late 2019 | Conducted second round of outreach with letters to adjacent neighbors |
Summer 2020 | Conducted geotech soil sample collection at three locations |
Fall 2020 | Online outreach drop-in session and online survey |
2021 | Construction scheduled to begin |
Questions?
- Sign up for automatic project updates here
- Call or email Communications and Outreach Lead Lisa Harrison at (206) 684-0392 or Lisa.M.Harrison@Seattle.gov