S Henderson Stairway
Updated: December 3, 2021
What's Happening Now?
Thank you to all who participated in our outreach during the design phase of the S Henderson Stairway project. We appreciate your input on placemaking for the stairway, as well as pedestrian access, lighting design and landscaping to enhance safety and maintenance. A link to the outreach summary report is located in the materials section below.
We will move into construction as soon as spring 2022 with work scheduled to be completed and the new stairway opened to the community in fall 2022.
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
- Safe Routes to School - Rainier Valley (Kenyon Way S sidewalk and intersection of Rainier and Rose signal and crosswalk improvements; construction to be completed in 2022)
- Safe Routes to School - Dunlap Elementary (S Rose St -- construction to begin as soon as February 2022)
- Route 7 Transit-Plus Multimodal (Construction to begin in spring 2022)
- Stay Healthy Streets (Rainier Valley North and South: Design/Outreach phase with implementation scheduled to begin in 2022)
Project Materials
Project Planning Notice, December 2018
Visualization of Stairway, June 2020
Online Drop-in Session Presentation, November 2020
Outreach Summary Report (from November 2020 Online Drop-in Session and Survey)
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 |
| Fall 2021 | Final Design Milestone |
| Spring 2022 | 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