Rainier Valley Neighborhood Greenway

Updated: July 22, 2024

What's Happening Now?

Newly installed stop sign at S Della St and Cheasty Blvd SWe are excited to announce that construction is complete on the S Walden St & John Muir Elementary Neighborhood Greenway Connection to the Rainier Valley Neighborhood Greenway.

This connection on S Della St between Cheasty Blvd S and 27th Ave S continuing onto S Walden St until it reaches 34th Ave S and S Horton St includes stop signs at each residential street intersecting the greenway and new speed humps along the route. We will also install an additional painted curb bulb, pavement markings, and new wayfinding signage.

This extension connects John Muir Elementary to the broader bicycle network and other community destinations through the existing Neighborhood Greenway and Healthy Street running on nearby streets. We installed the Neighborhood Greenway in the spring and summer of 2024.

Newly installed speed humps by John Muir Elementary School

Photo of newly installed speed humps by John Muir Elementary School

Project Map

The S Walden St & John Muir Elementary Neighborhood Greenway provides safer, calmer neighborhood connections for people walking, biking, and rolling. This neighborhood greenway connects John Muir Elementary to the broader neighborhood greenway network and other community destinations. It is also one of several projects planned inside the John Muir Home Zone.

John Muir Elementary Neighborhood Greenway Project Map

Project Background

The Rainier Valley Neighborhood Greenway is a route over six miles long stretching from Mount Baker to Rainier Beach. The route includes small improvements like crosswalks, curb ramps, speed humps, stop signs, and pavement repairs that go a long way to make walking and biking around the neighborhood easier.

Since 2014, we've been gathering community input on the greenway route to select streets that aren't too steep and connect people to neighborhood destinations like light rail, parks, grocery stores, schools, and more. 

Map of the North Section Route of the Greenway:

Map showing an orange line that is the north end connection of this greenway

More about neighborhood greenways

Neighborhood greenways are safer, calmer residential streets for you, your family, and neighbors. We make people walking and biking the priority.

Neighborhood greenways can include:

  • 20 mph speed limit signs
  • Speed humps to calm traffic
  • Stop signs for side streets crossing the greenway signs and pavement markings to help people find their way
  • Easier crossings of busy streets with crosswalks,
  • Flashing beacons, or traffic signals

Once built, neighborhood greenways can:

  • Create safe pathways for students to walk to school
  • Strengthen communities around safer streets
  • Create neighborhood placemaking
  • Connect you and your neighbors to popular destinations such as schools, parks, business districts, and the city-wide bicycle network
  • Provide alternative options of getting around your neighborhood by walking or biking

Visit our neighborhood greenways home page or a language to learn more about neighborhood greenways.

Art along the route

In coordination with the Office of Arts & Culture, we commissioned 7 emerging public artists to create temporary art installations along the Rainier Valley Neighborhood Greenway as part of Art Interruptions 2018. Look for the art between Rainier Beach Playfield and Othello Park. View the specific art locations.

Example of art on the greenway
Example of public art along the neighborhood greenway

Schedule

  • Summer 2024: Construction completed on S Walden St & John Muir Elementary Neighborhood Greenway Connection
  • 2018/2019: Curb ramps installed along microsurfaced streets
  • Late summer 2017 to summer 2018: Neighborhood greenway construction - phase 1
  • Spring/Summer 2017: Filled potholes and patched streets to prepare for microsurfacing; and tree pruning along whole neighborhood greenway route
  • July 2023: Neighborhood Greenway construction begins, North Section

Materials

Construction materials

Design materials

Event materials

Transportation

Greg Spotts, Director
Address: 700 5th Ave, Suite 3800, Seattle, WA, 98104
Mailing Address: PO Box 34996, Seattle, WA, 98124-4996
Phone: (206) 684-7623
684-Road@seattle.gov

Newsletter Updates

Subscribe

Sign up for the latest updates from Transportation

The Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) is on a mission to deliver a transportation system that provides safe and affordable access to places and opportunities for everyone as we work to achieve our vision of Seattle as a thriving, equitable community powered by dependable transportation.