Broadway and John Street Signal
Updated: May 17, 2023
What's happening now?
We are excited to share that construction for the Broadway and John Signal Project will start as soon as mid-June and is anticipated to last approximately two months! Check out the project diagram below to take a quick look at the final design. You can read more about the project elements and benefits in the Project Overview section.
Project area map includes final design with new lane configuration once the signal upgrade is complete.
Construction update
We will be installing two new signals poles on the northwest and southeast corners. Upgrading the signal will require underground work, which takes a little more time to complete. Since this area is bustling for all travel modes, we staged the construction over a couple of months to keep things flowing smoothly in the project area.
The crews will start the underground signal work on the northwest corner and then move over to the southeast corner. Crews may need to do minor work at the other two corners. Most of the work will take place on weekdays, but crews may work some weekends for efficiency.
After all the signal work is completed, we'll be coming in to stripe the new lane configurations. We anticipate the striping work will happen in late August, but have reserved dates in September as back-up.
What to expect during construction:
- Sidewalks will remain open throughout the project, although we'll have signs to guide you around some construction zones. We're here to keep you moving!
- We'll need to temporarily close some parking and curb lanes as you approach the intersection. The safety of our crew members is important!
- Temporary weekend lane closures for final striping (anticipated later in the summer). Stay tuned for more information!
We are also coordinating these improvements with other safety improvements in Capitol Hill, including a new crossing and painted curb bulbs at the intersection of E Olive Way and Harvard Ave E. You can refer to the map below to see the nearby project.
West Capitol Hill Safety Improvement Projects: Phase 1 E Olive Way and Harvard Ave E Improvements and Broadway and John Street Signal.
Stay tuned for updates, and thank you for your patience and support!
Project Overview
The project, located on Capitol Hill at the intersection of Broadway and E Olive Way/E John St, aims to address a crash pattern with left turning drivers. We'll rebuild the traffic signals to have "protected left turns" where left turning drivers have the red while people walking and biking as well as oncoming traffic have the green. This will reduce collisions and better organize the intersection.
Project area map
Project area map includes final design with the new lane configuration on E Olive Way and E John St once the signal upgrade is complete.
Elements
- Rebuild the traffic signals at the intersection of E Broadway and E Olive Way/E John St
- New left turn pockets and separated signal phase for eastbound on E Olive Way
- New transit-only left turn lane for westbound E John St -- westbound left turns will be not be allowed for all other vehicles
- Remove some in-street bike parking to accommodate transit turning movements
Benefits
- Defined approach lanes – helps drivers get into the proper lane approaching the intersection and reduces left turning vehicles from blocking the flow of traffic
- Separate left turn phases – reduces opportunities for turning drivers to conflict with oncoming traffic and/or pedestrians in the crosswalk
- Improves sight lines – makes it easier for drivers, people walking, and people biking to see each other at the intersection
- More walk time – the new design will give more signal time to the south leg crosswalk, giving pedestrians more time to cross the intersection
- Upgrades old traffic signals to new standards
Current conditions at Broadway and John
Schedule
The NSF program runs on 3-year cycles to select, design, and build projects. The application phase for the 2019-2021 cycle opened October 2018 and projects will be constructed in 2021/2022.
| Phase | Timeline |
|---|---|
| Applications | 2018 |
| Community Prioritization and Voting | 2019 |
| Design | 2020 |
| Construction | 2023 |
Project Background
In 2019, the Broadway and John St Signal project was one of 15 projects selected by the Levy to Move Seattle Oversight Committee to be funded through SDOT’s Neighborhood Street Fund Program. Neighborhood Street Fund is a city program, running on 3-year cycles, that enables neighbors to propose and help prioritize transportation-related projects that are then built by the Seattle Department of Transportation.
Materials
Broadway and John Street Signal Project – Final Design Diagram
Questions?
If you have questions or need translated materials, please contact us at NSF@seattle.gov or 206-771-0481. Thank you.
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