12th Ave S Safety Project - Phase 2

Updated: August 2026

Project Background 

We’re improving safety and mobility along 12th Ave S between E Yesler Way and S King St. As Seattle continues to grow, we’re working to ensure this corridor is safe and accessible for everyone, whether they walk, bike, take transit, or drive. These improvements are designed to reduce crashes and support our Vision Zero goal of eliminating traffic deaths and serious injuries in Seattle.

Project Area

Project Goals

• Improve safety by reducing conflicts to decrease likelihood and severity of crashes
• Build protected bicycle connections linking south Seattle and Beacon Hill with Little Saigon and central Seattle neighborhoods
• Improve sightlines at intersections
• Accommodate commercial loading operations on side streets
• Enhance access to Metro Routes 36 and 60
• Advance equitable access to transportation options and local and regional destinations

Why This Project is Important

The 12th Ave corridor was identified as a priority in the 2024 Seattle Transportation Plan and is part of Seattle’s High Injury Network.

Between 2021 and 2025, there were 65 crashes on 12th Ave S between E Yesler Way and S King St. These included:

• 11 crashes involving people walking, including one fatal crash
• 11 crashes involving people biking or using scooters
• 43 crashes involving people in vehicles

In 2026, a person was killed at E Yesler Way and 12th Ave S while riding a bike.

Between 2021 and 2025, three types of crashes made up nearly half of all collisions along the corridor:

• Angle crashes (15%)
• Crashes involving people walking (17%)
• Crashes involving people biking or using scooters (17%)

Crashes involving people walking were mostly clustered between S Jackson St and S Lane St. This same area has seen the majority of serious injuries to people walking, with nine serious-injury cases recorded.

Project Design Concept

Project Features

• New road layout to simplify vehicle movements and reduce conflicts with people walking and biking
• Directional protected bike lanes between E Yesler Way to S King St
• Shared raised protected bike lanes and bus stops where buses remain in travel lane
• Protected southbound right turn at 12th Ave S and S Jackson St
• Dedicated turn lanes for vehicles at all intersections
• Additional commercial load zones (locations to be determined)

12th Ave S is a priority for the Vision Zero program, which aims to end traffic deaths and serious injuries, and create a culture of care and dignity for everyone who uses Seattle’s streets.  

Schedule

• Planning: 2025 to early 2026
• Design: Mid-to-late 2026
• Construction: By Summer 2027 

Translation and Interpretation

We are improving 12th Avenue S to make it safer for people walking, biking, and using other mobility devices. If you need this information translated, please call (206) 900-8729.

Estamos mejorando la 12 Avenue S para que sea más segura para las personas que la recorren caminando, en bicicleta u otros dispositivos de movilidad. Si necesita traducir esta información, llame al (206) 900-8729.

我们正在改善 12th Avenue S 的路况，让人们步行、骑自行车和使用其它出行设备时更加安全。如果您需要翻译此信息，请致电 (206) 900-8729. | 我們正在改善 12th Avenue 的路況，讓人們步行、騎自行車和使用其它出行設備時更加安全。如果您需要翻譯此訊息，請致電 (206) 900-8729.

Aming pinagbubuti ang 12th Avenue S upang gawin itong mas ligtas para sa mga taong naglalakad, nagbibisikleta at gumagamit ng iba pang mga kagamitan para sa paggalaw. Kung kailangan ninyong maisalin ang impormasyon na ito, mangyaring tumawag sa (206) 900-8729.

Chúng tôi đang cải thiện đường 12th Avenue S để giúp mọi người an toàn hơn khi đi bộ, đi xe đạp, và sử dụng các thiết bị di chuyển khác. Nếu quý vị cần thông tin này được dịch sang ngôn ngữ của quý vị, vui lòng gọi (206) 900-8729.교통국에서는 걷거나 자전거를 타거나 기타 이동 장치를 사용하는 사람들이 더 안전하게 이용할 수 있도록 12th Avenue를 개선하고 있습니다. 이 정보의 번역본이 필요하신 경우, (206) 900-8729 로 문의해 주세요.