3rd and Yesler Safety Improvements

Updated May 1, 2025

The 3rd Ave S and Yesler Way project is complete. The changes we made will make buses run more reliably and efficiently and the streets will be safer and more comfortable for people walking, biking, and rolling.

For the past few months, we transformed the intersection of 3rd Ave S and Yesler Way by:

Repairing the pavement
Installing electrical components underground for a pedestrian signal
Repainting the traffic lines on the roadway and bike lanes
Making small adjustments that improve usability, including
Curb bulbs
Loading zones
Realigned pedestrian ramps

Project Photos:

A Cyclists uses the new crossing lines to pass from one side of 3rd Ave S to the other.

A cyclist uses the new crossing lines to pass from one side of 3rd Ave S to the other.

The posts that once separated traffic on the shoulder of Yesler Way are now striped lines on the street

BEFORE

AFTER

The green panel on the bike lane that rosses the intersection is wider, with two directional arrows to help cyclists know their position. There are also intermittent green stripes across the street.

Project Overview

Image shows the conditions today at 3rd Ave and Yesler Way looking north

^{Image above shows the conditions in Summer 2024 at 3rd Ave and Yesler Way looking north}

3rd and Yesler and the nearby area is one of the busiest bus corridors in the state - collecting every bus that comes in and out of 3rd Ave downtown. It's also busy with people walking and biking to and from places to access social services, the Pioneer Square Link Light Rail station, the King County Courthouse, and major bus stops.

The intersection of 3rd and Yesler has experienced a high number of collisions for people walking and biking. In particular, drivers are prone to hitting pedestrians in the west and north crosswalks of 3rd and Yesler. To reduce the number of collisions, we are making safety improvements that we have tested over the past two years. Read more below about our safety improvement pilot and how it has become a fixture in the Pioneer Square area.

Phase 1: Pilot Period (July 2022)

We initially wanted to test the efficacy of traffic control and separating pedestrians and cyclists from car traffic. So we installed paint and posts to remove a northbound travel lane on 3rd Ave across Yesler Way. We also removed the right-turn slip lane from southbound 3rd Ave to Yesler Way. The paint and posts we used created temporary curb bulbs at street corners where pedestrians cross the street. Lastly, the project revised parking near the intersection and connected the Yesler Way’s protected bike lane to 4th Ave S along Dilling Way. In collaboration with King County Metro, we were able to monitor bus traffic and found that buses traveled efficiently with these changes. Based on the success of the pilot project, we are recommending permanent improvements.

A photo showing new striping and flex posts on 3rd Ave

^{We used paint and posts to remove a northbound travel lane and southbound right turn lane on 3rd Ave at the Yesler Way intersection.}

Phase 2: Interim Striping (August 2022)

With the goal of making these changes more permanent, we added more durable materials and striping to the roadway.

^{We’ll be replacing temporary paint and posts with concrete to create curb bulbs that will shorten and align pedestrian crossings.}

Phase 3: Permanent Improvements

We finalized the design of the permanent improvements in early 2024. Construction began in early September 2024! The permanent improvements will:

Improve safety and areas for people walking and rolling: Align and shorten pedestrian crossings, repair and widen sidewalks, install curb ramps and curb bulbs, and permanently remove the travel lanes that were removed in the pilot project.
Upgrade protected bike lane: Install bicycle signal heads, provide permanent bike lane protection along Yesler Way west of 3rd Ave, repave the bike lane on Dilling Way, and redesign the bike crossing across 3rd Ave to separate people on bikes from people walking.
Improve public spaces: Provide additional street trees, pedestrian lighting, and wayfinding signs.

With these changes, you can expect:

Safer, shorter crossings for people walking and rolling across the street
Improved conditions of sidewalks to make it easier for people to use them safely
Better ADA accessibility with the new installation of curb ramps
People on bikes separated from people walking and driving
New street trees and lighting making the street more welcoming, safe, and greener
Wayfaring signs help people figure out where they are and how to get where they’re going

Below is the final project design:

Background

Image shows a cutout of SDOT’s Public Life Action Plan

This project was originally identified as part of the One Center City Near-Term Action Plan which is a collaboration between King County, Sound Transit, and SDOT that identified key projects and programs that will help keep people and the economy moving even as major construction projects and growth-related congestion reduce street capacity.

The project was also selected because of high collisions around 3rd Ave and Yesler prior to the installation of the pilot project. It's also a safety priority identified within the Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety Analysis (BPSA).

For more information about other improvements we're making to 3rd Ave for people walking, biking, and taking the bus, visit our 3rd Ave Improvements webpage.

Schedule

Construction: September 2024

Construction Complete: April 2025

Funding

This current project budget is $2M and is funded by the One Center City program, Landscape Conservation and Local Infrastructure (LCLIP) program, Bicycle program, and Vision Zero program. The One Center City program is co-funded by King County, Sound Transit, and SDOT.

Materials

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Project Complete