Highland Park Way SW Connection Project

Updated April 15, 2024

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Exploring options to better connect Highland Park and the Duwamish River Trail

We are designing an improved path for people to walk, roll, and bike along Highland Park Way SW from SW Holden Street to West Marginal Way SW and the Duwamish River Trail. We are exploring three different ways to improve the existing path, and we need your input to select the best one.  

Option 1: Add a downhill protected bike lane and repair the existing path   

Street level diagram showing Highland Park Way Southwest. From left to right, there is a route 131 bus stop, then two southbound driving lanes, one northbound driving lane, and a new concrete barrier with an opening for buses to pull in, as well as a new downhill bike lane. To the right of the bike lane is a route 131 bus stop and the existing landscape buffer and path with additional lighting and repairs.

Option 2: Build a new multiuse path  

Street level diagram showing Highland Park Way Southwest. From left to right, there is a route 131 bus stop, two southbound driving lanes, one northbound driving lane, and a new curb line. To the right of the curb line, there is a landscape buffer and a route 131 bus stop, and then a lighted multiuse path for people walking, rolling, or biking.

Option 3: Building a combination of Options 1 and 2

For Option 3, we would build the protected bike lane first – as it takes less time and less money to build – and then develop the new multiuse path later when additional funding is available.  

Please learn more about these options in the sections below, sign up for our email updates, and stay tuned for our survey and other ways to share your thoughts! In the meantime, if you have any initial feedback or questions, please email us at: HighlandHolden@seattle.gov or leave us a voicemail at: (206) 900-8741. 

Project Overview

The Highland Park Way SW Connection project is intended to provide an improved path for people to walk, roll, and bike between the Highland Park and Riverview neighborhoods and the Duwamish River Trail. This project was identified as a priority in the Seattle Transportation Plan and through conversations with community groups such as the Highland Park Action Coalition and West Seattle Bike Connections.

Current Conditions 

There is an existing path on the east side of Highland Park Way SW. It runs from SW Holden St to West Marginal Way SW with a landscape buffer between the path and the street. The path varies in width from 3.5 to 7 feet and the landscape buffer varies in width from 2.5 to 9.5 feet. The path needs repairs and is quite close to the road in some places, making it less attractive for walking, rolling, and biking.   

Highland Park Way SW with two northbound driving lanes with cars driving along on a cloudy day. Two southbound driving lanes are also shown with a landscape buffer on the east side of the road and a paved path next to it.

Existing path along Highland Park Way SW. This section of the path is north of SW Holden St, where the path is about 6 feet wide, and the landscape buffer is about 2.5 feet wide.  

Illustration and Map of Current Conditions 

Street level diagram showing Highland Park Way Southwest. From left to right there is a route 131 bus stop, two southbound driving lanes, two northbound driving lanes, another route number 131 bus stop, and finally a landscape buffer with the existing pathway.

A map of Highland Park Way Southwest from Southwest Holden Street to West Marginal Way Southwest with an additional graphic below showing the zoomed in part of the project area at the intersection of Highland Park Way Southwest and West Marginal Way Southwest. In the map and the graphic, the existing path with a landscape buffer is shown, along with the location of the Duwamish River Trail and the location of the West Duwamish Greenbelt trailhead. The existing landscape buffer and path extend along Highland Park Way Southwest from Southwest Holden Street to West Marginal Way Southwest.

Proposed Improvements

To provide a better connection for people who walk, roll, bike, and take the bus between Highland Park and the Duwamish River Trail, we are exploring the following three options. 

Option 1: Downhill Protected Bike Lane

For Option 1, we propose replacing the right northbound driving lane on Highland Park Way SW with a downhill protected bike lane. The bike lane would run parallel to the existing path and include a concrete barrier to divide the bike lane from traffic. At the intersection of Highland Park Way SW and West Marginal Way SW, we would add a diagonal bike crossing to connect people to the Duwamish River Trail (see the map below). We would also add lighting and make some repairs to the existing path to improve accessibility for people walking and rolling. 

Illustration and Map of Option 1: Downhill Protected Bike Lane 

Street level diagram showing Highland Park Way Southwest. From left to right, there is a route 131 bus stop, then two southbound driving lanes, one northbound driving lane, and a new concrete barrier with an opening for buses to pull in, as well as a new downhill bike lane. To the right of the bike lane is a route 131 bus stop and the existing landscape buffer and path with additional lighting and repairs.

A map of Highland Park Way Southwest that shows a new protected bike running from Southwest Holden Street to West Marginal Way Southwest with an additional graphic below showing the zoomed in part of the project area at the intersection of Highland Park Way Southwest and West Marginal Way Southwest. In the zoomed in graphic of the project area, the new downhill protected bike lane is highlighted as well as a new concrete barrier between the roadway and the bike path. There is an opening in the concrete barrier at the bus stop so buses can pull in and pick up passengers. The existing landscape buffer and path are also show. At the intersection, the bike lane rises to curb height so people biking can access a new diagonal crossing that leads to the Duwamish River Trail.

Key Points to Consider for Option 1 

Of the options we’re considering, Option 1:   

  • Will cost the least amount of money. 
  • Will take the least amount of time to design and build and could be finished within a few years. 

Also, for Option 1 …   

  • There will NOT be a two-way bike lane. People biking down the hill will use the protected bike lane. Those biking up the hill will share the existing path with people who are walking and rolling.  
  • Buses will need to pull into the protected bike lane to pick up and drop off passengers. Thus, there will not be a concrete barrier for the sections of the bike lane near bus stops.   

Option 2: Multiuse Path 

For Option 2, we propose replacing the existing path and the right northbound driving lane with a multiuse path. The multiuse path would include a wider landscape buffer and a wider path for people walking, rolling, and biking in both directions. This path will include bus stop landing pads in the landscape buffer, so people have a paved area to wait that is off the multiuse path. As in Option 1, we would add more lighting for people traveling along the path at night and add a diagonal bike crossing at the intersection of Highland Park Way SW and West Marginal Way SW to connect people to the Duwamish River Trail.  

Illustration and Map of Option 2: Multiuse Path  

Street level diagram showing Highland Park Way Southwest. From left to right, there is a route 131 bus stop, two southbound driving lanes, one northbound driving lane, and a new curb line. To the right of the curb line, there is a landscape buffer and a route 131 bus stop, and then a lighted multiuse path for people walking, rolling, or biking.

A map of Highland Park Way Southwest that shows a new multiuse path with a landscape buffer running from Southwest Holden Street to West Marginal Way Southwest with an additional graphic below showing the zoomed in part of the project area at the intersection of Highland Park Way Southwest and West Marginal Way Southwest. In the zoomed in graphic of the project area, the multiuse path with a landscape buffer is highlighted. At the intersection, the multiuse path ends and people can access existing crosswalks and a new diagonal bike crossing that leads to the Duwamish River Trail.

Key Points to Consider for Option 2 

Option 2 …  

  • Will cost more money than Option 1. 
  • Will take longer than Option 1 to design, build, and find funding for – possibly five or more years. 
  • Provides the most travel options for people (wider path for people walking, rolling, and biking both ways).   
  • Provides a wider landscape buffer between driving lanes and people biking, walking, and rolling.  
  • Provides bus stop landing pads so people can wait for the bus without standing on the multiuse path.   

Option 3: Combination of Options 1 and 2

Option 3 is a combination of Options 1 and 2. In this approach, we would build the protected bike lane first – as it takes less time and less money to build – and then develop the new multiuse path later when additional funding is available.

Key Points to Consider for Option 3 

Option 3 …  

  • Will cost the most money of the three options because of the phasing.  
  • Provides additional travel options sooner by building the protected bike lane and repairing the existing path within a few years and later providing more travel options when we build the multiuse path.  

Other Options We Considered

Options 1 – 3 were informed by what we know about the area and by conversations with local community groups. We also considered a path on the west side of Highland Park Way SW, but opted for the east side since there is already an existing path. Plus, the west side of the street is more prone to landslides, and because the hill is quite steep, we predict a one-way uphill bike lane would get much less use. We believe concentrating our efforts on the east side will benefit the most people.  

Community Engagement

In 2023, we met with community groups in the area, including the Highland Park Action Coalition and West Seattle Bike Connections. We also received input through the Seattle Transportation Plan, which identified this project as a priority. This spring, we will reach out to community members and gather additional input on the proposed options mentioned above. We are planning the following outreach activities:

  • Interviews with key community members
  • Mailer to community members near the project area
  • Door-to-door outreach to nearby businesses
  • Tabling and drop-in sessions at community events
  • Community meetings (virtual and in-person)
  • Online and paper surveys 

Please sign up for our email updates to hear about upcoming ways to learn more and share your thoughts! If you have any initial feedback or questions in the meantime, please email us at: HighlandHolden@seattle.gov or leave us a voicemail at: (206) 900-8741. 

Nearby Projects 

This project is adjacent to the Highland Parkway SW and SW Holden St Safety Improvements Project, where we have built new sidewalks, curb bulbs, and ADA accessible ramps, making this intersection safer and more accessible for people living, working, and traveling through the area.

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

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