Highland Park Way SW Connection Project

Updated February 28, 2025 

What's Happening Now?

What we heard from the community

In May and June, we heard from nearly 2,000 people through our survey and conversations at community events. Thank you for sharing  your thoughts about our initial concepts! All the feedback is summarized in our Outreach Report. You can also read the one-pager of the report (resumen del informe también disponible en español).  

Woman standing behind a table with project materials on it. She is smiling and talking to a person who is writing a comment about the project. They are standing under a tent decorated with rainbow flags. There are poster boards on easels illustrating the different project design options.

Team member Colleen Woods talking to community members at the White Center Pride Street Festival. Thank you to the Highland Park Action Coalition and the Highland Park Improvement Club members who shared their booth with us! Photo: SDOT

What we’ve changed based on community feedback 

Based on what we heard from community members, we have updated our concept to maintain all lanes on Highland Park Way SW at the W Marginal Way SW intersection.  
The updated concept will still include removing a downhill driving lane from SW Holden St to Pioneer Industries (about 600 feet from the intersection). This is intended to calm traffic, reduce speeds and collisions (especially at the curve), and enhance safety along this street which is part of the High Injury Network identified in our latest Vision Zero Action Plan (page 55). Our traffic analysis and observations of the intersection during AM peak periods show that there is capacity along that section of road to accommodate the lane reduction.   

What's next

Thanks to the recent approval of the 2024 Seattle Transportation Levy, this corridor has been identified for funding and will continue moving forward working with community throughout the design process. The project team will further develop a concept of an improved facility for people walking, rolling and biking. 
To stay informed about the project, please  sign up for email updates. You can also reach us at HighlandHolden@Seattle.gov or (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 Highland Park and the Duwamish River Trail, while improving safety and calming traffic along Highland Park Way SW. 

Our 2024 Seattle Transportation Plan (pages B-43 and B-45) recognizes the need for better walking, biking and rolling facilities along this corridor connecting a high equity priority neighborhood to the regional Duwamish River Trail network. This project is also important from a safety perspective as it is part of our High Injury Network identified in our latest Vision Zero Action Plan (page 55) and we have a history of motorists driving 40+ MPH relative to a posted speed limit of 25 MPH.

Project Goals

  • Improve safety for all road users.
  • Calm traffic along Highland Park Way SW to help prevent collisions.
  • Create better connections for people who walk, roll, bike, and take transit between Highland Park and the Duwamish River Trail, thereby making progress towards our Climate Action goals.

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 section of grass serving as 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 very close to the street in some places, making it less comfortable for people walking, rolling, and biking – particularly when people drive over the speed limit, which happens quite often in this area. Seattle Police collision reports and recent traffic data also indicate that people have driven off the street, crossed the centerline into oncoming traffic near and at the curve, sideswiped other vehicles, and even crashed into a person biking. 

A person walking on the existing path along Highland Park Way SW. To the left of the path are two with two northbound driving lanes and two southbound driving lanes. There are cars driving in both directions.

Highland Park community member walking on the existing path along Highland Park Way SW. This section of the path just 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 Concepts

To improve safety for all road users and create better connections for people who walk, roll, bike, and take the bus, we explored three options to enhance facilities for people walking, rolling and biking between Highland Park and the Duwamish River Trail. These three concepts were shared with community in May and June. All the feedback is summarized in our Outreach Report. You can also read the one-pager of the report (resumen del informe también disponible en español).  
 
All concepts removed the right northbound (downhill) driving lane, which would create space for an improved path, while also calming traffic. Narrowing streets reduces overall speeds, and our traffic analysis shows that a single northbound (downhill) driving lane is sufficient for the number of vehicles traveling in this area.     

Option 1: Downhill Protected Bike Lane

For Option 1, we proposed 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 includes 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 proposed adding lighting and making 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 

  • Would cost the least amount of money.  
  • Would take the least amount of time to design and build.
  • Did not include a two-way bike lane. People biking down the hill would use the protected bike lane. People biking up the hill would share the existing path with people who are walking and rolling.  
  • Did not have concrete barriers for the sections of bike lane near bus stops. Buses will need to pull into the protected bike lane to pick up and drop off passengers.   

Option 2: Multiuse Path 

For Option 2, we proposed 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 would 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 

  • Cost more money than Option 1.
  • Would take longer than Option 1 to design and build.
  • Provided the most travel options for people (e.g., two-way bike path, wider path for people walking and rolling).  
  • Provided a wider landscape buffer between driving lanes and people biking, walking, and rolling.  
  • Provided 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 

  • Cost the most money of the three options because of the phasing.  
  • Provided additional travel options sooner by building the protected bike lane and repairing the existing path first, and then providing more travel options later when we build the multiuse path.   

Other Options We Have Considered

Concepts 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. 

Some people have also asked why we did not consider widening the path into the green space instead of removing a driving lane. The reason for removing a northbound (downhill) travel lane is to help achieve the project goals of improving safety for all road users and calming traffic to help prevent collisions. However, the updated concept will look into widening the path at sections.   

All that said, we are still early in the design process, and we are open to exploring different options that are feasible and aligned with our goals. 

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 (pages B-43 and B-45), which recognizes the need for better walking, biking and rolling facilities along this corridor.

In the spring of 2024, we gathered input on some early project concepts through different outreach activities including a survey and attending community events.  

We heard from more than 2,000 people during the outreach period. The concepts that were shared and the feedback we received is summarized in our Outreach Report. We will continue to engage community members and collect feedback throughout the design process. Please sign up for our email updates to stay informed! 

Timeline

Once we secure funding, we will move into the early design phase for this project.   

Timeline illustration that shows the different phases oTimeline illustration that shows the different phases of a project: Planning, which includes master plans and project development. Design, which includes early design and final design. And construction, which includes pre-construction, during construction, and wrap-up. The diagram shows that we are in project development. f a project: Planning, which includes master plans and project development. Design, which includes early design and final design. And construction, which includes pre-construction, during construction, and wrap-up. The diagram shows that we are in early design.

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.

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Transportation

Adiam Emery, Interim 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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