The Seattle Dept. of Transportation (SDOT) is seeking input on proposed changes to Aurora Avenue North (a.k.a. Highway 99). While the chance to attend in-person meetings has passed (sorry!), you can still register your opinion via this online form. The comment period is only open through April 5, so you better hurry.
The proposed work area runs from just south of the Aurora Bridge north to 145th St. For the purposes of this project, SDOT has divided that stretch into 5 segments:
- Segment 1: Harrison St to N 38th Street
- Segment 2: N 38th St. to Winona Ave N
- Segment 3: Winona Ave N to N 85th St.
- Segment 4: N 85th St to N 115th St
- Segment 5: N 115th St to N 145th St
SDOT is proposing slightly different redesign concepts for each segment. These are not set in stone (hence, the request for public comment), and what would happen in the transition from one segment to the next has not been worked out. Perhaps most importantly, funding for these changes has not been identified. So don’t expect anything to happen soon.
Segment 2, which runs from 38th, at the north end of the bridge, to Winona, at the north end of Green Lake near Beth’s Cafe, is nearest to our neighborhood. For this segment, SDOT is proposing three different ideas: a Walkable Boulevard option, a Bike Connection plan and a Center-Running Bus Lane plan. For your convenience, I’ve included the SDOT schematics for each of these, as well as their schematic and photo of the existing alignment, at the bottom of this article.
None of these proposed realignments appears to steal away any of the existing travel lanes from this busy thoroughfare. [Important note: While this is true of this segment, Segment 2, it is not true of many of the proposals for other segments where the roadway is more narrow. Check out the article comments below for more information.] Currently, there are two general purpose lanes and a bus-only lane in each direction, and that count would remain the same. With the Center-Running Bus Lane option, the bus lanes would, obviously, move to the center of the highway. I can’t think of any other street in the city where this has been done although it’s reminiscent of streets like Dexter and Roosevelt where the bus stops have been moved to islands nearer to the center of the road while parked cars and bikes move behind the bus stops. I sometimes run errands on my bike to some of the businesses on Aurora (never in the roadway, always on the sidewalk!), so the Bike Connection option seems attractive. However, I’ll note that the Interurban Trail (which runs north from the ship canal along the side of Phinney Ave. while navigating around the zoo before turning onto Fremont Ave N) runs just a few blocks west of Aurora, and is more quiet and far less congested. So I think I might continue to avoid Aurora for any “fun rides” to Shoreline.
Regardless of the eventual plan SDOT chooses, it seems that a redesign is in order. Every year, several pedestrians are hit while crossing. It’s pretty commonplace to see people trying to dash across mid-block, but I can’t really blame them as the safe crossing places with traffic lights are kind of far apart. As a motorist, I wouldn’t relish the thought of stopping at even more traffic lights on 99, but maybe adding some crossing beacons – such as we now have on 40th Street – would be the ticket.
Much more complete information on ideas for Segment 2 and all the other segments is on SDOTs website.