SDOT plans major changes to 45th St Improvements to make University District more bike- and pedestrian-friendly
■ The Seattle Department of Transportation hopes its plans for revamping Northeast 45th Street untangles traffic through the major corridor. photo/Bradley Enghaus
Peak-hour commutes along 45th Street - the main drag through Wallingford and the University District - have proved troublesome for years. In response, seven intersections will receive major upgrades, according to the Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT).
SDOT has been contemplating the changes since 2007, according to Bill Bryant, Transit Team supervisor of Policy and Plan Implementation at SDOT.
"Exploring ways to improve transit on Northeast 45th Street from the University District to Ballard is nothing new and has been a goal of Seattle's since at least the neighborhood planning process of the mid-1990s," he said.
PROPOSED CHANGES
The following are brief looks at what is proposed:
U-District - Additions such as a business-access only (BAT) lane from University Way Northeast to Seventh Avenue Northeast along the north curb lane would be constructed by converting the center turn lane and prohibiting left turns off Northeast 45th Street between Eighth Avenue Northeast and University Way Northeast.
Left-turn lanes at Seventh and 15th avenues would be lengthened to accommodate travelers.
15th Avenue Northeast - Pedestrians and bicyclists will have priority at the intersections of Northeast 43rd, 45th and 47th streets. Higher travel speeds at 15th Avenue and Northeast 45th will allow more buses through a single green light.
Excessive delays have affected Metro bus service hours to the area, so improving transit speeds would create a domino effect, SDOT officials say; the vehicle queues and congestion have been preventing buses from easily accessing stops during rush-hour traffic.
Roosevelt area - A project to turn both Roosevelt Way Northeast and 11th Avenue Northeast into two-way streets is still in consideration by the Roosevelt Neighborhood Plan committee.
U Village area - The high volume of pedestrians and bicyclists at the Burke-Gilman Trail and 25th Avenue Northeast has SDOT concerned, as it has been called a "high collision zone." Two bicycle collisions occurred between 2004 and 2006.
A raised, colored crosswalk could protect those on foot and bike.
South of University Bridge - A bicycle signal and upgraded sidewalk access at Eastlake Avenue East is intended to improve the safety of bicyclists.
STILL IN PLANNING STAGE
Proposed transit improvements in the University District and other locations are still in the planning stages; they have not been formally approved yet.
According to Bryant, residents and businesses have agreed and voiced their concerns that Northeast 45th Street functions poorly and needs to be revamped.
Funding is provided by Bridging the Gap, the nine-year tax Seattle voters agreed to in 2006.
"It is a vital east-west corridor for all modes, including transit, pedestrians, bicycles and motorists," Bryant said in an e-mail. "It links major activity centers like Ballard and Wallingford with the University of Washington and Interstate 5, as well as with destinations such as University Village and Children's Hospital to the east.
"Forecasts of future traffic conditions based on assumptions of new growth tell us that traffic on 45th Street could continue to get worse if no improvements are made," he added.
MORE TRAFFIC AHEAD?
Future traffic conditions were assessed using the Seattle Model's Year 2030 forecast. According to the city analysis, if Seattle's population continues to rise, accommodations need to be made for those on the road.
"For businesses, one thing to keep in mind is the impact of doing nothing," Bryant said. "Forecasts show rising congestion levels that may get so bad as to keep larger numbers of people away from the business district. Many customers access these businesses locally and by foot."
Community input and research on these intersections will continue into next spring.
Bryant added that if the project proves to be beneficial, "there is potential for the project to be implemented as early as the second half of 2009."
