Community Invited to Learn More about Plans to Extend Safety Changes
SEATTLE – The Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) announces plans to extend safety improvements on Rainier Ave S, after changes made in Columbia City and Hillman City in 2015 show the area to be safer for travel. Over the past year, there have been zero fatal or serious traffic injuries following a redesign from four to three lanes on a one mile stretch of Rainier Ave S. Now, SDOT is inviting people who live, work, shop, and play along Rainier Ave S to help design changes extending the project further south to S Henderson St.
SDOT paired the 2015 design changes with lower speed limits, a key strategy in Seattle’s Vision Zero goal of ending traffic deaths and serious injuries on city streets by 2030. In addition, the number of people speeding on Rainier Ave S has decreased by 10%, and bus reliability has improved by up to 3 minutes.
“Having zero fatal or serious collisions on Rainier Avenue South where we made improvements in 2015 is a big accomplishment for a major street that has historically been one of Seattle’s highest crash corridors,” said SDOT Director Scott Kubly, “and it makes sense to implement safety changes further south to continue to keep travelers safe.”
The second phase of improvements between S Kenny St to S Henderson St aims to reduce the average vehicle speed and incidents of speeding, reduce the number of serious injury or fatal collisions, enhance pedestrian facilities and crossings, improve intersections, and improve transit speed and reliability. The goal is to see similar results as phase one.
“The ultimate goal when we invested our transportation funds to improve Rainier Avenue South was safety—reduce both the travel speed and frequency of collisions,” said Council President Bruce Harrell. “I commute on Rainier Avenue S almost every day and I am pleased to see the data analysis showing the road is safer today for pedestrians, drivers, bicyclists, and businesses along this corridor. I look forward to working with the community on the next phase of safety improvements.”
“There’s less speeding, fewer backups when turning, less chaos when walking, and just less fear! Our neighborhood feels more connected,” Joya Iverson, Owner, Tin Umbrella Coffee Shop in Hillman City.
Historically on Rainier Ave S, speed has been a top contributing factor to crashes. Over the last 10 years, there have been nearly 3,600 total collisions along Rainier Ave S. On average, there is 1 crash per day that takes 45 minutes to clear.
Interested community members are invited to a public meeting to learn more.
- What: We ♥ Southeast Seattle: Investing in Rainier Ave S Community Forum
A forum to help SDOT identify solutions for reducing crashes, making it easier to walk and bike, and making buses more reliable along Rainier Ave S over the next few years. We’ll look at data, share experiences traveling on the street, and discuss ideas about what improvements can help meet these objectives. There will be children’s activities and light snacks.
- When: March 7, 2017|
5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
- Where: Emerald City Bible Fellowship, 7728 Rainier Ave S
- Can’t make it to the forum? Take an online survey at www.surveymonkey.com/r/RainierAveSafety by March 26.
- To learn more about the event, or for translated materials or information on investments being considered for Rainier Ave S, please see the Rainier Ave S Corridor Improvements Project page.
This project is part of Seattle’s Vision Zero Program and received funding from the Levy to Move Seattle, a 9-year $930 million levy approved by voters in 2015.