By Ryan Packer

At 24th Ave E and E Lynn Street, next to Montlake Bicycle Shop, an empty bucket is all that’s left of the crossing flags neighbors had added to the intersection to provide people trying to cross at a legal intersection where few drivers cede their right-of-way. People walking north along the west side of the street nonetheless need to cross here as the construction of the forthcoming Sea Wolf Bakery has blocked the entirety of the sidewalk for much of the past year, with a trip around the block entailing dealing with a large hill.

A new traffic signal and marked crosswalks may not open in time to help with the Sea Wolf pedestrian detour, but they are coming.

A set of improvements along the 23rd Ave/24th Ave corridor, geared around improving pedestrian access and experience for transit riders, is set to start construction as soon as early autumn.

This follows a reconfiguration of travel lanes that added a center turn lane south of Boyer Ave. A bus lane was contemplated for the Route 48 and infrequent Route 43 but ultimately cut from the project.

The second phase of improvements almost didn’t happen: COVID-19’s impact on the budget of the Seattle Department of Transportation caused the project to be put on hold more than a year ago. But Tim Eyman’s loss was a Montlake bus rider’s gain as the Washington State Supreme Court’s overturning of Initiative 976 last fall released some city funds that had been held in case the ballot measure was upheld.

The 23rd Ave corridor was prioritized among other projects due to its impact on transit: in addition to the new crosswalk at Lynn Street, signals are set to be upgraded at E John and 23rd Ave E, an intersection used by workhorse buses like the Route 8. Turning vehicles will get their own phase, making crossing on foot or by rolling much easier without having to worry about turning drivers looking for a gap in traffic. It’s not clear if the upgrades at the street will do anything to cut down on drivers running red light, for which the intersection has become unfortunately infamous.

In addition to those two improved intersections, painted curb extensions are planned at some of the spots along the corridor where the curving road creates odd spots for people walking and rolling. Along Turner Way E where the arterial transitions between 23rd and 24th Ave, the new painted curb bulbs should reduce the amount of space where vehicles and pedestrians interact.

The same goes at 24th Ave E and E Louisa St as it transitions to Montlake Place. SDOT says they also plan to make bus zone improvements at twelve different bus stops as part of the project.

Work on the 23rd Ave won’t coincide with the planned closure of the Montlake Bridge to vehicle traffic from August 9 to September 3, though it may line up with five weekends of closures happening later this year. People walking, biking, and rolling will still be able to use the bridge during the August closure, but won’t be able to during the later closures.

Ultimately, the changes along the corridor are intended to nudge Seattle toward its goal of ending serious injuries and fatalities in traffic by 2030, a goal on which the city has stagnated since it was set in 2015. But these spot improvements along this busy corridor should make it a little easier and safer to walk, roll, or use transit along a busy arterial street along Capitol Hill’s backside.

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