SDOT Reveals Fixes For Seattle's 'Most Dangerous' Street

SEATTLE, WA - The Seattle Department of Transportation on Monday released specifics on safety upgrades coming to Rainier Avenue in 2019. SDOT says construction of long-awaited safety upgrades will begin "in the next few weeks"

Last week, new SDOT Director Sam Zimbabwe said he would make Rainier safety improvements a "top priority." His comments came two days after bicyclist Vladimir Rylski, 78, was hit and killed on Rainier near Sturtevant Avenue.

"As Seattle's highest crash corridor, Rainier Avenue is a top priority. We've seen significant safety gains where we've made changes, and we're committed to continuing to work to make Rainier safer," Zimbabwe said last week.

Plans for these upgrades began years ago. Bike lanes were considered for the Kenny-to-Henderson stretch of Rainier, but those plans were scrapped because traffic models showed the lanes would increase transit time. King County Metro is planning to upgrade Rainier's Route 7 to a RapidRide line by 2024.

Here are the safety upgrades coming to Rainier:

The Graham, Othello, and Henderson intersections will be reduced to one north and one southbound lane for traffic, plus north and southbound bus-only lanes. There will also be a center turn lane. The Othello re-striping will stretch from Frontenac to Fontenelle, about five blocks.

At Rainier and Graham, SDOT will build a raised crosswalk at the northwest corner and build new corner ramps. Traffic will no longer be allowed to access Rainier from 46th Avenue South.

At Holly and Rainier, the northwest corner will get a curb bulb, and the distance to cross Rainier will be shortened.

Crosswalks at Rainier and Rose and at Rainier and Othello will be widened. Traffic signal timing will be changed at Othello to give pedestrians more time to cross.

At Rainier and Cloverdale, SDOT will paint left and right turn lanes for north and southbound traffic turning onto Cloverdale. Signal timing will be changed to favor pedestrians.

Signal timing will change at Rainier and Henderson so pedestrians won't have to wait so long to cross. A new school zone beacon will be installed.

There will also be general upgrades along the two-mile stretch between Kenny and Henderson including: redrawn crosswalks and pavement markings; stop sign replacements; and new reflective lane markers.

Here's a map of the changes: