NE 65th St Vision Zero Project

Last updated: September 18, 2020

This project is complete.

Project Overview

NE 65th St is an arterial that moves people and goods throughout northeast Seattle. The street supports a diverse collection of retail shopping, restaurants, schools, parks, and activity centers. The Roosevelt Link Light Rail station will bring additional activity to the street in 2021.

Since 2012, there have been 3 fatalities, 1 serious injury, and 231 collisions along this busy corridor between NE Ravenna Blvd and 39th Ave NE. Seattle is committed to Vision Zero, our plan to end traffic deaths and serious injuries by 2030. In June 2016, Councilmember Rob Johnson and members of the community marched along NE 65th St and asked the city to study the corridor. Community concerns are explained further at #Fix65th. After working together with the community, we identified and designed various features to enhance safety. Some of these features include traffic calming, signal modifications, pavement repair, and pedestrian and bicycle upgrades. Safety is our number one priority, and we are committed to preventing crashes and improving safety for all travelers.

The project implemented permanent changes to enhance safety on NE 65th St, between NE Ravenna Blvd and 39th Ave NE. See the highlights below or check the map for more information.

Ravenna Blvd to 20th Ave NE

One vehicle travel lane in each direction
Center turn lanes
Protected bike lanes on both sides of NE 65th St between Ravenna Blvd and 20th Ave NE
No on-street parking
New transit islands at
- Oswego Pl NE and 14th Ave NE (westbound)
- 8th Ave NE and 16th Ave NE (eastbound)
Phased implementation for the block between Roosevelt Way NE and 12th Ave NE, adjacent to the future light rail station, in coordination with Sound Transit. The interim design includes buses merging with the bike lane at the two stops on this block.

20th Ave NE to 39th Ave NE

All-day on-street parking
Lane restriping to clarify one lane in each direction
No bike lanes

NE 65th St Vision Zero Project Map

View enlarged map

We also heard from the community about the new transit island design and plan to work on an education campaign during and after implementation so everyone - people driving, walking, biking, or taking the bus - understands how the space was designed and knows how to use it. The rendering below details a transit stop, its features and illustrates their functions.

Evaluation

In 2019, we redesigned 1.5 miles of NE 65th St between NE Ravenna Blvd and 39th Ave NE. This project successfully improved safety along NE 65th St in Roosevelt and Ravenna.

Read the full evaluation report here

Highlights from the 2020 Evaluation Report:

There were fewer collisions and injuries, and no fatal or severe injury collisions, in 2019.
People drove slower.
There were more people walking and riding bikes overall.
Travel times were slightly longer.
The new, first-of-its-kind shared transit stop operated as intended, helping to streamline the experience of people walking, rolling, biking, and waiting for the bus around bus stops.

Outreach & Schedule

In 2013, we conducted outreach to help update Seattle's Bicycle Master Plan. At that time we committed to working with the community to identifying transportation solutions for NE 65th St prior to implementing changes. We launched this effort in February 2017.

Fall 2018 - Spring 2019

Construction

January 2018

Designs completed

Completed designs shared with the community

December 2017

Public drop-in sessions held to share updated design

November 2017

Preferred corridor-wide plans identified

Continued outreach to corridor stakeholders

May 2017

Second community forum held to review possible concepts and feedback on what to include in the final concept

March 2017

Short-term safety improvements implemented

February 2017

NE 65th St Vision Zero project, and community outreach and engagement launched

2013

Conducted outreach to help update Seattle's Bicycle Master Plan

Committed to identifying transportation solutions for NE 65th St with the community prior to implementing changes

Funding

This project is funded by the 9-year Levy to Move Seattle, approved by voters in 2015.

Materials

April Listserv - Responding to Common Questions (April 2019)
Pre-Construction Mailer (July 2018)
Project Fact Sheet (July 2018)

Need a translation?

If you need this information translated, please call (206) 684-7623.

Servicios de traducción e interpretación disponibles bajo petición (206) 684-7623.

Matutulungan ka naming maintindihan kung hihingi kang tulong (206) 684-7623.

Dá»‹ch và thông dá»‹ch viên sáºµn sàng náº¿u có sá»± yêu cáº§u (206) 684-7623.

Haddii aad dooneyso turjubeen fadlen wac (206) 684-7623.

Project Complete