NE 130th & NE 125th Mobility and Safety Project

Updated August 31, 2023

What’s Happening Now?

Light rail is coming to NE 130th St near I-5 in 2026 and we’re working to make it safer and easier to get to the station and around your neighborhood. We’re in the early stages of planning and design for improvements and we want to hear from you. Our design proposals include feedback received during the NE 130th St & Shoreline South/NE 148th Stations: Multimodal Access Study and the 130th and 145th Station Area Planning process. Continue reading below for more information on design proposals and to tell us what you think about the proposals and your vision for your neighborhood. We have multiple ways to give feedback on the project:

We’re also partnering with community-based organizations to connect with all members of the community.

To get the latest information on project activities, we encourage you to sign up for email updates.

Design Proposals 

The following design proposals are still under evaluation and are not final.

NE 130th St: 1st Ave NE to 3rd Ave NE (map)

Two-way shared use path on the north side for people walking, biking, and rolling

1 general purpose travel lane in each direction

Two-way center left turn lane

Planting strip with street trees

NE 130th St I-5 overpass: 3rd Ave NE to 5th Ave NE (map)

Two-way shared use path on the north side for people walking, biking, and rolling

1 bus only lane between the southbound I-5 on ramp and 5th Ave NE to serve the planned bus stop on the southwest corner of NE 130th St and 5th Ave NE

1 eastbound general purpose lane

2 westbound general purpose lanes

Planted median from 3rd Ave NE to southbound I-5 on ramp

No eastbound left turns from NE 130th St onto northbound 5th Ave NE to improve station access and traffic flow

Roosevelt Way NE: West of 8th Ave NE (map)

Two-way protected bike lane (transitions to one-way bike lanes east of 8th Ave NE)

1 eastbound general purpose lane

1 westbound general purpose lane

 two-way center left turn lane

Roosevelt Way NE: East of 8th Ave NE (map)

Transition to one-way protected bike lane on both sides of the street

1 eastbound general purpose lane

1 westbound general purpose lane

1 two-way center left turn lane

NE 125th St: 10th Ave NE to Lake City Way NE (map)

Protected bike lanes on both sides of the street

1 eastbound general purpose lane

1 westbound general purpose lane

1 two-way center left turn lane

Project Overview

 

Sound Transit is opening the NE 130th St Infill Station at NE 130th St near I-5 in 2026. The new station will bring an estimated 3,300-3,700 daily riders with 90% of them arriving by walking, biking, rolling, or transit. To provide better access to the new light rail station, we’re making improvements along NE 130th St, Roosevelt Way NE, and NE 125th St between 1st Ave NE and Lake City Way NE. These improvements will make it easier and more comfortable for people walking, biking, rolling, and taking transit.

Project Goals

Improve access and make it easier for people connecting to the new light rail station via NE 130th St, Roosevelt Way NE, and NE 125th St

Reduce serious injury and fatal crashes between vehicles and people walking, biking, and rolling

Make it safer and easier for people biking and driving to share the road

Improve bus frequency and reliability and support new service from King County Metro

Enhance the experience for people riding the bus

Incorporate community feedback into project design

Project improvements include:

Adding protected bike lanes throughout the project area, including a new shared use path for walking, biking, and rolling on the north side of NE 130th St

Adding new bus stops at 8th Ave NE and 10th Ave NE and upgrading selected existing bus stops to prepare for King County Metro’s planned new service

Installing bus lanes and other bus priority features to improve frequency and reliability

Updating street and intersection designs to reduce fatal and serious injury crashes

Updating street designs to minimize conflicts between vehicles and people biking

Crossing improvements such as leading pedestrian intervals to give people walking a head start, new signalized crossings, and restricting right turns on red

Sidewalk repairs and new accessible curb ramps in selected locations

SDOT is coordinating with Sound Transit and King County Metro to make these improvements and increase transit access in the area. In addition to the new light rail service, King County Metro is planning new bus service to support access to the NE 130th St Infill Station. We look forward to hearing from you about how this project can help you get safely to/from the new light station and around your neighborhood.  

Project Map

This project map shows the new light rail station and the streets where project elements will be built. The project area starts at NE 130th St and 1st Ave NE, heading southeast along Roosevelt Way NE, and then east along NE 125th St, ending approximately at Lake City Way NE. 

Schedule

A graphic visualization of the timeline written out below

Planning (2023): We are talking to community members and business owners to build on previous planning and community engagement work done in the area. Our work includes designing safety and accessibility improvements equitably and within available funding.

Design (2024-2025): We will create and share project design proposals, ask for community feedback, and finalize project design.  

Construction (2025-2026*): We will share more information about construction schedules, activities, and neighborhood impacts when we reach this stage.    

Light rail service begins (2026): Sound Transit plans to open the NE 130th St Infill Station and begin service in 2026. Please visit Sound Transit’s website for current schedule and project information.

*Construction schedules are subject to change based on crew and material availability.

Project Background

The NE 130th St & NE 125th St Mobility and Safety Project is the result of multiple planning and community engagement processes. We heard from neighbors in Pinehurst, Lake City Way, and other surrounding neighborhoods about your priorities for improving safety and accessibility in your neighborhood. As a result of the NE 130th St & Shoreline South/NE 148th Stations: Multimodal Access Study published in 2020, we secured funding to move forward with this set of improvements that incorporate what we heard from the community.

Below is more information about the early planning efforts for this project.

NE 130th St & Shoreline South/NE 148th Stations: Multimodal Access Study: In 2020, the Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) worked with community members on a study of areas around two new light rail stations. The community identified key priorities for improvements, including:

Upgrade sidewalks, bike facilities, and street crossings in neighborhoods near the future light rail stations

Provide walking and biking connections along NE 130th St and NE 145th St

Improve the NE 130th St overpass for people walking and biking

The study came up with 18 ideas for projects for the two new light rail stations. Three of the ideas (#1, 15, and 17) are part of the NE 130th St & NE 125th St Mobility and Safety Project:

NE 130th St Overpass and Shared-Use Path (#1)

NE 125th St & Roosevelt Way NE Street Redesign (#15)

NE 125th St Transit & Crossing Improvements (#17)

130th and 145th Station Area Planning: In 2019, the Office of Planning & Community Development (OPCD) started planning for the 130th & 145th (now called the 148th) Light Rail Station areas. This process brought together community members, City of Seattle staff, and other public agencies to talk about the changes these new light rail stations will bring to the region. We heard from the community about the need for:

Improved safety for people walking and biking in the area

Improved connections to surrounding neighborhoods and light rail stations

Better east/west bus connections from adjacent neighborhoods to the light rail station

Bus stop upgrades for connecting routes to the light rail station

Fall Volunteer training for Seattle Urban Naturalists

Are you interested in nature and education? Learn how to guide students in parks, develop skills in public speaking in group engagement, and get acquainted with a variety of Pacific Northwest flora and fauna. We will be leading learning experience in various habitats and teaching about how to engage different audiences in an equitable fashion. Trainings are Saturdays in September from 9-3. Applications close August 23rd.

Apply today!

 Environmental Education Volunteering – Parks | seattle.gov<https://www.seattle.gov/parks/volunteer/environmental-education-volunteering

For more information, please contact: Penny.rose@seattle.gov<mailto:Penny.rose@seattle.gov>

 

Back-To-School Spaghetti Social at Bitter Lake Community Center

 

All families welcome!

Let’s get ready to go back to school! Join us on Friday, August 18 and share a delicious meal and get ready to say goodbye to summer. We will be handing out school supplies to help everyone get geared up for class. Please contact the community center if you have school supplies you would like to donate. Pre-registration is required!

Location: Bitter Lake Community Center

Date: Friday, Aug. 18

Time: 5:30 to 7 p.m.

Cost: $6/family (2 backpacks per family; additional backpacks $3 per child).

Questions? 206-684-7524

Prostitution drops on Aurora Avenue after Seattle motels’ closure, but residents remain skeptical

From KOMO news:

Following the recent closures of two crime-ridden motels, neighbors told KOMO News there has been a noticeable drop in prostitution along Aurora Avenue in Seattle, but they expressed skepticism that the decline is sustainable.

On July 26, the Seattle Police Department (SPD) and Seattle City Attorney’s office served chronic nuisance declaration letters to the property owners of the Emerald Motel and the Seattle Inn. Within days, both motels temporarily closed while their owners agreed to stipulations of compliance needed to stop criminal activity.

This photo shows the Seattle Inn and Emerald Motel. Both locations have been at the center of illegal activity on Aurora Avenue in Seattle for years. (KOMO)

Following the closures, KOMO News traveled along Aurora Avenue and saw only three prostitutes in the area near both motels. That compared to the dozens of sex workers that KOMO News witnessed during the same time of day just a few weeks earlier

In the days since the closures, people living along Aurora said they had observed far fewer instances of prostitution, yet they expressed skepticism that the lack of sex-fueled criminal activity would last.

RELATED: 2 Aurora Avenue motels cease operations amid police crackdown on illegal activities

“I think (prostitutes) will eventually be back unless the police enforce things. We’ll see,” said neighbor Shannon Hays.

“The city of Seattle needs to continue to diminish (prostitution) to stop it,” added business owner Thad Thompson. “It can’t be allowed.”

Since both motels closed a week ago, Thompson told KOMO News he’s witnessed prostitutes in an area where they didn’t use to be, including near the North Seattle/Shoreline border.

“Last night, when we left work, we saw five or six prostitutes, which was disappointing,” he noted.

KOMO News reached out to SPD for comment. They said officers have observed a drop in overall prostitutes working along Aurora in the last week since the motel closures.

RELATED: Another harrowing escape puts attention on open prostitution along Seattle’s Aurora Ave

Yet the pessimism along Aurora Avenue remains, including from a group that does outreach to street-based sex workers.

In a statement to KOMO, members of the “Greenlight Project” insisted prostitutes would actually be put at risk by the motel closures because more prostitutes will now work in isolation, as opposed to in groups.

“I’m sure they would pick a new life, because this is no life at all for them,” said Thompson.

SPD told KOMO News the following regarding the department:

SPD has and will continue to address the crimes along the Aurora Avenue corridor, including human trafficking. The department frequently works with city and federal partners in conducting operations to identify suspects engaged in or promoting this criminal activity. Businesses identified for their involvement in numerous crimes occurring at or near their location have been provided with Chronic Nuisance Declarations to take immediate action in eradicating illegal activities and safety concerns. The Seattle City Attorney’s Office will be moving forward with follow-up on whether or not the parameters of the declaration have been met by the businesses.

12th Ave NW Basin Drainage Improvement Project July 2023

12th Ave NW Basin Drainage Improvement Project

Construction workers installing a section of the new drainage system on 11th Ave NW

Hello Broadview community! Construction for the 12th Ave NW Basin Drainage Improvement project has continued steadily through the summer months on the underground pipe and conveyance work. Crews have completed the following tasks since our last update:

  • Completed installation of the new drainage system along 10th Ave NW
  • Began installation of the new drainage system along 11th Ave NW, beginning at the south end of the project west of the pump station and working their way north

Looking ahead, the contractor expects to:

  • Continue installation of the new drainage system along 11th Ave NW until reaching the NW 122nd St intersection. This is the last segment of underground pipe to be installed.
  • Begin roadway restoration work on NW 125th St as soon as late July or early August. This work will begin at the 10th Ave NW intersection and continue eastward until reaching the 6th Ave NW intersection. Paving is planned for a couple dates during mid to late August. Any residences with driveway access impacts will be notified.
  • Continue miscellaneous construction activities throughout the project area

Upon completing the underground pipe installation work on 11th Ave NW and the roadway restoration work along NW 125th St, the contractor expects to continue roadway restoration at the southern end of the project on 11th Ave NW. They plan to work their way north along the project area doing roadway restoration until reaching the 10th Ave NW and NW 125th St intersection. The contractor will restore sections of the roadway as required by regulations, as well as any additional roadway areas that were disturbed by this project’s construction activities. Construction for the whole project is expected to be completed in fall 2023.

To protect trees near the work area, the project is following the tree protection plan and direction from City arborists who have visited the site.

See the yellow areas on the map for approximate work areas. All work will take place in the right-of-way.

Construction Safety is Everyone’s Job, check out some top safety tips at: www.seattle.gov/utilities/constructionsafety

We want to thank the community for keeping everyone safe by staying away from the construction work areas as much as possible. Great job, keep it up everybody!

Natural Drainage System Project Update

The project team is working to finalize the design for the Natural Drainage System (NDS) improvements. Stay tuned for more updates as we get closer to construction, which is expected to begin as soon as 2024. For questions about the NDS project, please contact Grace Manzano, project manager, at grace.manzano@seattle.gov

Thank you!

We want to thank you for your patience during construction. We know construction can be disruptive, and we appreciate your understanding as we complete this necessary upgrade to your neighborhood’s drainage system. We always strive to make our projects as easy on the community as possible.

As always, if you have a question about the underground pipe and conveyance project, please contact the project manager directly by emailing Wan-Yee Kuo at Wan-Yee.Kuo@seattle.gov

Best,

Broadview Project Team

 

Visit the project website

Celebrate Plastic Free July with SPU Solid Waste!

 

This summer, Seattle Public Utilities Solid Waste Division and our partners are taking part in an international campaign called Plastic Free July.

You might be asking yourself, what is Plastic Free July (PFJ) and how do I get involved? PFJ is an annual and ongoing global movement to encourage everyone to “be part of the solution to the plastic pollution problem for cleaner streets, oceans, and communities”. Reducing single-use (AKA disposable) plastics is a great way to get started! You can take the global challenge and find great resources from plasticfreejuly.org and towardszerowaste.se as well.

Read this blog then follow SPU social media on FacebookInstagram, and Twitter this July to learn about a variety of topics including:

  • How to reduce plastic use and repurpose the plastics you already have (simple swaps!)
  • How to recycle plastics RIGHT! (Empty, Clean, & Dry is an important step!)
  • Keeping plastics out of the compost (produce stickers have got to go!)

Come Talk Plastics in Person!

SPU and our partners, Tilth Alliance, Cedar Grove, Recology, and WM will be out in the community talking with customers about Plastic Free July! You can find us at the following spots (more to be added soon!)

  • July 11th – Lifelong Thrift on Capitol Hill from 12-3pm with Recology
  • July 14th –  Northgate Community Center’s 17th Anniversary Celebration from 5-7:30pm with Master Computer Sustainability Stewards
  • July 29th – Grocery Outlet in the International District with Recology (timing TBD)

Looking for a fun way to participate in Plastic Free July with SPU? Join the Global Challenge or try one of the following ideas.

Graphical logo with large 2023 with a turtle illautration over the zero. Surrounding this are the words Plasticfreejuly.org, Join the challenge.

Join other SPU customers, Seattle residents, and people around the globe who are choosing to refuse single-use plastics like shopping bags, straws, cups, and packaging to create a world without plastic waste.  Visit plasticfreejuly.org to pledge to give up single-use plastics for a day, week, or even the whole month of July!

Here are some tips to get you started:

  • What is one single-use plastic you can avoid this month? Say no to straws? Buy your groceries in bulk? Get plastic-free packaged produce at the farmers markets?
  • What is one single-use plastic you can swap for a more durable option this month? Bringing your own cup, bag, containers, straw, and silverware will help make the swaps easy.
  • How about reusing the plastics you already have one more time before you throw them out? Plastic bags make great trash liners and dog waste bags, and plastic yogurt containers are the perfect size for snacks on the go as reusable containers!

What are some ways I can reduce my plastic use in July and this summer? Ask Evelyn Shows You How!

A composite image of a mobile phone with a still image from an episode of Ask Evelyn with presenters holding up examples of alternatives to single use plastic waste.

Our staff on the Ask Evelyn Instagram Live Show are here to help you out! Check out these 60-second episode clips on limiting plastic at kids’ camps and BBQs!

S’more Tips on Reducing Single-Use Waste: Kids Camp Edition
Sending your little ones to camp this summer, but find yourself overwhelmed with single-use snack packaging? And what about those art projects they’re bringing home? See what our waste experts have to say about reducing plastic camp waste!

Green Grilling: Reusable Goods for Your Next BBQ
This July you might be hosting a cookout for friends and family. Take a minute to learn some super simple tips on how to re-think this tradition by incorporating reusable items and reducing plastic waste!

How do I make sure the plastics I already have/used are being recycled? Glad you asked because we need your help!

When in Doubt, Find Out. Not sure if that item of plastic is recyclable or not in your blue recycling cart in Seattle? Check out the Where Does it Go? Tool if you are unsure whether a plastic item (or any item!) is recyclable. For plastics, that means not focusing on the number on the bottom, but on the shape and firmness like tubs, jugs, and bottles.

Empty, Clean, and Dry. Remember to clean out your recyclable plastics and keep them dry before putting them in your blue recycling bin. Give containers a good rinse and let them dry. Or if you can’t get them clean, put them in the garbage. Leftover food in plastic jars can create mold that can spread to other recyclables ruining them. Liquids in plastic bottles can ruin the fiber in the paper in a load, making it harder or unable to be recycled.

Keep Plastic Bags & Film Out. Do not put plastic bags or plastic wrap in your blue recycling cart and do not bag your recyclables. Thin plastics, like bags and wrap, get tangled in recycling equipment, and the processing facility must shut down. Stopping the equipment to remove the plastic slows processing down, driving up costs, and is a potential safety risk for workers. Go to bagandfilmrecycling.org to find a drop-off location near you. If that is not convenient, you can throw them out. See our Q&A on plastic bags and film if you have more questions.

Keep Plastics Out of Compost!

Photo of a hand dumping food scraps from a plastic container into a compost bin with the text "Plastic Out" and an arrow pointing away from the bin, and "Food In" with arrow pointing towards the bin.

It is especially important to make sure to keep ALL plastics out of your compost or food and yard waste cart. Plastic bags, containers, and packaging should NEVER be put in the compost bin because they contaminate the finished compost people use on their lawns and gardens with plastics. Be sure to check for sneaky and small plastic items like twist ties, rubber bands, and produce stickers.

In May, for Compost Awareness Week, we shared a blog that touches on the importance of keeping plastics out of your compost and its impact on the environment.

Additionally, you can reduce your plastic use in gardening by buying durable tools in wood and metal or borrowing from a tool library, avoiding plastic weed barriers, and making plant markers out of rocks or sticks. And did you know, in Seattle you can put your clean, empty, and dry plastic plant or nursery pots in the recycling? A win for compost and recycling!

For more information on reducing plastics in the garden, check out these tips from the Plastic Free Foundation.

Meet the Beavers of Carkeek Park!

Beavers Northwest staff will lead attendees on a walk to explore Carkeek Park and provide context on the beaver presence at the park. This is a great opportunity to see the impacts that beavers have on ecosystems, observe the plants and wildlife that thrive in beaver-modified systems, and discuss beaver coexistence in our human-modified ecosystems. The walk will last approximately 1.5 hours and participants will travel a distance of approximately 1 miles on gravel trails with some walking on an incline. We recommend wearing comfortable walking shoes and to dress for the weather. For best viewing of wildlife, we recommend bringing binoculars.

 
 
All children must be accompanied by an adult. Everyone attending must be registered.

For questions or to reach a staff person, please contact Carkeek Park at Carkeek.Park@seattle.gov /

Aurora Avenue Human Trafficking Operation Yields Seven Arrests

Tell SDOT your vision for Aurora

Over the past two weeks the Seattle Department of Transportation has been hosting a series of small workshops with community members and local stakeholders to co-create ideas that will help shape the future vision for Aurora Avenue N.

The final workshop will be online on Tuesday, June 20th from 6:30pm to 8:00pm. Please RSVP here and show your support for an Aurora Ave N that puts people first.

Many Aurora Reimagined Coalition members attended the in-person workshops and have found the discussions to be encouraging. The community is clearly pushing to make Aurora into a “Main Street” that brings people together and better supports local businesses. The community is asking for a dramatic change to the roadway – such as reducing the number of lanes on Aurora – and SDOT is open to these big ideas. We need as many Coalition supporters as possible to attend this final virtual workshop and speak up for bold change on Aurora.

One of the exciting ideas that we’ve been hearing in the workshops is center-running bus and freight lanes. Neither of these are new ideas: Seattle is piloting FAB lanes (Freight and Bus) this year along Westlake, and will have center-running buses for the new Rapid Ride G line along Madison Avenue. Replacing a general purpose travel lane with center-running bus and freight lanes will dramatically improve how people walk, bike, cross, and spend time on Aurora.

What do you think?
If you would like to see an Aurora like this, RSVP for SDOT’s virtual workshop on June 20th and share your opinion.

If you would like to read more about the Coalition’s vision for each segment of Aurora, click here.

If you are passionate about improving Aurora and would like to participate in the work of the Coalition please join a Coalition committee. ARC is entirely grassroots and volunteer-run and focused on the producing the best outcomes for the people who live, work, and travel in the Aurora corridor. Join us!