Interim protected bike lane now open on Roosevelt Way NE

The Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) today opened a new interim protected bike lane along the west side of Roosevelt Way NE between NE 45th Street and the University Bridge. 

“This is a critical location for a protected bike lane,” stated SDOT Director Scott Kubly in a press release. “Through collaboration with the Roosevelt Way community, we have been able to quickly install this interim bike lane well in advance of the repaving project’s permanent improvements.”

Roosevelt Way is among the most dangerous corridors in Seattle with at 21 bike collisions reported in the past four years. The new protected bike lane will enhance safety and add predictability through separating the seven-foot-wide bike lane from moving car traffic with a five-foot buffer that includes white posts. Driving or parking in the new bike lane is not allowed and temporary “No Parking” signs will remain in place until permanent signs and remaining green bike boxes are installed.

Permanent bike lane will be part of Roosevelt repaving occurring in Fall 2015

In fall 2015, SDOT will start repaving Roosevelt Way NE and add important safety improvements from Fuhrman Avenue NE to NE 65th Street. Along with addressing basic maintenance needs, SDOT is creating a multi-modal corridor by: improving transit reliability through transit stop consolidation and the addition of in-lane stops (pending funding availability); repairing sidewalks and adding curb bulbs and wheelchair ramps; and making bicycling safer and more comfortable. The two existing general purpose lanes will remain, as well as on-street parking on the east side.

SDOT aims to make Roosevelt feel more like a neighborhood business street and less like an alternative to I-5.

The paving project will also improve the bike connection from Roosevelt on to the University Bridge by adjusting the medians between northbound and southbound Roosevelt to accommodate existing travel lanes and a continuous permanent bicycle lane. An in-lane bus stop and passenger load zone at the U.W. Medical Clinic will be constructed in a way that meets the needs of transit riders, medical clinic patients and people riding bikes. The permanent bike facility’s buffer will be reduced to four feet wide along the corridor, adding an extra foot to the east side parking lane.

Outreach to residents and businesses along the corridor on how to use the new infrastructure and how to navigate construction is underway, including door-to–door outreach.

We want to thank Scott Kubly, SDOT and Mayor Murray for improving this dangerous corridor and for their dedication to safe, comfortable streets for all. This is a huge political lift for the Mayor and SDOT, and a big win for people who walk, bike and drive on Roosevelt Way.

Please join us in thanking Mayor Ed Murray. Sign the petition in support of the project >>