A series of safety improvements planned for 8th Ave NW is moving forward following a campaign by neighborhood volunteers.
The Seattle Department of Transportation project will add traffic-calming and pedestrian improvements between NW 48th St and NW 70th St this fall.
The work will include:
- 13 new speed cushions: SDOT says that to prevent drivers from driving in the bike lanes to avoid speed cushions, the department will shift the bike lane into the curbside lane, removing 1-2 parking spaces, and add paint and barriers next to the bike lane at each location (see design below).
- Marked crosswalks with pedestrian refuge islands: SDOT says to discourage drivers from going over the posted speed limit, prevent passing in the center turn lane, and improve the comfort of pedestrians crossing the street, the department will be adding small concrete medians at the new marked crosswalks.
- Two new radar speed signs
- A traffic diverter and button-activated flashing crossing signs at NW 70th St
The project spans from NW 46th St to NW 70th St, as shown below.
Here are the designs for several key intersections.
NW 70th St design
The design for the NW 70th St intersection includes (from SDOT):
- A new marked crosswalk across 8th Ave NW on the north leg of the intersection
- New button-activated crossing signs, or “flashing beacons” on both crosswalks
- A new concrete median island, or “traffic diverter”
- This restricts vehicle left turns from 8th Ave NW onto NW 70th St and restricts east/west through traffic for vehicles on NW 70th St
- Intersection visibility improvements, or “intersection daylighting” will be changed from paint and posts to concrete islands
- New pavement markings for bikers crossing 8th Ave NW
- New speed cushions on 8th Ave NW to slow vehicles approaching the intersection
- Next to the speed cushions, the bike lanes are buffered, which requires the removal of 1-2 parking spaces
NW 53rd St design
The design for the NW 53rd St intersection includes new marked crosswalks across 8th Ave NW, each with a pedestrian island, and new speed cushions on 8th Ave NW to slow vehicles approaching the intersection. Next to the speed cushions, the bike lanes are buffered, which requires the removal of 1-2 parking spaces.
NW 51st St design
The design for the NW 51st St intersection includes new marked crosswalks across 8th Ave NW, each with a pedestrian island, and new speed cushions on 8th Ave NW to slow vehicles approaching the intersection. Next to the speed cushions, the bike lanes are buffered, which requires the removal of 1-2 parking spaces.
NW 49th St design
The design for the NW 49th St intersection includes new marked crosswalks across 8th Ave NW, each with a pedestrian island, and new speed cushions on 8th Ave NW to slow vehicles approaching the intersection. Next to the speed cushions, the bike lanes are buffered, which requires the removal of 1-2 parking spaces.
The project is in its final design phase, with installation planned for later this year. It builds on pedestrian visibility improvements that SDOT completed along the corridor in 2025.
The latest plan follows a campaign led by Save 8th, a volunteer neighborhood group organized by Ballard resident Eric Johnson. Save 8th worked with Ballard-Fremont Green Streets (formerly known as Ballard-Fremont Greenways), part of Seattle Streets Alliance, to raise awareness about speeding and the difficulty of crossing 8th Ave NW.
Johnson said he began paying closer attention to the street after moving into a nearby townhouse complex seven years ago and regularly hearing screeching tires around 8th Ave NW and NW 70th St.
Over the past three years, Save 8th has organized residents, advocated for street changes, and helped hold block parties intended to bring neighbors together around the issue. More than 2,000 people attended one of the block parties, according to Johnson.
“Anyone who crosses 8th can attest that it’s a scary thing,” Johnson said. “Drivers don’t stop for you, people are speeding. It feels unwelcoming.”
After concerns that the project could be delayed or altered, Save 8th launched an email campaign through Save8th.com. Johnson said residents sent messages to the mayor’s office urging the city to preserve and create urgency for the original proposal after SDOT. He credited Mayor Katie Wilson’s involvement with helping move the full plan forward.
Johnson said the completed project will make the corridor more comfortable for people walking and spending time in the neighborhood.
“We all just want to be neighbors,” Johnson said. “Why wouldn’t we try to make it more welcoming?”
Funding comes from the voter-approved 2024 Seattle Transportation Levy. The project also supports Seattle’s Vision Zero goal of ending traffic deaths and serious injuries by 2030.
Photo: Google Image Capture, intersection of NW 70th St and 8th Ave NW