Press release
The contractor working for the Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) and King County Metro to prepare for the fall implementation of RapidRide transit service in West Seattle has begun making changes in the roadway lane configuration. To further support this upcoming transit service, SDOT has also begun to install new signage indicating where previously available on-street parking will no longer be permitted.

The RapidRide service includes the installation of Business Access and Transit (BAT) lanes on SW Alaska Street, which will help improve transit speed and reliability, and support more convenient service. Specifically, an eastbound BAT lane is being installed between 40th and 42nd avenues SW, while the westbound BAT lane will be installed between 35th and 42nd avenues SW. Both east- and westbound BAT lanes must be placed in the curb lane, where on-street parking has previously been permitted. Though it requires removing parking spaces on SW Alaska Street, using the public right of way in this fashion will allow the city to better serve transit riders.

West Seattle’s RapidRide service also requires some rechannelization of the northbound traffic lanes on 35th Avenue SW between SW Avalon Way and SW Alaska St, which will also result in the elimination of on-street parking spaces on the east side of 35th Avenue SW.

The rechannelization of travel lanes requires the removal of the existing lane striping, placement of new striping, and the installation of signage and signalization to match the new lane configuration. The work has begun at 35th Avenue SW and SW Avalon Way, and will proceed south to SW Alaska Street, at which point crews will move west on Alaska, with some work at Fauntleroy Avenue SW, before continuing westward to 42nd Avenue SW. The entire rechannelization process is expected to be completed during the July 4th week (weather permitting), with parking restrictions and the new travel lane configurations taking effect as the work proceeds. Motorists should comply with the lane configurations and signage they see as they travel on the impacted streets.

In addition, construction crews have finished pouring new concrete sidewalks on both the east and west sides of 35th Avenue SW between SW Avalon Way and SW Alaska Street. Both the northbound and southbound bus stops on this street will be reopened by Friday, June 29. Metro must still install RapidRide shelters at these two locations, but the work should take only several hours per location.

More information on the project can be found at www.seattle.gov/transportation/tpci_west_seattle.htm.