Aurora Ave Project

Updated October 2026

Project Background  

Aurora Ave N (State Route 99) is one of the busiest streets in Seattle, linking people to their homes, businesses, services, and jobs. This corridor serves the region's highest ridership bus route, the RapidRide E Line, and is vital for moving freight. It is a top safety priority for the Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) because it has high rates of serious injuries and fatal crashes, especially for people walking. This project is shaping a long-term vision for the future of Aurora Ave N to address these safety and mobility needs.

Phase 1 - 

  • We gathered community input in multiple ways from over 9,000 people.
  • Delivered immediate safety upgrades during this phase.

Phase 2 -

Phase 2 is now underway and will continue into 2028. This phase will refine the draft concepts from phase one and identify a preferred option for design. During this phase:

  • We are gathering community input through a new Community Advisory Group, events, and surveys.
  • We are completing additional technical analysis and coordinating with partner agencies.

To learn more about phase 2 of the planning study, please watch the Corridor Planning Update video.

Also available in these languages: 

When viewing the video, click the "CC" button on the bottom right side of the screen to turn off the automatic English closed captions.

Community Advisory Group

The Community Advisory Group (CAG) began in July of 2026 and will meet 8-12 times for two years.  The CAG brings together community members to share input on transportation planning, goals, priorities, and future design options. We will be sharing updates from the work of the CAG in our newsletters and our Aurora Community Advisory Group webpage.

Community Connector Group

Join our new Community Connector group! We are looking for people who want to stay involved, share feedback, and help keep their communities informed about the Aurora Ave Project. Sign up to receive details about the Community Connector group and how you can participate.

Stay Informed 

We will be sharing our updates and ways to share feedback in Phase 2 planning.  Please check this project webpage or sign up for our project newsletters.  

Project Map

Map of Aurora Ave N from South Lake Union to North Seattle at the border with Shoreline, split into two sections (north of Green Lake and south of Green Lake). The North of Green Lake section goes from Winona Ave N to N 145th St. The South of Green Lake section goes from Roy St to Winona Ave N.

Map of Aurora Ave N from Roy St to N 145th St.

From Harrison St near the SR 99 Tunnel, to N 145th St at the Seattle city limits, Aurora Ave N is about 7.6 miles long. 

Along this stretch, Aurora Ave N passes through different land uses, urban villages, roadway cross sections, and access needs.

Our Projects

The Corridor Planning Study 

SDOT launched a Corridor Planning Study in 2022 with our partners, King County Metro and Washington State Department of Transportation. Our goal is to create a community-driven design vision for Aurora Ave N. between Roy St and N 145th St. This study will also develop a plan to guide future investments in the corridor.  

The objectives of the Corridor Planning Study are to: 

  • Develop a new design vision for Aurora Ave N that enhances safety, mobility, and accessibility for everyone   
  • Address the needs of residents, businesses, and interested parties along Aurora Ave N in a unified vision through an equitable and robust engagement process   
  • Consider collision history and safety challenges along the corridor with a focus on addressing the most serious collisions and those involving vulnerable road users    
  • Identify potential transit service improvements and connections, such as to nearby light rail stations, as well as safety and security improvements, such as transit stops  
  • Develop a strategy to build corridor improvements as resources become available  

The Next Planning Phase of the Project: 

Phase one is complete and phase two is happening now and will continue into 2028. During phase two we will:

  • Refine design concepts
  • Complete additional technical analysis
  • Work with community members and partner agencies
  • Develop one draft plan to move forward into design and construction

Capital Corridor Project 

Once the Corridor Planning Study is complete, SDOT will be well positioned to kick-off design for the Capital Corridor Project. Given the length of the Aurora Ave N corridor, we expect capital work to be implemented in several phases over many years. More details about project sequencing and environmental permitting will emerge as we complete our planning work. 

We heard your feedback from the Corridor Planning Study - we need changes to improve safety as soon as possible. SDOT's Vision Zero team also looked at safety data to identify several improvements that we can make now. These projects will work to reduce recurring collision patterns along Aurora Ave N. 

North Seattle Public Safety Update 

On June 11, Mayor Wilson announced temporary street closures on the west side of Aurora Ave N at N 96th, N 98th, N 100th, and N 102nd streets to help disrupt illegal activity and reduce highspeed cutthrough traffic. Police, Fire, SPU, and SDOT worked together to identify the locations while also considering the needs of emergency responders, schools, and essential services. 

Thank you to everyone who participated in our survey about the temporary street closures near Aurora Ave N to support public safety efforts. We received the bulk of the responses earlier this summer and are now closing the survey.  SDOT and our partner departments are reviewing all feedback received, along with updated traffic data, to help guide next steps for the temporary street closures and other safety efforts along and around Aurora Avenue N.  

Your input will help us understand how these temporary changes are affecting travel patterns, access, and essential services. Once we have completed our analysis we will share next steps.  Thank you again for taking the time to share your feedback. 

Construction work on Aurora Ave N and N 137th St 

We are making progress on the intersection of Aurora Ave N and N 137th St to make it safer for all who travel through this intersection. Work is expected to be complete by fall 2026. We are working on installing: 

  • Two new crosswalk signals and four new crosswalks for people walking and biking
  • Two new median islands
  • New curb ramps at all four corners of the intersection 

A graphic map of the intersection of Aurora Ave N and N 137th St with bike crossing markers, median islands, and curb ramps identified

Map of the intersection of Aurora Ave N and N 137th St with bike crossing markers, median islands, and curb ramps identified.  

During construction you can expect: 

  • Most work will happen on weekends between 9 AM and 4 PM
  • Occasionally, weekday work will happen between 8 AM and 2 PM
  • Traffic patterns and detours will change based on the construction activities. These changes may cause delays. 
    • The intersection will stay open during weekdays and when crews are not working 
  • Noise, dust, and construction equipment present 

 As we construct these priority projects, we are also planning a second phase of near-term improvements that will work to reduce other crash patterns on Aurora Ave N. 

We will share more as designs are planned and funding is confirmed. 

Completed Safety Projects: 

  • Installed head start pedestrian signals (also known as Leading Pedestrian Intervals) at all intersections with a signal
  • Introduced “No Turn on Red” restrictions for people driving in intersections, in line with our SDOT policy
  • Installed new median islands at N 128th St and N 143rd St which restrict turns and deter cut through traffic  
  • Repainted and widened all marked crosswalks for people walking along Aurora Ave N
  • Installed hardened center lines at:
    • N 135th St
    • Just south of N 115th St
    • N 100th St
    • N 95th St
    • N 90th St
    • N 77th St
  • New curbing with turn restrictions at:
    • N 103rd St

Aurora Ave N Bus Lane Improvements to support travel during Revive I-5 construction  

The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) is rehabilitating Interstate 5 in Seattle as part of Revive I-5.  

Construction began in summer 2025 on the Ship Canal Bridge, and more continues in 2026 and 2027. 

You can find more details on WSDOT’s project web page. To help manage extra traffic on Aurora Ave N during these I-5 lane closures, SDOT and King County Metro made changes to existing bus lanes on Aurora Ave N in advance of the I-5 construction.

The bus lanes are in effect all day, every day, instead of only during peak hours. There is no parking or loading on Aurora Ave N in the bus lanes.  We installed new bus-only lane signs along Aurora Ave N and a few additional signs indicate where there are parking and loading exceptions.  
  
We worked closely with businesses and community members along Aurora Ave N to prepare for these changes, which went into effect in June 2025 and remain in place today.

Changes to Aurora Ave bus lanes: 

  • Southbound: One lane from N 115th St to N 38th St is now a 24/7 bus lane
  • Northbound: One lane from N 38th St to N 59th St, and from Winona Ave N to N 115th St, is now a 24/7 bus lane 

For questions about the Aurora bus lanes, please reach out to aurorabuslanes@seattle.gov   

New Northbound Bus Lane 

Following reduced and suspended service during the COVID-19 pandemic, SDOT began working with King County Metro to prioritize investments that help move buses more efficiently on critical routes. In 2021, we began planning three new projects to build priority bus lanes for bus routes that kept being used by a large number of people during the pandemic, including the RapidRide E Line. 

In coordination with the Washington State Department of Transportation, this project installed northbound bus-only lanes on Aurora Ave N between Prospect St and Lynn St to help make bus travel consistent and reliable. New bus-only lane signage and red pavement markings are now in place. A southbound bus-only lane already exists from Lynn St to Roy St and will remain in place. Business and driveway access stays open and right turns are still allowed from the bus lane. 

Green Lake Outer Loop

The Green Lake Outer Loop is a connected path around Green Lake Park that provides more travel options for people walking, running, biking, and rolling. The Outer Loop creates better connections to surrounding neighborhoods.

SDOT worked in coordination with Washington State Department of Transportation, Seattle Parks and Recreation, and interested parties to complete the Green Lake Outer Loop by converting one northbound lane on Aurora Ave N (between N 68th St and W Green Lake Dr N) to a two-way protected pathway for people on bikes, scooters, roller blades, and other travel modes.

In addition, the project installed two new Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons (RRFBs) and other traffic calming treatments on Winona Ave N to enhance safety and accessibility for people walking and rolling to community destinations. The bike path was installed in 2022, and other project elements were completed in April 2024.  

Schedules, Funding, and Related Projects

Corridor Planning Study

  • Phase 1: 2022-2024 
  • Phase 2: 2026-2028  

Vision Zero Near-Term Safety Improvements 

  • Package 1: 2023-2025 
  • Package 2: 2026-2027

Capital Corridor Project (phased implementation)  

  • Design: 2028-2030 
  • Construction: 2031+ 
  • Potential Future Phases  (to be determined)  

The Aurora Ave Project is supported by a combination of local, state, and federal funding sources. Our currently secured or anticipated funding sources include: 

Corridor Planning Study (Phase 1 and 2) 

  • Washington State Department of Transportation Pedestrian and Bicycle Program
  • King County Metro Partner Contribution
  • Levy to Move Seattle
  • FTA Equity Formula Funds  
  • Seattle Public Utilities Partner Contribution
  • Seattle Transit Measure
  • Move Ahead Washington 

Capital Corridor Project (Design and Construction Phases) 

  • FHWA Surface Transportation Block Grant
  • Move Ahead Washington
  • 2024 Seattle Transportation Levy 

Vision Zero Safety Improvements (Phase 1 and Future Phases) 

  • Levy to Move Seattle
  • 2024 Seattle Transportation Levy 

The Aurora Ave Project is supported with funding from Washington's Climate Commitment Act. The CCA supports Washington's climate action efforts by putting cap-and-invest dollars to work reducing climate pollution, creating jobs, and improving public health. Information about the CCA is available at www.climate.wa.gov.

Climate Commitment Act logo

We appreciate the partnership and support we have received to date. Thank you to Seattle voters for approving our transportation levies that provide funding for this important project.

As the project advances, we will continue to look for additional funding opportunities to support design and construction in the future.

Community Outreach

What We've Done Together

Community members gathered around tables reviewing maps and discussing ideas at an Aurora Ave N open house.

In March 2024, we shared ideas for future improvements along Aurora Ave N, based on community feedback. These concepts need more outreach, design, and funding to develop further and implement. 

Since 2022, we have engaged thousands of community members to shape the future of Aurora Ave N through surveys, workshops, direct outreach, online tools, and ongoing communication.   Here's what we've done:

Three Community Surveys (2022-2024): 

We conducted three multilingual surveys to understand safety concerns, mobility needs, and reactions to draft design ideas, hearing from over 9,000 people. 

Participatory Workshop and Targeted Outreach (2023) 

We engaged more than 450 residents, businesses, and service providers through workshops and meetings.

Community Ideas Hub (2024)   

We launched the Community Ideas Hub webpage to share draft improvement concepts and evaluation criteria.

Ongoing Communication and Media Outreach 

We continue to keep the community informed through digital platforms as well as in person outreach. 

What We've Learned So Far

Evaluation and Refinement (2024 – 2025)

We used community feedback to make the design ideas better and evaluated them using 21 different criteria. Here are the key lessons learned: 

Walkable boulevards work - These concepts best support safety, comfort, equity, and placemaking goals.  

  • Next Steps: We will analyze reducing vehicle capacity north of Green Lake, to understand and communicate effects on street operations, including transit and freight. We will also look at the potential impacts on parallel and intersecting streets.   

People bike on Aurora - and use this street to reach local destinations and transit stops. 

  • Next Steps: We will determine where bike facilities are needed on Aurora Ave N and where to focus on parallel bike routes with safe connections to Aurora Ave N.  

Center-running bus lanes have challenges - this design presents potential challenges due to space constraints and complex signal phasing.  

  • Next Steps: We will work with Metro on more design and analysis to determine the best design to support transit.  

Utilities need upgrading North of Green Lake - Any changes north of Green Lake will require significant upgrades to underground utilities, which will influence project phasing and streetscape decisions.

  • Next Steps: We will partner with Seattle Public Utilities (SPU) to coordinate our designs and develop an implementation plan that balances technical needs with community priorities. 

Vehicle lanes are hard to remove south of Green Lake - Removing vehicle lanes south of Green Lake is difficult because of high traffic volumes and few alternative routes. 

  • Next Steps: Use wider streets south of Green Lake to keep two vehicle lanes while also adding significant safety and accessibility improvements.  

Phase 2 Project Materials

Historical Materials

The City of Seattle considers historical information to be used for reference only. Details about its limitation are available in our Terms of Use.

Outreach and Engagement

Corridor Planning Study

Near-Term Safety Improvements Documents

Transportation

Angela Brady, Acting Director
Address: 700 5th Ave, Suite 3800, Seattle, WA, 98104
Mailing Address: PO Box 34996, Seattle, WA, 98124-4996
Phone: (206) 684-7623
684-Road@seattle.gov

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The Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) is on a mission to deliver a transportation system that provides safe and affordable access to places and opportunities for everyone as we work to achieve our vision of Seattle as a thriving, equitable community powered by dependable transportation.