Survey Going On About Plan For Cycle Track On N 34th East of Fremont

Recommended traffic changes for N 34th from Stone Way to Fremont Ave. Image provided by SDOT

The Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) has proposed an upgrade to the bike lane on N 34^th Street from Fremont Avenue east to Stone Way. The proposal, called the N 34^th St Mobility Improvement project, would install a paint-and-post lane along N 34^th for bicycle riders – and keep street parking on the north side of the street, as requested by community members.

A survey is currently being done, on-line using SurveyMonkey (click here,) to give feedback on the latest design plan for N 34^th. Please consider reviewing the materials on the N 34^th St Mobility Improvement website, and giving feedback on the survey, to create a project that best serves the needs of our community.

SDOT has used traffic data, community input and city-wide transportation plans in putting together the plan for N34th. The current design plan keeps vehicular traffic in one lane going each way on N 34^th, with a protected cycle lane also on both sides of the roadway – and a lane of street parking for vehicles in-between the westbound cycle track and the westbound vehicle traffic lane.

The area to be affected by the recommended N 34th Mobility Improvement project. Provided by SDOT

A goal of this project is to create a comfortable and predictable bike connection between the Burke-Gilman Trail and the Fremont Bridge. It is also expected to maintain freight access through the area.

Among the original N 34^th Mobility Improvement project design plans was a suggestion for a two-way, protected bike lane on the south side of N 34^th. Community feedback supported this alternative, however SDOT traffic and signal analysis revealed that such a design would result in travel time delays for bicycle and vehicular traffic. The alternative chosen better met project goals and budget requirements, according the SDOT website. Many community members have also commented on a failure by vehicle traffic to yield to cyclists and pedestrians. The Recommended Alternative is expected to make the movements of cycle traffic more predictable, and easier for vehicles to understand and yield.

The original alternatives for improvements on N 34th. Image provided by SDOT

According to SDOT, the timeline for the N 34^th Mobility Improvement project will result in a final design in 2019, with construction of the changes coming in 2020.

For more information on this project, please visit the N 34^th Mobility Improvement project website (click here.)