Alliance for Pioneer Square

The Ride Free Area for transit in downtown Seattle is scheduled to be eliminated on Sept. 29 of this year. King County Metro Transit is working with other transit agencies and the city of Seattle on an implementation plan to address operational changes for buses and transportation assistance for low or no-income people who use the Ride Free Area to travel to essential services downtown.

The four agencies collaborating on the implementation plan (Metro, Sound Transit, Community Transit, and the City of Seattle) are hosting a public open house on March 29 from 4-6:30 p.m. at Union Station, 401 S. Jackson, Seattle. At the open house, they will outline some of the options being considered and gather comments in preparation for finalizing the implementation plan.

Attached is a poster in two different sizes about the open house. Feel free to post or distribute it so that your customers, clients, staff, and community members know about these changes and have an opportunity to comment at the open house, or by phone, email, and online. The comment period for the implementation plan closes April 6.

Posters

Ride Free Public Meeting Poster Size 8.5″x11″
Ride Free Public Meeting Poster Size 11″x17″

For a complete list of closures, visit the WSDOT website. Closure information changes frequently, so remember to check for updates throughout the week.

Highlights for Monday, March 19 – Friday, March 23

 Driver alert:

• Both directions of SR 99 between the West Seattle Bridge and the Battery Street Tunnel will close from 6 a.m. Saturday, March 24 through 5 a.m. Monday, March 26 for the semiannual viaduct inspection.

South end:

• East Marginal Way South between South Massachusetts and South Atlantic streets will become one lane in each direction around-the-clock beginning Monday for work related to the South Holgate Street to South King Street Project.
• First Avenue South between South King Street and South Royal Brougham Way will close from 7 p.m. Monday to 5 a.m. Tuesday for work related to the South Holgate Street to South King Street Project.
• South Atlantic Street between East Marginal Way South and First Avenue South will be reduced to one lane in each direction nightly, Monday through Wednesday, from 7 p.m. to 5 a.m. for work related to the South Holgate Street to South King Street Project.
• Approximately 100 feet of the port-side shared use path just south of South King Street will close nightly, Monday through Thursday, from 7 p.m. to 5 a.m. for work related to the SR 99 Tunnel Project. A detour will be posted through port property.
• The right lane of southbound SR 99 between South Royal Brougham Way and South Holgate Street, including the off-ramp to South Atlantic Street, will close from 10 p.m. Friday, March 23 to 6 a.m. Saturday, March 24 for work related to the South Holgate Street to South King Street Project and the SR 99 Tunnel Project.

Central Waterfront:

• Alaskan Way between Yesler Way and Union Street will be reduced to one lane in each direction daily, Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. for work related to the Alaskan Way Widening Project.
• Southbound SR 99 between the Battery Street Tunnel and the West Seattle Bridge will close from 9 p.m. Thursday to 5 a.m. Friday for work related to the SR 99 Tunnel Project.

Quick links:

• Current Work: The most up-to-date resource for construction related to the Alaskan Way Viaduct replacement.
• Traffic: Real-time conditions on Seattle area highways and many connecting streets.
• Transit: WSDOT funded additional bus service along routes affected by construction.
• Bike/walk: During construction we maintain a safe and reliable path for bicyclists and pedestrians on Alaskan Way South.

Website links

Alaskan Way Viaduct Replacement Program

SR 99 Tunnel Project

South Holgate Street to South King Street Project