Pavement on this portion of SR 500 is near the end of its usable life. This stretch also has gaps in its sidewalks along with narrow shoulders. These issues make walking, biking and using assistive devices more difficult.
In 2024 and early 2025, WSDOT studied how to make SR 500 between NE Fourth Plain Blvd and NE 76th Street safer and easier for those who walk, bike, roll, use transit and drive. We shared early design options at a public open house in October 2024 and asked for feedback on what worked and what didn’t. That input helped shape the Complete Streets design alternative options we’re sharing with you today.
What are Complete Streets?
Since 2022, Washington state has asked WSDOT to include “Complete Streets” features in projects that cost $500,000 or more. That means this SR 500 repaving project is a great opportunity to consider how to make the road safer and more accessible for all.
A Complete Streets approach is designed to make roads safer and more accessible for everyone – whether you’re walking, biking, using transit, or driving. Even if you only drive, these improvements can lead to less traffic and cleaner air for the whole community.
Complete Streets is an approach to design that enables safe, convenient access for all types of transportation options – walking, biking, driving and riding transit.
Learn more about the Complete Streets program here
Level of Traffic Stress
SR 500 has a Level of Traffic Stress of 4 for both pedestrians and bicyclists — on a scale where 4 is the most stressful. We have developed alternatives that reduce this level to a 2 or better. This means we’ll design it to be safer for most adults, including those who experience disabilities.
Funding
The repaving of SR 500 and construction of Complete Streets improvements are not yet funded. This pre-design study will determine what they would cost so that the project can move forward once funding is available.
Timeline
After we hear your feedback, we’ll prepare a preferred Complete Street design alternative and will share it online in mid-summer 2025.
Community Feedback
Important takeaways from out past outreach
- Concerns about speeding and traffic safety.
- Walking and biking feel unsafe due to a lack of bike lanes and narrow sidewalks.
- Support for sidewalks and bike lanes that are separated from traffic.
- Concerns about increased traffic during construction.
- Local agencies also want safer options for walking and biking on both sides of the road.
- Concerns about future maintenance costs