Downtown Seattle Corridor Gets Visioning Treatment

A stakeholder group hopes to create a pedestrian- and business-friendly streetscape in Downtown Seattle.

1 minute read

January 4, 2019, 8:00 AM PST

By Elana Eden


Bus Stop and Bike Lane

Green Lane Project / Flickr

The Downtown Seattle Association has put forth several versions of a vision to transform Third Avenue—a busy corridor that sits at the center of the city's work to update its Transit Master Plan and implement its One Center City framework.

More than 52,000 passengers ride buses along Third Avenue every day. But over the next few years, the opening of the East Link, Lynnwood Link, and Federal Way Link light rail extensions might draw some of those riders away. In anticipation, the Downtown Seattle Association hopes to refocus Third Avenue bus service on connections to rail, as well as to reduce overall street space for both autos and buses (while preserving bus-only lanes) to provide more sidewalk space for retail.

In The Urbanist, Stephen Fesler compares several concepts put forth by the association, analyzing their advantages and drawbacks and including renderings. All proposals consider urban design, public space, activating ground-floor spaces, transportation operations, and long-term public-private management of the corridor. Any adopted plan would likely be phased in through 2035.

Friday, December 28, 2018 in The Urbanist

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Get top-rated, practical training

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

April 30, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Close-up on Canadian flag with Canada Parliament building blurred in background.

Canada vs. Kamala: Whose Liberal Housing Platform Comes Out on Top?

As Canada votes for a new Prime Minister, what can America learn from the leading liberal candidate of its neighbor to the north?

April 28, 2025 - Benjamin Schneider

Hot air balloons rise over Downtown Boise with the State Capitol building visible amidst the high rises.

The Five Most-Changed American Cities

A ranking of population change, home values, and jobs highlights the nation’s most dynamic and most stagnant regions.

April 23, 2025 - GoodMigrations

People biking along beach path with moored ship in San Diego, California.

San Diego Adopts First Mobility Master Plan

The plan provides a comprehensive framework for making San Diego’s transportation network more multimodal, accessible, and sustainable.

May 2 - SD News

Sleeping in Public

Housing, Supportive Service Providers Brace for Federal Cuts

Organizations that provide housing assistance are tightening their purse strings and making plans for maintaining operations if federal funding dries up.

May 2 - KSL

Conductor walks down platform next to Amtrak train at station in San Jose, California.

Op-Ed: Why an Effective Passenger Rail Network Needs Government Involvement

An outdated rail network that privileges freight won’t be fixed by privatizing Amtrak.

May 2 - Streetsblog USA

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.

Planning for Universal Design

Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.

Senior Manager Operations, Urban Planning

New York City School Construction Authority

Building Inspector

Village of Glen Ellyn

Manager of Model Development

Central Transportation Planning Staff/Boston Region MPO