Judkins Park and I-90 – choosing the best alternative for the ramps

By: April Delchamps

Finding the right fit for the community

It is that time of year in Washington when choosing the right outfit feels impossible. You leave home layered up with rain boots and jacket. And, an hour later, you are sweating while carrying all that gear around town.

Deciding on a winter outfit can be tricky. Good luck out there, all! Choosing the right street layout changes for a WSDOT project is far more complex. These decisions affect neighborhoods, local businesses and community organizations. At Rainier Avenue South and I-90, they affect everyone who walks, rolls, bikes or drives.

We take this responsibility seriously. We know past decisions have had a big impact on overburdened communities. For every study and project, we must find a balance. We have to work within the physical limitations to find the best access and safest options, while avoiding negative impacts on the community. Learn more about WSDOT’s best practices as it relates to community impacts.

The Judkins Park challenge

The Judkins Park Station – Reconnecting Communities Study demonstrates this careful balance. We are studying how to improve where the I-90 ramps meet Rainier Avenue South. We now have four options, or alternatives, to consider. You could say we are “trying on” these four different alternatives.

The community has played a central role in coming up with these four alternatives. You have shared what you love about your neighborhood and how you want to see it improve. Passionate people in the Judkins Park area have joined us, imagining a new design for these I-90 ramps.

What exists today

Here is what the ramps look like today:

Map of Judkins Park area with the on-ramp and off-ramps.

Our goal is to enhance safety and connectivity for those who walk, roll and bike. This will be even more important when the Judkins Park Link light rail station opens. Like choosing the right winter outfit, we are thinking about benefits and tradeoffs. We want to understand the human experience, as well as what the traffic models predict.

What we are considering

1. Community input

Community feedback is at the center of decision-making. Read our first blog post about this study for more details about what we have heard from the community.

2. Current data and assumptions

We are testing the four alternatives with these assumptions:

• There will be increased transit, biking, and walking or rolling in the Judkins Park area.
• There will be no increase in vehicle traffic.
• Changing the ramps provides opportunities to reduce the number of lanes along Rainier Avenue South, in the study area, from six lanes to four lanes.
  • Important note: A follow-up test will be done to check if the number of lanes at the intersections can be further reduced by using lower traffic volumes along Rainier Avenue South.
• Vehicles cannot turn right on a red light at a traffic signal.

3. Physical limitations

We are balancing these realities:

• We cannot get rid of vehicle access. People need to access social services, schools, work and other activities.
• Community places must stay connected. This includes parks, trails, businesses, schools and services.
• Space is limited. We have to think about things like hills and slopes, stormwater systems, sound walls and other projects (like the Judkins Park Station and RapidRide).

The four alternatives

We have narrowed our options down to four alternatives, or options. Each one has a different way of enhancing safety and connectivity for people walking, biking and rolling. Think of it like trying different outfits. Your warmest coat is the heaviest to carry, and your rain boots might not be ideal for walking long distances. No option is perfect, which is why we are carefully studying how each one may work in real life.

Important note: Our engineers are evaluating each option. They are verifying the number of vehicle lanes, how bus stop areas work and how the intersections are designed. We are sharing what we know so far, and once these options are refined, we will share more.

In every option, we are thinking about how the ramps meet Rainier Avenue South. If we use T-shaped intersections, with angles closer to 90-degrees, vehicles will have to slow down or stop. This means vehicles will not be able to flow freely from the ramps to Rainier Avenue South.

Alternative 1

This option keeps all existing ramps. This allows vehicles to access the Judkins Park neighborhood services and destinations. Here are some other things we are considering for this alternative:

• A single traffic signal or roundabout would be added to Ramp #3 and Ramp #5, and a new traffic signal would be added to Ramp #4. This would force vehicles to slow down or stop. They would not flow freely between Rainier Avenue South and the ramps.
• This option also reduces Rainier Avenue South to four lanes under I-90. Buses would stop in the regular travel lane to pick up and drop off passengers. In this design, buses spend less time pulling out of and merging back into traffic.

A map of Alternative 1. The ramp changes are shown in orange.

Alternative 2

This option closes the westbound I-90 off-ramp to northbound Rainier Avenue South (Ramp #4, shown with red hatching). Here are other things we are considering for this alternative:

• Adding a traffic signal or roundabout to Ramp #5. This would serve vehicles travelling from westbound I-90 to both southbound and northbound Rainier Avenue South.
• A pedestrian signal is added just north of I-90. This would allow people to cross the street at a controlled marked crossing.
• This option reduces Rainier Avenue South to four lanes under I-90. It would use in-lane bus loading, similar to Alternative 1.

A map of Alternative 2. Ramp changes are shown in orange, and proposed ramp removals are shown in red.

Alternative 3

This option is the opposite of Alternative 2. Alternative 3 closes the I-90 westbound off-ramp to southbound Rainier Avenue South (Ramp #5, shown with red hatching). Some other things we are considering for this alternative are:

• Adding a traffic signal to Ramp #4. This will serve vehicles travelling from westbound I-90 to both southbound and northbound Rainier Avenue South.
• A traffic signal or roundabout would also be added to Ramp #3. This would allow people to cross the street at a controlled marked crossing.
• This alternative also reduces Rainier Avenue South to four lanes under I-90. It would use in-lane bus loading, similar to Alternative 1.

A map of Alternative 3. Ramp changes are shown in orange, and proposed ramp removals are shown in red.

Alternative 4

This option makes the most dramatic changes. It would close both the westbound off-ramp (Ramp #4) and the eastbound on-ramp (Ramp #2) (both shown with red hatching). The vehicle movements served by Ramp #4 would be added to Ramp #5, and the vehicle movements for Ramp #2 would be added to Ramp #3. Other elements of this alternative are:

• A single new traffic signal or roundabout would serve both Ramp #3 and Ramp #5, north of I-90.
• A pedestrian signal is added just north of I-90. This would allow people to cross the street at a controlled marked crossing.
• This alternative requires six lanes under I-90. There would be four vehicle lanes and two bus lanes. The buses would load in their own lane, which requires the buses to merge back into traffic.

A map of Alternative 4. Ramp changes are shown in orange, and proposed ramp removals are shown in red.

What’s next

As winter continues, Seattleites will continue the daily winter outfit debate. Meanwhile, our engineers will be using special software to review each alternative. They will be looking for a sweet spot. They want to enhance safety and comfort for people who walk, roll, and bike, without making it harder for drivers.

A graphic showing our study process and how community engagement is incorporated into our decision-making process.

Where we are in the study

We are using a clear process for our study. We want to improve access to the light rail station and reconnect the community. We are currently in the middle of Step 4, shown below.

Here's how it works

See the graphic on the right for more details on the study process, the questions we’re asking at each step, and how we’ll arrive at the final result.

After step 4, analyzing the four alternatives, we will talk about the results. We'll share these in a future blog post.

Throughout this whole process, we are working closely with both our Advisory Group and the community to get their input.

Learn more and stay connected

We are committed to transparency throughout this process.

Study webpage

Visit the project page for the latest updates, detailed information and recordings/presentations from our Advisory Group meetings.

Email updates

• Sign up for Seattle area news and study updates.

Contact Info

Amber Stanley - Community Engagement Lead
Phone: 206-817-8833
Email: amber.stanley@wsdot.wa.gov

Safety, teamwork and heart: Recognizing the life-saving efforts of ferry employees

By: Brian Vail

Our ferry crews and terminal staff respond to many emergencies on any given day. They show courage and calm under pressure. Whether they’re rescuing people from the water, helping passengers with medical issues or supporting first responders in urgent situations at our terminals or on our vessels, our teams always put safety and our customers first.

Each incident is a reminder that our ferry employees are trained and ready to act fast. They handle extreme situations by quickly deciding what’s needed, launching a rescue boat, getting people out of the water, bringing them back to the ferry and working with local emergency services to help those in trouble.

The following highlights some of the more significant moments since we last recognized our Life Ring Award winners in October 2024 when quick thinking and teamwork saved lives. The staff members involved in these rescues have all been presented with a Life Ring Award to recognize their efforts. This list of 18 events demonstrates the very best of Washington State Ferries.

Emergencies in the water

Our crews regularly save people who have fallen in the water. Especially in colder months, time is vital in these rescues.

Oct. 16, 2025
Wenatchee crew

Just after leaving Seattle, our crew saw an overturned kayak in Elliott Bay. They immediately launched a rescue boat and pulled two people from the water. The kayakers were cold but not hypothermic. Our crew brought them aboard the ferry and gave them blankets and hand warmers.

Sept. 4, 2025
Tillikum crew

As the Tillikum approached Lopez Island, the crew coordinated by phone with the sheriff’s department about a medical emergency on a boat in Blind Bay. After landing, they quickly launched the rescue boat. They reached the scene at the same time as the sheriff’s boat Knot Guilty. The crew stood by to support responders until the sheriff’s department and EMS released them.

July 26, 2025
Salish crew

While arriving in Coupeville, the Salish was alerted that two kayakers needed help near Admiralty Head. The tide was pulling the kayakers away from shore and they were struggling in the current. After docking, the crew launched a rescue boat and picked up one kayaker. The other was able to reach shore on their own and was already being checked by Whidbey EMS. The rescued kayaker was taken to the public boat launch, where EMS was waiting to help.

July 10, 2025
Kaleetan crew

The crew noticed Kitsap Transit’s fast ferry Lady Swift sitting still in Rich Passage. They then spotted a person in the water clinging to a daymark. As the Lady Swift crew members pulled the kayaker from the water, our team launched a rescue boat. This allowed for a quick and smooth transfer to shore on Bainbridge Island, where the local fire department took care of the kayaker.

June 17, 2025
Spokane crew

A car fleeing police broke through a gate and drove into the water at the Edmonds terminal. Terminal staff and law enforcement reacted quickly, helping two people who escaped the vehicle. As the Spokane approached the dock, its crew slowed the boat, stopped safely and launched a rescue boat that found and save a woman. Another person was rescued by the Kingston Water Rescue Unit. The Spokane crew returned to Kingston to safely unload and reload passengers.

June 13, 2025
Walla Walla crew

The U.S. Coast Guard got reports of people in the water near Blake Island after their canoe swamped. They asked Walla Walla to assist, so our crew quickly changed course. They launched a rescue boat and pulled two individuals from the water. Along with passengers with medical training, our crew members treated them for signs of hypothermia. Emergency medical staff met the ferry in Bremerton, checked the people and released them.

May 18, 2025
Walla Walla crew

A passenger reported seeing a kayaker in distress and out of their kayak near Rich Passage. The crew launched a rescue boat and reached the person. They brought the kayaker safely to land, where the person said they didn’t need more help.

March 30, 2025
Issaquah crew

Upon seeing a person in the water, our crew members quickly launched a rescue boat, bringing the person on board. Our Anacortes terminal staff contacted emergency medical services so that help would be ready when the Issaquah arrived.

Oct. 26, 2024
Oct. 27, 2024
Kitsap crew

The Kitsap crew saved lives on back-to-back days. First, they pulled a woman out of the water near the dock at Mukilteo with help from local police and fire departments. Then the same crew launched a rescue boat to save a distressed kayaker near Mukilteo.

Able-Bodied Seafarers Anthony Adams and Allegra Archer help with the transfer of the kayakers from our rescue boat to Seattle Fire Department's Fireboat 1 for medical checks and transport back to land. Photo courtesy Mike Caudle.

Medical emergencies

Our ferry crews, terminal staff and Eagle Harbor Maintenance Facility workers saved many people with medical emergencies on our boats and at our terminals. Their quick actions saved lives this past year.

June 16, 2025
Kittitas crew

Shortly after the ferry arrived at Vashon, crew members found an unresponsive passenger in the men’s restroom. They immediately called for help, and more crew arrived to assess the situation and declare a medical emergency. First aid supplies were brought to the scene, and the crew worked together to provide care. The crew provided the medication naloxone, or Narcan, which helped the passenger wake up and breathe normally. The crew moved the passenger to a wheelchair and stayed with him until paramedics arrived and took over.

Thank you to everyone for their incredible work saving lives at a moment’s notice. When people are in danger in and around the Salish Sea, Washington State Ferries is ready to respond if called on to help.

June 13, 2025
Issaquah crew

While sailing near Orcas Island, the engine room reported a medical emergency. Crew members responded with medical equipment. Recognizing the seriousness of the situation, EMS was dispatched to meet the vessel upon its expedited return to Orcas. The crew assisted with oxygen administration and communications. The patient was safely transferred to the care of Orcas Fire Department and transported for further medical evaluation.

May 24, 2025
Colman Dock terminal staff

Staff at Colman Dock responded to a collapsed person inside the terminal. A staff member retrieved the AED and helped revive the person. EMS arrived to further support the person.

May 17, 2025
Colman Dock terminal staff

Terminal staff recognized a person in distress and took steps to help. EMS was called and arrived in time to begin treatment. The person was stabilized and transported to the hospital.

April 8, 2025
Eagle Harbor Maintenance Facility staff

With the Chelan docked at our Eagle Harbor facility, a person fell and suffered a head injury. The staff worked together to give care and support EMS and local police.

Colman Dock security guard Luke Goergen was presented a Life Ring Award by Seattle Terminal Supervisor Matthew Perry in July. Luke was one of five people recognized for their work in a medical emergency at Colman Dock.

March 23, 2025
Walla Walla crew

During offloading, a crew member saw a driver who wasn’t responding and opened the car door to check on him. He had a weak pulse and was barely breathing. Offloading was stopped and the crew brought down an automated external defibrillator and trauma kit. After 15 minutes, they got a pulse and EMS took the man to the hospital. Following 11 days in the hospital, the man and his wife surprised our crew with a visit to say thank you.

March 2, 2025
Colman Dock terminal staff

Upon finding a person unresponsive in the Colman Dock women’s restroom, our staff assessed the situation and administered Narcan. The staff coordinated with emergency services and ensured that the person was stabilized before first responders arrived.

Feb. 4, 2025
Colman Dock terminal staff

Our terminal staff received a call about a person in distress on the elevated pedestrian walkway. Staff assisted in giving the person Narcan and keeping the individual alert until emergency responders arrived.

Renton to Bellevue project update: New timeline

With this year's busy summer construction season behind us, we're taking stock of the progress made on the I-405/Renton to Bellevue Widening and Express Toll Lanes Project – and what's still ahead. And that includes a revised timeline.

Summer is the most productive time of year for construction in our region. Dry weather creates the right conditions for paving, pouring concrete and other activities that don't mix well with rain. Many types of work simply can't happen during the wet and cold months, so summer is when significant progress is made on much of our work.

For some time, we've been sharing that this project could be ready for use as early as the end of 2025, based on the contractor's contractual date. At this point, while there is no updated construction schedule from the contractor that we have approved, we do know that the end of 2025 is no longer achievable.

Unfortunately, the contractor is not delivering on schedule. WSDOT is doing everything possible to hold the contractor accountable, including taking them to court. That litigation is ongoing.

Based on this summer's progress, we've updated our forecast. We're currently targeting summer 2027 to open the project to traffic. Construction has moved slower than planned, and the contractor has not met key milestones in the contract. At this time, we're continuing to work closely with them to find ways to speed up the schedule while ensuring the project is completed safely, and to the high standard the public deserves.

The improvements from this project will offer more reliable travel choices – helping drivers, transit riders and freight move more efficiently through one of the state's busiest corridors. We know this is disappointing news for those who've been waiting for construction to wrap up and the project's benefits to be realized.

What happens next?

The Renton to Bellevue project is a design-build contract where we hire one company to design and construct the finished product all under a single contract. We are in active litigation with the design-build contractor following delays to the project's completion and claims by the contractor for additional payment that we don't believe are allowed under the contract. Our lawsuit asks the court to determine whether the contractor's claims are valid and seeks compensation from the contractor for failure to complete the project on time.

We do not take the decision to go to court lightly, and it rarely happens. Legal action is never our first choice. We aim to resolve issues through collaboration whenever possible, but we also have a responsibility to safeguard public resources and ensure accountability. We're committed to making sure all contractual obligations are met and the public interest, including financial accountability, is protected.

We will keep the community, and our public agency partners, updated on any new schedule information as it becomes available. Stay informed by subscribing to I-405/SR 167 Program email updates.

Answering your questions about the SR 167 Completion Project

By: Lizzy Buechel

Heading into winter, the SR 167 Completion Project in Pierce County is showing no signs of slowing down. Through summer and early fall we spoke about the project with people who attended local fairs and festivals. Thousands visited our online open house. We also received great questions through our construction hotline and project email. Keep reading to review information and responses to some of the most frequently asked questions we’ve heard.

Tolling the SR 167 Expressway between Puyallup and Tacoma

When complete, you can take the SR 167 Expressway from SR 509 near the Port of Tacoma to SR 167 where it currently ends at North Meridian Avenue in Puyallup. All lanes on the new SR 167 Expressway will be tolled using two electronic toll points. One toll point will be located just west of I-5. The other will be just east of I-5.

On the east side, between North Meridian Avenue and I-5, you’ll notice that toll rates will change throughout the day—ranging from $1.20 to $3 during peak travel hours. The toll rate on the west side between I-5 and SR 509 near the Port of Tacoma will be $1 at all times.

Although the new portion of SR 167 between Puyallup, Fife and Tacoma will be tolled, rest assured that no existing local roads will be tolled. The SR 167 Expressway offers a new, tolled choice for travel and more reliable trips. If you prefer not to pay a toll, you can still use your existing non-tolled local routes to get to your destination.

Paying for tolls

You can pay for tolls using your Good To Go! pass or through the mail if you don’t have a Good To Go! account. Review more details about how to pay for tolls through our tolling website. As a reminder, we never send toll bills through text messages – please stay safe from scams and don’t click unknown links in emails or texts.

Setting toll rates

Did you know that toll rates are set by the Washington State Transportation Commission? In spring 2025, the commission conducted a public process to set toll rates on SR 167 between Puyallup and Tacoma.

During that process, the Washington State Legislature directed the Commission to develop a system-wide low-income tolling program that would include discounts for qualifying drivers. The Commission will develop this program with WSDOT before it begins in 2026 on new tolled highways like the SR 167 Expressway.

If you’re interested in learning more about the rate setting process for the SR 167 expressway between Puyallup and Tacoma, check out the Washington State Transportation Commission’s webpage.

Why tolls are needed

The Legislature decides if a state highway will be tolled. Often this happens as part of the planning process for building a new road or bridge. That’s why you typically see tolling when new roads and bridges are built, like the Tacoma Narrows Bridge, the SR 520 bridge and now, the upcoming SR 167 Expressway. As Pierce County grows and more highway projects are needed to keep up with that growth, the Legislature will continue to make decisions about whether tolls are needed to pay for those highway projects.

The SR 167 Completion project is a good example of how tolling can help generate the funding needed to support the construction and maintenance of a new road. Tolling will contribute about $213 million to the Puget Sound Gateway Program, which oversees the SR 167 Completion Project. The tolls collected on the SR 167 expressway will be deposited into the Puget Sound Gateway facility account and will be used to help pay for the construction of the highway and for ongoing maintenance.

How tolls differ from the RTA tax

The Regional Transit Authority tax, also known as the RTA tax, is used to fund Sound Transit projects like the light rail expansion, Sounder commuter rail and the express bus system. The RTA tax is not used to fund WSDOT projects. However, sometimes there is overlap when Sound Transit and WSDOT work on projects in the same area—such as when road improvements are needed where the light rail is expanding—which can cause some confusion. If you want to learn more about what RTA funds cover, check out Sound Transit’s website.

Commute changes on North Meridian Avenue in Puyallup

As we build the new diverging diamond interchange and SR 167 bridge at North Meridian Avenue in Puyallup, our goal is to minimize traffic interruptions like frequent lane closures as much as possible. To keep traffic moving at this busy intersection, contractor crews shifted traffic slightly east on North Meridian Avenue in early October. This shift created a bypass for travelers and an uninterrupted work zone for construction crews. If you travel through this area, you can expect to use the bypass lane through early 2027, while we complete the new interchange and bridge.

Selecting an interchange design

We selected a diverging diamond interchange at North Meridian Avenue after studying traffic volumes in the area, costs and design options that would work best within the space we had to build. In this case, a diverging diamond interchange provided the safest and most efficient option to meet all design needs.

Diverging diamond interchanges help traffic flow better and improve safety. They are safer because there’s no need to turn left across traffic when entering or exiting the expressway. They also make traffic flow faster because there are fewer signal changes where you have to wait for a red light. And as a bonus, they have been found to be less expensive to build than other intersection types that require a larger structure, wider roads or extra turn lanes.

Using the new interchange at North Meridian Avenue when it opens in 2028

We know that diverging diamond interchanges can seem confusing when you see them on paper, but, believe it or not, they are very intuitive to use. The interchange uses the same rules of the road as everywhere else in Washington, so there’s nothing new for you to learn. The lanes direct drivers where they need to go, and there is only one route to take through the traffic signals with well-marked and easy to follow entry and exit points.

If you need to walk or roll through one of these intersections, don’t worry! They work well for pedestrians because there is a dedicated route with a wide path protected from traffic by a concrete barrier. Bicyclists can choose to ride with traffic or follow the pedestrian path.

Check out the videos and graphics below that show how you can use the new interchange when it partially opens to travelers in 2028.

North from Puyallup toward Edgewood and Milton

Motorists can travel north on North Meridian Avenue from Puyallup toward Edgewood/Milton using the center through lanes of the new North Meridian Avenue interchange.

South from Edgewood and Milton toward Puyallup

Motorists traveling south on North Meridian Avenue from Edgewood and Milton will use either the center or right lane heading toward Puyallup.

Northeast from Puyallup toward Sumner

Drivers travelling from Puyallup toward Sumner will use the right lane to access the on-ramp to northbound SR 167.

Southeast from Edgewood and Milton to Sumner

Drivers traveling from Edgewood and Milton toward Sumner will use either the center or left lane to access the on-ramp to northbound SR 167.

Northwest from Sumner toward Edgewood and Milton

Drivers exiting southbound SR 167 toward Edgewood and Milton will use either of the right lanes.

Southwest from Sumner toward Puyallup

Drivers exiting southbound SR 167 to downtown Puyallup will use either of the left lanes.

More diverging diamond interchange resources

For additional resources, review WSDOT’s YouTube channel for a video showing how drivers navigate a diverging diamond interchange, or reach out to our project team through the contact information listed at the end of this blog.

Safety on the future spuyaləpabš Trail

Excited for the new 12-mile trail we’re building as part of the SR 167 Completion Project? We are too! As we build the new trail, we’re working closely with each city it passes through. This includes local public works departments, social service providers and law enforcement to help with trail maintenance and monitoring for the safety and well-being of all users.

Environmental evaluations

In order to move forward with the SR 167 Completion Project, WSDOT and the Federal Highway Administration completed a Final Environmental Impact Statement in 2006 as part of the National Environmental Policy Act. The Final Environmental Impact Statement studied many aspects to help reduce effects of the project on environmental resources and local communities.

As the project moved forward into final design phases, we reviewed all design adjustments against the original environmental documentation and 2006 Final Environmental Impact Statement to confirm no new or additional resulting effects.

If you’re interested in reading more about the SR 167 Completion Project’s original Environmental Impact Statement, please refer to the “Environment” tab on our Puget Sound Gateway Program website.

Sound walls and traffic noise barriers

We worked with noise experts who studied a large area within the project footprint where people could be affected by traffic noise. Our study included residential and recreational areas in Edgewood, Fife, Milton, Puyallup and unincorporated Pierce County. Using guidelines set by the Federal Highway Administration and WSDOT, our study determined whether a sound barrier could be built that would meet both feasibility and reasonability criteria.

Ultimately, we determined that no noise barrier could be built to provide enough noise reduction at enough qualifying locations to justify the cost.

For more information about how we makes noise wall determinations, please visit the noise wall and barrier page on our website.

More project updates

Sign up for travel advisories and the SR 167 Completion project’s quarterly newsletter through this sign-up link. You can also review the SR 167 Project webpage for monthly updates about major road and lane closures.

Contacting the project team

You can contact us through email at SR167CompletionProject@wsdot.wa.gov or by phone through our construction hotlines. For information on SR 167 construction between I-5 and SR 509, call (253) 220-5009. For information on SR 167 construction between SR 410 and the Puyallup Recreation Center, call (253) 343-1440.