By: April Delchamps
Playing smart, not just playing hard
The Seahawks are heading to the Superbowl! Whether you're preparing for gameday or watching highlights from past games, one thing stands out: winning is not just about effort; it is about strategy and teamwork. The best teams make smart decisions. They adapt to changing conditions and use every part of the field effectively.
You do not win games by doing the same thing over and over when it is not working. You adjust. You read the situation. You make choices based on what is actually happening, not just what you wish would happen.
That is exactly the approach we are taking with Rainier Avenue South as part of the Judkins Park Station – Reconnecting Communities Study.
 |
| Map of the Judkins Park area with the I-90 ramps endpoints shown as orange dots. |
What is this study about?
WSDOT is studying ways to change the Intersate-90 ramps. Our goals are:
- Improving safe travel for all, especially pedestrians and people biking at I-90 ramp termini.
- Increasing community connectivity and access to the Judkins Park Link light rail station for those who ride transit, walk, bike and roll.
To learn more, check out the webpage: I-90 Judkins Park Station – Reconnecting Communities | WSDOT
Our study follows a clear seven step process to find the best solutions for reconnecting the community. Check out our September 2025 blog post to learn more about the process.
Community input: strategy based on local knowledge
We heard you loud and clear: you want to prioritize walking, rolling and biking, while keeping vehicle access to businesses, homes and services. In response, we are modeling the total number of lanes (driving lanes and bus lanes) from six to four. Learn more about your feedback on our September blog post.
Understanding the playing field
Interstates are designed for moving vehicles efficiently and quickly. The vision for Seattle is that moving around city streets should be safe, equitable and sustainable. All people and businesses can access their daily needs and feel connected to their community.
What Rainier Avenue South looks like
Currently, there are six traffic lanes where the I-90 ramps meet Rainier Avenue South in Judkins Park, including two bus priority lanes.
 |
| Today's Rainier Avenue South under I-90 has six lanes. |
We are modeling different options for the total number of lanes to include options between four and six lanes at this location.
This matters to your daily life because it affects how you get around. Whether you drive, take the bus, walk or bike, this decision shapes your experience traveling through Judkins Park.
Testing different traffic scenarios
Good coaches do not just show up on game day and hope for the best. They study films, run practice scenarios, and test different formations. Our key question: How many lanes do we need on Rainier Avenue South at the I-90 interchange?
We fully acknowledge that Seattle is growing. The population is increasing, and people will be making more trips than ever. But here is the key difference: not everyone will be driving a car to do it.
To expand travel options and continue moving people and goods throughout a growing city without the need to widen roads, our region is investing heavily in travel options: new light rail routes, RapidRide bus service and improved walking and biking routes. The logic is simple but powerful: when people have high-quality, reliable travel options, they actually use them. By diversifying our transportation network, we protect the character of our city while ensuring everyone can get where they need to go efficiently.
We tested two main scenarios for traffic between now and 2050:
- Scenario A: Flat growth of traffic - Traffic volumes stay similar to what we see today. Even if the same number of cars keep using Rainier Avenue South between the I-90 ramps, four lanes can continue to support traffic moving with congestion during the busiest times of the day.
- Scenario B: Reduced growth of traffic – Traffic volumes decrease because more people shift to transit, walking, rolling and biking. With fewer vehicles on the road, four traffic lanes with (one lane for vehicles and one lane for buses (outside lane) in each direction) can keep people and goods moving.
Both scenarios support reducing the number of lanes in three out of the four alternatives.
Why four lanes: working smarter, not bigger
We coordinated with SDOT to model scenarios that would potentially reduce Rainier Avenue South to four lanes at the I-90 interchange to improve conditions for people walking, biking and rolling. Modeling these scenarios will help us identify our preferred option for changing the I-90 ramps. Here's what we found:
Four lanes is the minimum number of lanes we need to keep traffic and freight moving and support reliable bus service. It also supports better facilities for people walking, rolling and biking. Four lanes allow buses to stop in a dedicated bus lane, rather than merging in and out of traffic, improving transit reliability.
Remember that this is just what we've studied – any actual changes to Rainier Avenue South would be determined by SDOT working closely with community and other agency partners.
 |
| Much like a football game, using available space is important when designing pedestrian and bike improvements. |
Dedicated transit lanes, bike lanes and pedestrian options – the key to making this work
How we use the field matters. Bus lanes, bike lanes and pedestrian improvements are key pieces for this area. We are prioritizing the modes that move the most people most efficiently.
Why dedicated transit lanes matter:
- Transit moves more people: One bus with its own lane replaces dozens of cars.
- Reliability changes behavior: When buses arrive on schedule because they have dedicated lanes, more people choose transit. SDOT recently completed extension of the northbound bus lane on Rainier Avenue South from South Walden Street to South State Street in summer 2025 and Route 7 riders have already seen an average saving of up to 5 minutes per trip during the busiest morning hours.
- Access for everyone: Reliable transit serves the communities that depend on it most. For people who cannot drive, cannot afford a car or choose not to drive, it is how they get to work, school, medical appointments and everywhere else.
- Increased ridership and connections: Rainier Ave South is an important transit corridor, serving tens of thousands of daily riders on King County Metro bus routes 4, 7, 9, 48, 50 and 106. Route 7 alone serves an average of 12,000 daily weekday riders (as of September 2025). Bus lanes facilitate better connections with other transit options in the Rainier Valley, such as Mount Baker Transit Center, Mount Baker Light Rail Station, and the soon-to-open Judkins Park Light Rail Station.
Why bike lanes and pedestrian improvements matter:
When walking, rolling and biking are comfortable, more people can use them for everyday trips. Features like protected bike lanes and protected crossings make these options work for people of different ages and abilities. This is especially important near the new light rail station, where many people will arrive this way, including families, students, and seniors.
The Study's recommended configuration: One bus lane and one vehicle lane in each direction, plus dedicated space for people walking, rolling and biking. This balances multiple needs while prioritizing what works best for the most people.
What does this alternative mean for you?
If you drive
- Two lanes will remain for cars (one lane in each direction).
- Expect some congestion during rush hour.
- You will still be able to access local businesses and services.
If you take the bus
- Your bus will have its own dedicated lane.
- Buses will not get stuck in traffic.
- More reliable arrival times: you can plan your schedule with more confidence.
- Frequent buses, especially during rush hour.
- Better connections to the new light rail station.
If you walk, roll or bike
- More crossings with fewer lanes of traffic to navigate.
- More space dedicated to walking, rolling and biking.
- Better connections to the light rail station.
- Separated (protected) bike lanes where possible.
- Improved sidewalks and crosswalks.
If you own or work at a local business
- Customers can still drive to your business.
- Better transit access brings more potential customers.
- People walking, rolling, and biking are more likely to stop at local shops.
- Deliveries and loading zones will still be accessible.
Team coordination: WSDOT and SDOT working together
The best teams in football are not just talented, they work together.
Many agency partners are working together in this area: Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT), Seattle Office of Planning and Community Development, Seattle Parks and Recreation, King County Metro Transit, Sound Transit and more. We work together, with approaches that support each other.
Rethinking the I-90 ramps will impact Rainier Avenue South. Because of this, we are working with SDOT on details for Rainier Avenue South:
- SDOT and WSDOT have already made near-term improvements in the area. These are quick changes that address some current conditions. Learn more at their I-90/Judkins Park Station Near-Term Crossing Improvements webpage.
- WSDOT is working on long-term solutions to rethink the I-90 ramps with this study.
- SDOT has a paving project on Rainier Avenue South between South Jackson Streets and South Walden Street funded by the 2024 Seattle Transportation Levy. SDOT will engage with the public agency partners on how to modernize this segment of Rainier Avenue South to improve safety, equity, and sustainability.
- WSDOT and SDOT meet regularly, share data and align our approaches. When one of us does something, the other is participating and ready to support, as much as possible.
What is happening now
The engineers are evaluating the four alternatives. Learn more about all four alternatives in our December blog post.
In the coming months, we will share draft results from our alternatives analysis and select the preferred alternative and move forward with detailed design work. The specific design details will depend on which alternative we select. Each alternative has different implications for how the street will function.
Working in partnership with other agencies and by continuing to collect input from the public, we will figure out the specifics: exact locations for bus stops, crosswalk designs and locations, bike lane configurations, sidewalk improvements and stormwater management solutions. These details matter because they affect how the final design actually works in your daily life.
Timeline and funding
Final design and construction of WSDOT's preferred option for the I-90 interchange will depend on future funding. Later this year, SDOT will begin engaging the community on how to modernize Rainier Avenue South between South Jackson Street and South Walden Street with their levy funded paving project.
Learn more and stay informed
We are committed to transparency throughout this process. Just like the Seahawks' Twelves, your feedback makes a difference. Thanks for helping to make this community driven.
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
GO SEAHAWKS!