Project Facts
- Crews will add lanes for business access and transit.
- Improvements include upgraded crosswalk and signals to accommodate disabled pedestrians.
- Three miles of SR 99 between North 145th and North 205th Street will get safety upgrades.
April 2008
• Phase one (N. 145th Street through N. 165th Street) opened to traffic in June 2007.
• Phase two (N. 165th Street through N. 205th Street) will begin in late 2008/early 2009.
WSDOT is working with the City of Shoreline to improve safety and traffic flow on State Route 99 between North 145th Street and North 205th Street in Shoreline. This project is part of the City's plan to redesign and upgrade three miles of Aurora Avenue North to improve safety for the 38,000 to 45,000 vehicles and the large number of pedestrians that use this highway through Shoreline each day. This project will be built in two phases. Phase one (North 145th Street through North 165th Street) is currently under construction. Construction of phase two (North 165th Street through North 205th Street) will begin in late 2008/early 2009.
Why is WSDOT
partnering with Shoreline to improve State Route 99 in Shoreline?
Aurora in Shoreline is one of the most hazardous stretches of urban arterial highway within the state. In a five-year period 42 pedestrian and vehicle incidents occurred on Aurora within Shoreline. The percentage of these that were fatal or disabling were twice the statewide average for similar roadways. Safety is a priority for us so we are supporting the city of Shoreline to make upgrades that will improve traffic flow and safety for the diverse group of commuters that use Aurora Avenue.
The End Result
Three miles of Aurora Avenue North will be redesigned and upgraded. When the work is complete drivers and pedestrians will have the following improvements on SR 99 between North 145th and North 205th Streets:
- Additional lanes for business access and transit
- New sidewalks, crosswalks and lighting
- Additional signals and left and U-turn pockets
- Undergrounding of overhead power lines
Project Benefits
- Driver Safety - Crews will replace the two-way center turn lane with a landscaped center median with focused left turn and U-turn pockets. These modifications lower the risk of collisions.
- Pedestrian Safety - Sidewalks, pedestrian countdown signals, wheelchair detectors, audible signals, and ramps will make the area safer for pedestrians.
- Congestion Relief - Business access and transit lanes mean buses and other vehicles pulling in and out of driveways do not interrupt traffic flow in the through lanes.
What is the project timeline?
Construction is complete on phase one (between North 145th and North 165th Street). Construction north of North 165th Street is scheduled to begin in late 2008/early 2009.
- Spring 2005 - City of Shoreline awarded the construction contract to Gary Merlino Construction Company to build the first phase of this project.
- Summer 2005 - Construction began on phase one.
- Spring 2007 - Phase one of this project will be complete.
- Late 2008/Early 2009 - Construction begins on phase two.
- 2012 - Phase two will be complete.
Public Involvement
Your thoughts and opinions are important to us if you have questions or comments, please contact the project team.
Other Ways to Keep Informed:
- Get updated construction information from Shoreline's Aurora Info Line at (206) 546-5680
- Sign up for the city's Aurora Corridor construction e-mail updates.
Environmental Protection
This project went through an extensive environmental review. The project received environmental approval through the State Environmental Policy Act in November 2002 and from the federal government in August 2003.
Please visit the WSDOT Environmental
Services Web site for more information.
Increasing safety is one of our priorities
38,000 to 45,000 vehicles use SR 99 to travel through Shoreline each day. In addition to these drivers, a large number of pedestrians and transit buses use this route daily as well. This project improves safety for these diverse commuters by improving access to and from businesses along the highway as well as transit which picks up and drops off riders along the highway by adding the following:
- Outside lanes for buses and vehicles entering and exiting businesses. This stops transit and other vehicles (pulling into or out of driveways) from interrupting traffic on Aurora
- Controlled left turn and U-turn lanes for drivers accessing the opposite side of the highway
- Street lighting throughout the corridor and 7-foot-wide sidewalks separated from the outside travel lane by a 4-foot-wide landscaped strip for pedestrian safety
- Countdown pedestrian signals, wheelchair detectors, audible signals and ramps at cross walks which will make audible signals that chirp rapidly to let people know when it is safe to cross the street.
Will this project impact tribal resources?
At WSDOT we seek to address the concerns of the tribal nations using the process outlined in Section 106 of The National Historic Preservation Act and the WSDOT Tribal Consultation Policy adopted in 2003 by the Transportation Commission as part of the WSDOT Centennial Accord Plan. In accordance to this misson we began Section 106 consultation with the Suquamish and Tulalip Tribes in September 2000.
Financial Information
Phase one (North 145th Street - North 165th Street)
- City Roads Capital Funding - $3,061,347
- State - $13,431,000
- Transportation Improvement Board - $5,505,000
- 2003 Gas Tax (Nickel Funding) - $7,926,000
- Federal - $ 11,045,716
- King County - $500,000
- Other Funding Sources - $13,220
- Total Funding From All Sources - $28,061,283
Phase two (North 165th Street - North 205th Street)
- City Roads Capital Funding - $10,490,354
- State - $14,600,000
- Federal - $13,760,061
- King County - $2,401,742
- Total Funding From All Sources - $41,252,157
How can I get more information?
Contact:
Hung Huynh
WSDOT Northwest Region
15700 Dayton Avenue North
Shoreline, WA 98133-9710
Phone: 206-440-4311
E-mail:HuynhH@wsdot.wa.gov
Kirk McKinley
City of Shoreline
17544 Midvale Ave. N
Shoreline, WA 98133-4921
Phone: 206-546-3901
E-mail: kmckinle@ci.shoreline.wa.us
back to top