16th Avenue SW: SW 100th Street to SW 107th Street Pedestrian Safety Improvements & Traffic Calming Project
Construction in spring/summer 2025
Existing view of 16th Avenue SW approaching SW 107th Street, looking south.
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Status update
June 2024
The Pedestrian Safety Improvements & Traffic Calming Project is now set to start in spring or summer 2025. The initial plan was for it to start in summer 2024, however the County requires extra time to secure the funding needed for the project. Thank you for your patience.
Upcoming drainage improvement roadwork on 16th Ave SW at SW 104th St in late summer/early fall 2024:
Crews will replace an underground drainage pipe at the intersection of 16th Ave. SW and SW 104th St. The work will require a full road closure for up to seven (7) days in late May or June. Exact roadwork dates will be posted here and on MyCommute map.
Overview
This project will make it safer for people to travel along 16th Avenue SW between SW 100th Street and SW 107th Street in White Center. King County will add safer street crossings, clearer signs and road improvements to help reduce speeding.
The roadway will undergo restriping to have one vehicle travel lane and a dedicated bike lane in each direction. There will also be a center turn lane down the middle of the road.
Construction is scheduled to begin in spring or summer 2025.
Project map
This project improves pedestrian safety along 16th Avenue SW between SW 100th Street and SW 107th Street. View larger image (106KB).
This project improves safety for pedestrians and calms traffic
The image above shows what 16th Avenue SW between SW 100th and SW 107th streets will look like once the project is complete. The road will be restriped to have one 11-foot-wide travel lane and one bike lane in each direction. There will be a center turn lane down the middle of the road, and an eight-foot (8-foot) wide parking lane on the east side of the road. View larger image (49KB)
Safety improvements coming to 16th Avenue SW
This project will calm traffic and improve pedestrian safety by providing the following:
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One lane in each direction
This will help prevent speeding by slowing down traffic and makes crossings safer for people walking. -
Center turn lane
Provides a safer place for drivers to make left turns. This will allow traffic to move freely in the main travel lane. -
Sidewalk curb extensions at SW 104th Street and SW 106th Street intersections
There are no traffic signals at these two intersections to stop traffic. Sidewalk curb extensions will help drivers see people walking in the crosswalk. The extensions also will shorten the distance people need to cross. -
Rapid flashing lights and new pedestrian crossing signs at intersections that do not have a traffic signal
Flashing lights and high-visibility signs will alert drivers when pedestrians are crossing 16th Avenue SW at SW 104th and SW 106th Street. - Bicycle lanes in both directions
New, five-foot (5-foot) wide bicycle lanes will separate bike riders from motor vehicle traffic. This will give people on bikes or other active transportation more room so that they don’t have to share the road with cars. - Two feet of extra space (buffer zone) on both sides of bike lane
Cyclists feel more comfortable and secure when they are not too close to moving traffic or parked cars. A two-foot (2-foot) wide buffer zone on both sides of the bike lane could help encourage more people to choose biking or other types of active transportation to get to where they want to go.
Changes to on-street parking
Currently, there are 43 parking spaces on 16th Avenue SW between SW 100th and SW 107th streets. The total number of parking spaces in the project area will likely stay the same, but their locations might change. For instance, parking spaces currently on the west side of the road may be moved to the east side. This shift is necessary to accommodate new bike lanes, sidewalk curb extensions, and safety improvements.
Why is this project needed?
16th Avenue SW, is important for people walking, biking, and driving. However, it is currently more focused on cars and trucks than pedestrians or cyclists. We want to make this part of 16th Avenue SW safer for everyone. There have been 26 collisions with pedestrians reported in this busy area between 2011-2023. Studies show that the safety improvements like the ones included in this project can reduce the number of collisions up to one-third.
Existing roadway layout
The image above shows what 16th Avenue SW between SW 100th and SW 107th streets looks like today. The road currently has two travel lanes in each direction and a center turn lane. There are no bicycle lanes on this road. View larger image (55KB)
Google Earth photo of 16th Ave. SW between SW 107th and SW 102nd streets looking north (photo taken in 2022). The existing road layout is built more for car traffic than people walking or biking.
Higher speeds can result in more collisions with pedestrians.
Roads with a single travel lane in each direction and a center turn lane have slower, calmer traffic. This is important for pedestrians and cyclists because slower vehicle speeds make it safer, reducing the risk of injury and death.
- Fewer travel lanes make it safer to cross the street and allow room for sidewalk curb extensions and buffered bicycle lanes.
- Sidewalk curb extensions reduce the crossing distance for pedestrians in the crosswalk.
- Extra space, or buffer zone, on both sides of the bicycle lane provides a dedicated place for non-motorized traffic.
Community involvement
In winter and spring 2022, King County conducted an outreach campaign and survey to collect input from over 800 community members. Two potential project design options were presented to the community for their consideration.
- Design option 1:
- One travel lane in each direction and a center turn lane
- Dedicated lanes for bicycles in both directions.
- Retains some street parking.
- Design option 2:
- One travel lane in each direction and a center turn lane
- No dedicated lanes for bicycles.
- Adds more street parking on both sides of the road.
Over half of the survey participants chose Design option 1 the best fit for the community’s needs. As a result, the County proceeded with this chosen design.
Frequently asked questions
- Countdown pedestrian signal heads will let pedestrians know how much time remains to cross the intersection
- Audible messaging will inform pedestrians which crossing has a “walk”
- Vibration and tactile surfaces at crosswalks and intersections will also inform pedestrians which crossing has a “walk”
- High visibility pedestrian safety signs make it easier for drivers to know when to expect pedestrians
- Accessible ramps help people with disabilities, people pushing strollers, and others, access the crosswalk