In Seattle's ongoing effort to foster a town center that epitomizes diversity, sustainability, and affordability, significant strides are being made towards enhancing transportation safety and connectivity around the Mt Baker Station Area. According to Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT), there are current discussions on potentially relocating the Metro Transit Center closer to the Mt Baker Light Rail station, a move based on prior community feedback seeking improved transit connections and pedestrian safety.
While SDOT is studying the feasibility of such a relocation, the design and construction phase remains unfunded. Nevertheless, in partnership with King County Metro and Sound Transit, they are exploring early concepts. In addition to these efforts, a multiagency team, as part of the Mt Baker Station Area Planning, aims to identify actionable measures that resonate with the resident's aspirations. This collaborative venture includes the Office of Planning and Community Development at the helm of the process.
Another angle being addressed involves enhancing pedestrian and cyclist accessibility. From a list of proposed improvements, six out of eight have been greenlit for design advancement. These include extended sidewalk corners, widened sidewalks, and revamped crosswalks, among others. The two initiatives set aside, for now, entail artistic touches to a pedestrian bridge and the transformation of a section of Mt Baker Blvd for exclusive pedestrian and bike use. The community workshops held in 2019 indicated general support for all proposed improvements, but funding reallocation in 2020 has dictated the ongoing focus on these select projects.
The issue at hand traces back to the troubled intersection of Rainier Ave S and Martin Luther King Jr Way S — a challenge for day-to-day transit, as well as pedestrian and vehicular coexistence. SDOT, recognizing the necessity for improved safety, access, and neighborhood vitality, embarked on a long-term multimodal plan to reshape this nexus in alignment with several overarching urban development strategies. This plan is in line with the broader objectives outlined in the North Rainier Urban Village Assessment and the Mt Baker Town Center - Urban Design Framework, aiming to resolve the area's convoluted transit routes and promote a more harmonious transit experience.
Community engagement has played a pivotal role, with SDOT conducting seven workshops in late 2019, supplemented by a comprehensive survey in the same period. Outreach extended to local businesses through various events and information sessions, ensuring broad stakeholder involvement. With this groundwork laid and the slated design phase for some improvements moving forward, Seattle inches closer to the realization of a more accessible and integrated Mt Baker Station Area.
