Coming Soon to Aurora

Existing southbound bus stop at N 84th St & Aurora Ave N

New configuration using former street space

How do you improve a major transit stop with narrow sidewalks and limited space for facilities?  Answer: use the street.  That’s exactly what the Aurora Ave Bus Stop Pilot Project intends to do in an effort to improve the busy southbound transit stop at N 84^th St and Aurora Avenue North.

Born from the Aurora Action Agenda, which aims to improve the neighborhood along Aurora, this project will partially close N 84^th St and use the former street space to build a new and improved transit stop.  The new facility will expand the rider waiting area, boost bus stop capacity, and provide landscaping and lighting at this major transit transfer point and future Rapid Ride Station.   Pedestrian access will be improved by placing the new bus shelter outside of walking areas and by installing new curb ramps and repairing sidewalks.  The partial closure configuration will minimize impacts on local businesses and potentially calm traffic on the residential side street.

After extensive outreach efforts to business owners and residents, SDOT will break ground on this project the week of November 30^th.   Construction is expected to last approximately two weeks.

For more information, please contact SDOT Project Manager Casey Hildreth by phone at 206-233-3780 or via email at casey.hildreth@seattle.gov.

Aurora Ave Bus Stop Pilot Project - click image to view larger version

 

Posted: November 24th, 2009 under General.

3 Responses to “Coming Soon to Aurora”

1. Walkable Greenwood says:

   December 8, 2009 at 10:45 am

   Can we expect to see zero Type B curb cuts along Aurora and loading platforms at bus floor level?

   Reply
   • SDOT Blog says:

     December 11, 2009 at 3:02 pm

     Hi Kate. The two new curb ramps to be installed as part of this project will be constructed according to City of Seattle standard plan 422a. So no new Type B ramps will be installed.

     The new curb for the bus loading zone will be six inch standard curb. RapidRide coaches will be low floor buses so the bus loading platform will indeed be at the same height as the bus floor. This makes boarding and disembarking from the bus a breeze – just walk right off the bus and onto the sidewalk. Most of the buses for the existing Route 358 are also low-floor models.

     Reply
2. News Roundup: Keep Grace Crunican - Seattle Transit Blog says:

   December 4, 2009 at 1:26 pm

   [...] begins work this week on Aurora bus platforms. RapidRide buses will eventually run along the [...]

   Reply