View at Golden Gardens Park. Photo Credit: SDOT Flickr. As we move into the second half of August, there’s still plenty of sun, warm weather, and fun around Seattle! We’ve got festivals, sports, and more summer construction coming up this month, so let’s get into it.
At-a-Glance: Click on the links below to read more!
- August 15: Vice President Kamala Harris to visit Seattle, expect travel impacts.
- August 19:
- August 18 – 30: Home Sports Games
- Known Construction
- August 14 – 19: light rail single tracking with required transfer at Pioneer Square Station.
Top Events
August 15: Vice President Kamala Harris to Visit Seattle
Vice President Kamala Harris’ trip to Seattle on August 15 will have an impact on travel throughout the Puget Sound region. Travelers can expect delays and some detours in Seattle. While Vice President Harris’s travel routes and timing are not published, travelers can anticipate temporary road closures to accommodate her safe passage through the city.
Give yourself plenty of extra time to reach your destination. Please also consider getting around without driving if possible. Riding transit and biking can be good ways to avoid congestion, but please note that some bus routes may also be affected by road closures, including possible short-term re-routes.
Riders are encouraged to sign up for transit alerts* for routes they ride, and to monitor local news and social media reports.
- Sign up for King County Metro Transit alerts and Sound Transit alerts.
- Follow tweets from King County Metro, SDOT Traffic, Sound Transit and WSDOT Traffic.
*Note that Sound Transit has a planned disruption to light rail operations with trains single tracking between the Capitol Hill and SODO stations.
August 19: Big Day of Play
Seattle Parks and Recreation’s Big Day of Play event will take place from 12 PM to 6 PM on Saturday, August 19! This celebration of Seattle’s diversity encourages neighbors, communities and families to have fun, build relationships and be active together.
Join in the fun at both Rainier Playfield and the Mt. Baker Rowing and Sailing Center! There’s a great line-up of in-person activities including free water activities, musical performances, vendors, open-play tennis and pickleball, crafts, games, and more.
There will be free shuttles running between Rainier Playfield and Mt. Baker Rowing and Sailing Center during the day, so everyone has the chance to take part in all the fun.
If you’re traveling through the area, slow down and keep an eye out for people of all ages taking part in activities and moving between event locations.
August 19: Chinatown – International District Food Walk
The last of this year’s C-ID Food Walk summer series is Saturday, August 19th. Explore what Seattle’s Chinatown–International District has to offer with food and retail offerings from local businesses. The Chinatown–International District Business Improvement Area (CIDBIA) will be at Hing Hay Park with menus and small prizes.
Getting to C-ID is easy with multiple transit options available. Take the light rail to C-ID Station, ride the First Hill Streetcar, or take various King County Metro routes.
*Note that Sound Transit has a planned disruption to light rail operations on this day with trains single tracking through the area.
SDOT Community Events Tabling
SDOT will be at various of events throughout Seattle this month! Stop by the celebrations below and talk all things transportation with our amazing team:
Seattle Sports Home Games
- August 18: Seattle Storm, 7:00 PM (Climate Pledge Arena)
- August 20: Sounders, 7:30 PM (Lumen Field)
- August 25: Mariners, 7:10 PM (T-Mobile Park)
- August 26: Mariners, 1:10 PM (T-Mobile Park)
- August 27: Mariners, 1:10 PM (T-Mobile Park); Seattle Storm, 3:00 PM (Climate Pledge Arena)
- August 28: Mariners, 6:40 PM (T-Mobile Park)
- August 29: Mariners, 6:40 PM (T-Mobile Park)
- August 30: Mariners, 1:10pm (T-Mobile Park)
Travelers around the stadium district and Climate Pledge should plan for delays before and after games. If you plan to go to a game, please consider taking transit, as the stadiums are served by light rail (Stadium Station*) and by a variety of bus routes.
*Note that Sound Transit has a planned disruption to light rail operations that will require passengers to transfer at Pioneer Square Station. Access to Stadium Station will be limited until the work is complete.
Known Construction
Nightly 520 ramp closure, August 14 – 17
The westbound SR 520 off-ramp to Montlake Boulevard will be closed from 10 PM to 6 AM on Monday, Aug. 14 until Thursday, Aug. 17. The ramp to Lake Washington Boulevard will remain open so drivers can still exit to the Montlake neighborhood.
Sound Transit Rail Work
August 12 – 20
Sound Transit is planning a light rail service disruption starting August 12 and lasting through August 20. Work needs to be done to reconstruct the track crossing at Royal Brougham Way in SODO.
Rail operations have resumed, with single track service between Capitol Hill and SODO through August 20. Riders will be required to transfer at Pioneer Square Station and access to Stadium Station will be limited until the work is complete.
August 21 – September 17
Sound Transit will be operating at reduced service levels in 2 phases starting August 21 and going through September 17. They will be performing platform maintenance at Othello and Rainier Beach.
From August 21 – September 3, trains will use the southbound platform, and then switch to the northbound platform September 4 through the rest of the work.
- Get more information from Sound Transit: https://www.soundtransit.org/ride-with-us/1-line-service-disruption
- To view other upcoming construction and planned activities that may impact travel in Seattle, visit our Upcoming Construction & Events page which is updated weekly.
Know before you go
Want to choose the best mode of transportation for you? Get real-time traffic information with these resources: