Big Improvements at 3rd Ave in Downtown Seattle | LEVY DOLLARS AT WORK

A person bikes across the street on a new marked bike and scooter route at 3rd Ave and Yesler Way in Downtown Seattle. Photo: SDOT

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At-a-glance:

We’re excited to announce some big improvements coming your way on 3rd Ave this summer.
In this blog post, you’ll learn about new and upcoming enhancements to make 3rd Ave a great place to visit and access transit in the core of the city.
Use the links below to learn more:
Thank you to everyone who joined us to celebrate the completion of the 3rd and Main project with us during the monthly Pioneer Square Art Walk on Thursday, August 7! In case you missed it, we’ve added a few photos to this blog post below.
To stay informed, visit our website and sign up for email updates.
Much of this work is made possible by voter-approved Seattle Transportation Levy funding.
We’re working closely with our partners at King County Metro and many businesses and organizations throughout Downtown Seattle to support access to frequent, reliable bus service on 3rd Ave. This includes supporting placemaking to encourage open, accessible, and inviting public spaces on 3rd Ave and throughout Downtown.
Investing in Downtown is a top priority for the City of Seattle. To learn more about other aspects of Seattle’s Downtown Activation Plan, visit downtownisyou.com.

3rd Ave S & Yesler Way Safety Improvements

A person bikes across a street in a marked bike crossing, with two buses stopped to the right. Large buildings and trees are in the background. — *View at 3rd and Yesler, where a person bikes across the street near two King County Metro buses. Photo: William Khadivi for SDOT*

We completed the 3rd Ave and Yesler Pedestrian and Bike Safety Improvements project in April. The changes we made will make buses run more reliably and efficiently and the streets will be safer and more comfortable for people walking, biking, and rolling.

We transformed the intersection of 3rd Ave S and Yesler Way by:

Repairing the pavement
Installing underground electrical cables for a pedestrian signal
Repainting the traffic lines on the street and bike lanes
Making small adjustments to improve the pedestrian experience, including:
- Curb bulbs
- Loading zones
- Realigned pedestrian ramps

3rd Ave S & S Main St Improvements

We will also be completing the 3rd Ave S and S Main St Improvements project in August.

With this project, we’ve made the following improvements:

Wider sidewalks
Smoother pavement on the street
Fresh paint at the crosswalks
New pedestrian lighting
New trees (coming Fall 2025)
We also are in the process of updating the bus stop with:
- New seating & bus shelter
- Real-time bus arrival information sign
- A new ORCA card reader

A new art sculpture will be installed at the site in 2026, led by 4Culture, a local arts and culture non-profit organization. This project supported 4Culture’s work by installing a new power connection for the upcoming artwork. In addition, a new Seamless Seattle wayfinding sign will be installed near the bus stop to help people find their way around Downtown Seattle neighborhoods.

Thank you to everyone who joined us to celebrate the completion of the 3rd and Main project with us during the monthly Pioneer Square Art Walk on Thursday, August 7! In case you missed it, check out a few photos from the event below.

Several people stand on a wide sidewalk in front of large buildings on a sunny day.

A person draws on sidewalk using a pink piece of chalk. To the left side, yellow and red paint mark a curb area where a bus zone is located. A car is in the background.

Several people stand on a sidewalk in front of a large bus. Two people look toward each other in the foreground.

Colorful sidewalk chalk in a box on a sunny day.

Two people with big smiles on a bright and sunny day, in front of a large building.

A man smiles at the camera on a sunny day in front of a large bus shelter. Trees and buildings are in the background.

A woman smiles at the camera outdoors with wide sidewalks, the street, buildings, and a blue "sandwich board" sign to the right. — *People enjoying a community celebration event on August 7, 2025. Photos: SDOT*

Two people on the right side of the image are walking in the city. A large building in the background has a yellow stripe of paint with the words "Foster/White Gallery" showing. — *People enjoying a community celebration event on August 7, 2025. Photos: SDOT*

A King County Metro bus stopped on the street near a large concrete pedestrian sidewalk area. A large sign in the upper right corner says S Main St 300, and another sign says One Way and points to the right. Large buildings are in the background. — *Newly rebuilt pedestrian area and bus stop at 3rd Ave S and S Main St. Photo: SDOT*

Project Map

Map of the 3rd and Main project area in Seattle. The purple shows where improvements have been built, include a number of individual features such as new pedestrian lighting, expanded sidewalk, and more. — *Map of improvements near 3rd and Main in Pioneer Square. Graphic: SDOT*

3rd Ave Repaving – Virginia to Pine streets

If you’ve traveled along 3rd Ave between Virginia St and Pine St recently, you’ve probably noticed that the stretch is due for some attention. Over time, street pavement takes a lot of wear and tear from constant daily activity. Potholes, cracks, and uneven surfaces make for a bumpier and, at times, less safe experience when you’re traveling. For people driving, conditions like this can also lead to extra strain and vehicle maintenance issues. Which is why we are repaving this section of 3rd Ave to create a smoother, more dependable street for you – whether you’re commuting or getting around the neighborhood.

A photo of a street with damaged concrete in the middle. Trucks and cars travel to the left with trees and buildings in the background. — *Left: cracked, bumpy concrete on 3rd Ave before a recent repaving effort. Right: new concrete supports a smoother ride.*

A photo of a street in the evening, with a RapidRide bus to the right and cars in the background. The pavement of the street looks smooth and new. — *Left: cracked, bumpy concrete on 3rd Ave before a recent repaving effort. Right: new concrete supports a smoother ride.*

Starting at the end of July, you’ll notice our crews working to resurface the street, upgrade its durability, and ensure a better experience for everyone who uses it. At the same time, we’ll work closely with Seattle Public Utilities (SPU) to replace a 100-year-old water main. By making these major updates, we’ll extend the lifespan of the street itself, which is a win for everyone across the city.

While we make these improvements, we also recognize there may be some temporary disruptions, and we’re committed to minimizing them for you. We’ll make sure to keep you informed of temporary detours, lane closures, or other changes that could impact your route. We’ll share regular updates so you know what to expect and can plan ahead. Your patience and understanding during this time will make a big difference and will ultimately result in an improved stretch of street that works better for everyone.

Stay tuned for more updates – we’ve got a lot of exciting things in store for 3rd Ave and beyond. Be sure to visit our website and sign up for email updates for the latest details. Thank you.

Editor’s Note – August 8, 2025: We added several photos from a community celebration event at 3rd Ave S and S Main St.

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