Photo of the existing S Holgate St at-grade rail crossing. Photo: SDOT Blog stats: 1,000 words | 5-minute read
At-a-glance:
- What’s Happening: The South Holgate St Crossing Study is exploring ways to make this rail crossing safer for everyone. The study is planned to be completed in 2026.
- Take our Public Survey: To voice feedback on your priorities for the future of this rail crossing, take our survey by November 26.
- Join a Virtual Public Meeting: You’re invited to our study’s virtual public meeting on Thursday, November 13 from 6-7:30 PM, where you can hear updates and chat with the project team.
- Stay in Touch: You can find more information by reading this study fact sheet and signing up for email updates. If you have questions, you can reach the project team by calling (206) 775-8739 or emailing SouthHolgateStudy@Seattle.gov.
- Learn More: In the rest of this blog post, you’ll learn how we’re advancing the study, including working with a group of technical experts and engaging a variety of local boards, organizations, community councils, and businesses to ensure a wide range of perspectives are included as part of the study. Thanks for your interest!
Overview of the S Holgate St Crossing Study
S Holgate St is a busy street in Seattle’s SODO (South of Downtown) area. The street is part of the Duwamish Manufacturing and Industrial Center, which is vital for freight and supply chain operations in the region. Every day, the railroad crossing sees heavy traffic from freight trains, commuter trains, and Amtrak. This high volume of activity makes it one of the most complex and challenging rail crossings in Washington State.
A $2 million grant via the Federal Railroad Administration’s (FRA) Railroad Crossing Elimination Grant Program is funding this project, along with support from state and local programs. The goal is to find ways to make the crossing safer and more efficient for everyone, including drivers, pedestrians, bikers, and businesses.
We’re collaborating with multiple organizations like BNSF Railway, Amtrak, Sound Transit, SODO Business Improvement Area (BIA), and the Port of Seattle. Together, we’re exploring solutions to improve safety and update infrastructure to handle future changes.
Why the Study is Needed
Amtrak Cascades is planning to upgrade its passenger rail service between Seattle, Vancouver, and Portland. The plans include adding more storage for new trains and expanding maintenance facilities for both Amtrak and Sound Transit Sounder trains.
To support these changes, six new tracks are expected to be built across S Holgate St, increasing the total tracks in the area from nine to 15. This expansion will significantly increase train traffic at the S Holgate St crossing throughout the day compared to today.
BNSF and Amtrak are asking the City of Seattle about the possibility of permanently closing S Holgate St between Occidental Ave S and 3rd Ave S to manage the impacts of this expansion. This study explores ways to accommodate these changes while making the area safer for everyone, including drivers, pedestrians, and cyclists.
The study builds on work completed in 2010, with updates to reflect changes in the area, like the opening of the S Lander St overpass in 2020. Future plans, like the expansion of Sound Transit’s Link light rail, are also being considered. Some of the possible solutions being evaluated include:
- Improving safety and traffic flow at the current rail crossings.
- Closing S Holgate St at the rail crossing and redirecting traffic to other streets.
- Building a bridge or tunnel to separate the street from the train tracks.
This study will help decide the best approach to handle the increased rail activity while prioritizing safety for everyone traveling through the area.
Working Together to Seek More Perspectives
We’re involving the community every step of the way. This includes reaching out to local businesses to understand their operations, and offering presentations to local boards, organizations, and community councils to share updates and hear their thoughts.
We’re also working closely with government agencies, Tribal Nations, local businesses, and sports teams in the area. A Technical Work Group made up of project partners and subject matter experts will help guide the study. This team began meeting in April and will continue through 2026. The group will further develop the study’s goals, review ideas, and evaluate potential solutions.
Here’s How You Can Weigh In
1) Take our Public Survey by November 26
- We want to hear your priorities for S Holgate St. Please take our brief survey to share how you typically use the street and what goals you’d like to see prioritized.
- Your input will help us outline next steps as we continue to study S Holgate St. The survey should take about five minutes to complete.
- The survey is available in multiple languages: Simplified Chinese 简体中文, Traditional Chinese 繁體中文, Tagalog, Korean 한국어, Spanish Español, Vietnamese Tiếng Việt.
2) Attend a Virtual Public Meeting on November 13
- Join us to hear an overview of progress to date, share what you’d like to see prioritized in the study, learn about key themes from outreach, and participate in a Q&A session with staff.
- Key details:
- Location: Zoom (https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89690567670)
- Date: Thursday, November 13, 2025
- Time: 6-7:30 PM
Funding
The study is supported by a $2 million federal grant from the Federal Railroad Administration’s Railroad Crossing Elimination Program, a $400,000 grant from the State of Washington, and additional funding from Seattle’s Freight Railroad Crossing Spot Improvements Program.
The work closely aligns with our Vision Zero goal to eliminate traffic related fatalities and serious injuries on city streets by 2030.
Stay in Touch
- You can stay informed about the study by signing up for email updates (look under the “Traffic and Construction” section).
- Contact us with any questions by emailing SouthHolgateStudy@Seattle.gov or calling (206) 775-8739.
Thank you for your interest in this study, and we hope to hear from you soon.