Friday Roundtable: Pedestrian Streets in Seattle

Pike Place Market's car-free pilot was recently extended until Spring 2026. During this time the Market will create a comprehensive street management plan that will take effect before the FIFA World Cup in June. We don't know what the final plan will be, but it may result in Pike Place becoming the third pedestrian street in Seattle. Occidental Avenue was pedestrianized in 1971, and a half block of Pike St was pedestrianized in 2023.

Pike Place outside of the Market. Do we need cars here?

Pedestrian streets significantly improve the local environment of any neighborhood by creating space for people to meet, eat, and relax. Study after study has shown that pedestrianizing an area increases foot traffic and spending at local businesses, while creating a cleaner and safer environment. Seattle needs more permanent pedestrian spaces.

Pedestrian streets are not foreign to Seattle. Many neighborhoods host a weekly farmers market, often on a side street that is temporarily converted to a pedestrian space. These markets offer fresh produce, homemade goods, food truck meals, and a space for the neighborhood to gather.

Cyclists on a Health Street (SDOT)

Since 2020, SDOT's Healthy Streets program has introduced pedestrian-first streets in several neighborhoods. These streets still permit local vehicle traffic, but drivers must yield to pedestrians and cyclists. Healthy Streets are usually located in residential areas and emphasize exercise over other uses. The preservation of on-street parking limits the potential of Healthy Streets as a place to congregate as the remaining right-of-way is often narrow and surrounded by parked cars.

Many of Seattle's neighborhoods have a distinct neighborhood center. While these areas are usually only only span a few blocks, they serve as the hub for the surrounding area with shops and restaurants, transit connections, and higher density housing. Due to historical development and current zoning restrictions, these neighborhood centers are usually located along a major arterial street. Pedestrianizing a section of the major arterial is likely a non-starter as freight, transit, and the volume of traffic may not have an equivalent alternative route. Pedestrianizing a nearby side street would be easier, but does not have the same benefits of pedestrianizing the main street'.

Several neighborhood centers are large enough include shops and restaurants on side streets. These areas are optimal for pedestrianizing. Former Seattle city councilmember Mosqueda proposed a Capitol Hill superblock in 2019. While this proposal has not moved forward since Mosqueda was elected to the King County Council in 2024, it still has merit. An SDOT pilot project pedestrianized Pike St between Broadway and 12th Ave on a few weekend nights in 2015. The project received positive feedback (66% in favor, 28% opposed). Another candidate area for pedestrianization is University Way (The Ave") in University District. The Ave has dozens of shops and restaurants just one block from the UW campus and the U District Link station. A third street that could be pedestrianized is Ballard Ave NW in Ballard. It runs parallel to Leary Way NW and the north end of Ballard Ave intersects with NW Market Street. Ballard Ave has shops and restaurants over a few blocks in the heart of Ballard. A section of Ballard Ave hosts the Ballard Farmers Markets every Sunday.

Even in the winter, the Ballard Farmers Market has a crowd (SDOT)

Which streets in Seattle do you think should be pedestrianized?

This is an open thread.