Judkins Park Station Access Improvements

Judkins Park Link station is scheduled to open with the full East Link Extension in Spring 2026. While Judkins Park station will be an incredible resource for Seattle residents in the Central District and Southeast Seattle, the station's location in the middle of I-90 is less than ideal.

The east station entrance on 23rd Ave S opens up to Sam Smith park on the I-90 lid. This entrance has a seamless connection with the I-90 Trail and various other paths to nearby neighborhoods via Judkins Park and Jimi Hendrix Park. In 2024, the Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) completed the Judkins Park Station Access Project, improving lighting along many of these paths. Routes 8 and 48 will stop outside of this entrance when the station opens.

Judkins Park station's west entrance facing northbound Rainier Ave. From left to right, the overpasses are: I-90 West, pedestrian bridge within the station, Link tracks, and I-90 East.

Judkins Park station has two entrances to the west, on either side of Rainier Ave S. Rainier Ave runs under I-90 and the Link tracks. The west station entrances will be served by routes 7, 9, and 106. Unfortunately, these station entrances are cut off from the nearby neighborhoods by five on/off ramps that connect Rainier Ave and I-90.

Map of existing I-90 ramps. (WSDOT)

In the current ramp configuration, only Ramp 1 intersects Rainier Ave at a signalized intersection. Ramps 2, 3, and 5 have pedestrian crossings and Ramp 4 has a pedestrian underpass. Crosswalks on freeway ramps are a recipe for disaster. Drivers are either accelerating to or decelerating from highway speeds and are rarely looking out for pedestrians. Over the past few years, thousands of apartments have been built along Rainier to the north and south of Judkins Park station. Many of these residents will need to cross one of the freeway ramp to access the station and other destinations in their neighborhood. Anna Zivarts, Interim Advocacy Co-Director of Disability Rights Washington, documented the crossing conditions in 2021.

Near Term Improvements

Thanks to advocacy from Disability Rights Washington and other community organizations, SDOT and the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) have worked together to implement several near-term improvements. These changes include three raised crossings with pedestrian-activated rapid flashing beacons (RRFB) and a protected left turn phase from the eastbound I-90 off ramp. A few weeks ago, I was in the area and observed the raised crossings in action. Most cars slowed down when approaching the bump and I was able to cross each ramp without issue. The flashing beacons were not yet installed.

Map of the near-term improvements. (WSDOT)Raised crossing on the I-90 East on-ramp from southbound Rainier Ave (Ramp 3).Raised crossing on the I-90 West off-ramp to southbound Rainier Ave (Ramp 5).Raised crossing on the I-90 East on-ramp from northbound Rainier Ave (Ramp 2).Long Term Improvements

WSDOT is leading the I-90 Judkins Park Station - Reconnecting Communities project. The project will develop a 30% design for reconfigured I-90 ramps that focus on safe travel for all. In an Advisory Group meeting in July 2025, WSDOT shared four ramp configuration alternatives.

• Alternative 1: All existing ramps remain, but are adjusted to intersect with Rainier Ave at a right angle with a traffic signal.
• Alternative 2: The ramp from I-90 West to northbound Rainier Ave (Ramp 4) is removed. The other ramps are adjusted to intersect with Rainier Ave at a right angle with traffic signal. A new pedestrian crossing is added on Rainier Ave just north of Judkins Park station.
• Alternative 3: The ramp from I-90 West to southbound Rainier Ave (Ramp 5) is removed. The other ramps are adjusted to to intersect with Rainier Ave at a right angle with traffic signal.
• Alternative 4: The ramp from I-90 West to northbound Rainier Ave (Ramp 4) and from northbound Rainier Ave to I-90 East (Ramp 2) are removed. The other ramps are adjusted to to intersect with Rainier Ave at a right angle with traffic signal. A new pedestrian crossing is added on Rainier Ave just north of Judkins Park station.

Four ramp configuration alternatives. (WSDOT)

WSDOT is planning to pick a preferred alternative by early summer 2026 and complete the 30% design by the end of 2026. Implementation of the ramp redesign will require federal funds and will likely lack funding until an administration that cares about people outside of cars is in the White House.