Pioneer Square
Project status

ABOUT THE PROJECT
Pioneer Square East West Pedestrian Improvements
Working with community partner Alliance for Pioneer Square, we will design and construct improvements on portions of King, Main and Washington Streets, Yesler Way and 2nd Avenue S to prioritize pedestrians, improve sidewalks and increase greenery. The project will also reduce the number of vehicle travel lanes and limit traffic flow directions on portions of these streets in order to move vehicles away from structurally vulnerable areaways and optimize traffic operations and circulation in the Pioneer Square area.
On September 17, 2020, we issued a Determination of Nonsignificance (DNS) for these improvements, supported by an Environmental Checklist, in accordance with the State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA). The deadline for commenting on the DNS and Checklist is 5 PM on October 1, 2020. The deadline for appealing the DNS is 5 PM on October 8, 2020. Further details on submitting comments and filing appeals are contained in the DNS.
Washington Street Boat Landing Pergola
The Washington Street Boat Landing and Beach will restore access to the waterfront for Pioneer Square and the South Downtown community. The landmark pergola structure has been a piece of Seattle's waterfront since the early 20th century, and with its recent restoration, it once again serves as a symbolic gateway to the city from the Puget Sound. The pergola has been fully restored, but it will remain closed to the public until the park promenade has been constructed.
Habitat Beach is a national winner of the American Public Works Association's 2020 Project of the Year Award!
Habitat Beach
Between Colman Dock and Pier 48, a new habitat beach supports the waterfront ecosystem, including enhancing the salmon corridor by adding rocks and nearshore vegetation. Improvements to the marine habitat began in October 2018 thanks to an agreement between Washington State Ferries and the City of Seattle to make these improvements on State-owned property. The plantings on the shoreline will restore the function of a natural shoreline and improve ecosystem productivity. Construction on the beach is complete. We will need to patiently wait for a few years for the plants to grow and habitat to adapt to the natural environment before Habitat Beach is open to the public. These improvements create an exciting destination and will help connect Pioneer Square and the South Downtown community back to the waterfront.
How we've built it
Related documents
Pioneer Square East West Pedestrian Improvements materials
- Traffic switch materials
- Alaskan Way flyer [PDF 1.1 MB]
- Washington St flyer [PDF 1.1 MB]
- FAQs [PDF 1 MB]
- Determination of Nonsignificance [PDF 89 MB]
- Environmental Checklist [PDF 6.2 MB]
- Project fact sheet
- Concept design online open house
July 2019 - Concept design feedback summary
July 2019 [PDF 3 MB] - Project kick-off feedback summary
April 2019 [PDF 2.3 MB]
Washington Street Boat Landing Pergola materials
- Washington Street Boat Landing Pergola construction videos
- Pergola restoration time-lapse
December 22, 2017 - Pergola removal time-lapse
February 13, 2014 - Washington Street Boat Landing Pergola project information
- Washington Street Boat Landing Pergola Restoration project
September 2016 [PDF 5 MB]