Seattle – Today, Mayor Harrell, the City of Seattle’s Office of the Waterfront, Civic Projects and Sound Transit, alongside civic and community leaders, celebrated the completion of pedestrian and bicycle improvements on Pike and Pine streets. These enhancements were designed in coordination with the Downtown Seattle Association (DSA) and the Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) to strengthen east-west connections between Seattle’s new iconic Waterfront Park, the downtown retail core, Capitol Hill and surrounding neighborhoods.
“This project delivers on the core promise of our Downtown Activation Plan, creating a seamlessly connected downtown that is welcoming, accessible, and built for people—commuters, families with children, workers, visitors, and business owners alike,” said Mayor Bruce Harrell. “With more people returning downtown for in-person work, major events, shopping, dining, and exploring, we are delivering upgraded infrastructure that makes it easier and more comfortable to walk, roll, or ride to your destination. With the Club World Cup kicking off this weekend and the 2026 World Cup just a year away, this corridor is designed to keep downtown moving—both for our daily use and for global moments.”
The Pike/Pine corridor is one of the busiest in the city—more than 1.5 million people traveled through it in March alone. This vital transit route now features over a mile of new or improved protected bike lanes stretching from 2nd Avenue to Bellevue and Melrose Avenues, along with upgraded bike signals and enhanced buffers between people biking and vehicles. The project also includes new and improved push-button crosswalk signals, curb ramps, and high-visibility crosswalks with contrasting colors, creating a more cohesive experience throughout the corridor. In addition, more than 1,400 plants and new seating have been installed across 23 city blocks.
A key component of the corridor connection to Capitol Hill includes substantially widened sidewalks on the bridges over I-5 on both Pike and Pine streets, creating a greater sense of separation from the busy freeway below. These expanded sidewalks are made more comfortable and visually appealing by the addition of taller, colorful pedestrian railings with integrated lighting, along with buffered, protected bike lanes featuring planters and greenery.
The railings, planters, and concrete bike lane buffers on both bridges incorporate artwork by Derek Bruno and Gage Hamilton, who were selected as a team of artists for the project. Their work establishes a unifying visual identity from Capitol Hill through downtown and ending at Pike Place Market—a gateway to the waterfront.
“Improving key east-west connections between the waterfront and downtown is an essential component of our Waterfront Seattle Program. Pike and Pine streets are now greener, more pedestrian and bicycle friendly, with more enjoyable and accessible connections to Seattle’s downtown core, to Capitol Hill, to Pike Place Market, and to our new iconic Waterfront Park, whether you are a visitor or resident,” said Angela Brady, Director of the Office of the Waterfront, Civic Projects and Sound Transit. “These 23 blocks of enhancements will make it easier for folks who want to enjoy all that downtown has to offer, while providing convenient connections to the waterfront’s incredible views from Overlook Walk and the Park Promenade.”
Also of note is the block on Pike Street between 1st and 2nd avenues, which has been transformed into a curbless street designed for flexible use as a plaza or festival street without general-purpose vehicle traffic. To further activate this popular destination, SDOT and the Downtown Seattle Association (DSA) recently unveiled the reimagined First & Pike public space—a pedestrian-only plaza at one of Seattle’s most iconic locations, directly across from Pike Place Market. This partnership introduced new furniture, signage, and planters, and created a vibrant, people-centered space that features daily events and programming every Tuesday through Sunday during the summer, courtesy of DSA.
To support these improvements, Pike and Pine streets were reconfigured into one-way streets: Pike Street is now eastbound between 1st and Bellevue avenues, and Pine Street is westbound between 1st and Melrose avenues. The protected bike lanes follow these same one-way configurations throughout the corridor. These changes have created more space for people walking and rolling—supporting a safer, more welcoming, and pleasant experience for everyone traveling throughout downtown.
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What people are saying
Adiam Emery, Interim Director of the Seattle Department of Transportation
“The Pike and Pine improvements are a clear example of how collaborative city planning can expand opportunity and improve how people get around. By creating more accessible and convenient ways to travel between neighborhoods, we’re helping ensure that residents, workers, small businesses, and visitors all benefit from a downtown that’s easier to reach and enjoy—no matter how you move. By making it easier to walk, bike, and take transit, we’re investing in a transportation system that reflects Seattle’s values and strengthens our communities and public spaces.”
Gülgün Kayim, Director of the Office of Arts & Culture
“Pike and Pine are the two most important east-west streets in the central part of Downtown. Derek Bruno and Gage Hamilton’s Sound to Summit integrates art with infrastructure, connecting the density and energy of Capitol Hill to the retail core, Pike Place Market, and our extraordinary waterfront.”
Jon Scholes, President and CEO of the Downtown Seattle Association
“A delightful pedestrian experience is critical for creating a healthy and vibrant downtown experience. The Pike-Pine Improvements project has taken two of downtown’s signature streets and produced a more cohesive multimodal environment. People who visit, work or live in our center city benefit greatly from this infrastructure improvement and the connections created from the Market to Capitol Hill.”
Lee Lambert, Cascade Bicycle Club Executive Director
“The completion of the protected bike lanes on Pike and Pine proves that Seattle’s bicycle network can successfully expand along our city’s busiest travel corridors. This milestone shows that when we prioritize safe, direct connections between neighborhoods, Seattle doesn’t just move better – it thrives. This isn’t just an investment in bike safety; it’s a step toward a smarter, more inclusive transportation system that works for everyone – whether they bike, walk, roll, drive, or take transit. We’re grateful to Mayor Harrell, the Office of the Waterfront, and the Seattle Department of Transportation for their continued leadership and commitment to building a more connected, bike-friendly Seattle.”
Gordon Padelford, Executive Director of Seattle Neighborhood Greenways
“The Pike Pine Streetscape and Bicycle Improvements Project connects two of Seattle’s densest neighborhoods with high-quality protected bike infrastructure suitable for people of all ages and abilities. Downtown and Capitol Hill are both dense neighborhoods where people choose to get around by bike because it’s efficient, attractive, and fun when it’s safe.”
Jennifer LeMaster, President & CEO of the Seattle Convention Center
“I am thrilled to extend my heartfelt congratulations on the completion of the Pike-Pine Improvements project. This enlivened pedestrian experience is a testament to the level of thoughtful design and civic integration required to weave together safety, connectedness, and sense of place. Seattle Convention Center is proud to have supported this transformative project enriching lives and livelihoods downtown.”
Anne Johnson, General Manager, The State Hotel
“We are incredibly excited about the potential this pedestrian-friendly space offers. A pedestrian-friendly environment isn’t merely a pleasant amenity; it’s an economic catalyst. When people feel safe and comfortable walking, they explore, they linger, and they support local businesses. We’re creating a city where places like The State Hotel become even more essential to the fabric of our community, a destination that resonates with both locals and travelers alike. It embodies the very spirit of a walkable Seattle: a place where the city’s energy flows seamlessly from the sidewalk into our welcoming doors.”
Chris Paulus, Capitol Hill Community Council
“It has been great seeing the improvements on Pike and Pine come together over the years. Pike and Pine being the best bicycle access from Capitol Hill to downtown and the waterfront, the project really works better to connect those who walk and bike. Giving people better and safer options is always great. It is wonderful to see this project opening. Can’t wait.”