Madison Street revamp: 3 Years, $144 million later
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One of the new bus stops on Madison Street after a three-year revamp of the roadway. Photo: Melissa Santos/Axios
After three years and $144 million, most of the detours and construction cones are finally gone from Madison Street.
Why it matters: The project, one of the city's largest and most complex, reflects a broader shift in urban planning — prioritizing the movement of people over cars.
- The City of Seattle says the project is meant to transform Madison Street into a community-oriented "main street" rather than just a traffic corridor.
- The years of construction affected several neighborhoods, from Madison Valley to Capitol Hill to downtown.
The big picture: The addition of the RapidRide G bus line, a key part of the overhaul, introduced buses that will arrive every six minutes.
- The revamp also added curbs and other features that make the street more accessible to people with disabilities and redesigns to slow traffic near schools, small businesses, libraries and hospitals, per the city.
What they're saying: Local leaders say they hope the new bus line will not only ease travel between downtown Seattle and nearby neighborhoods, but also promote a shift away from car dependency.
- "The RapidRide G Line is a convenience game changer for District 3 residents," Seattle City Councilmember Joy Hollingsworth said in a written statement.
💠Melissa's thought bubble: For a while, it felt like everywhere I went in central Seattle — whether on foot or by car — this construction project got in my way.
- Now, I can get to Trader Joe's and my kids' day care again without having to constantly dodge excavators tearing up the sidewalks.
Follow the money: Funding for the project came from a mix of federal, state and local sources, including a voter-approved levy aimed at enhancing the city's transportation infrastructure.
- Seattle voters will be asked in November to weigh in on a new $1.55 billion initiative to replace that previous transportation levy.
What's next: Though major construction wrapped up earlier this year, the city is still completing final adjustments, known as "punch list" items, Seattle Department of Transportation spokesperson Mariam Ali told Axios.
- These include minor road and sidewalk repairs, curb striping, the installation of new art pieces, and tweaks to improve bus flow, Ali said.