New proposed pedestrian path around Seattle's Green Lake Park could eliminate traffic lanes, street parking

Less parking or less roadway around Green Lake? While it sounds frustrating for drivers, it could increase safety for bikers, walkers and runners.

The Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) is seeking community feedback in a survey regarding potential traffic changes around Green Lake. 

Proposed changes include converting several street parking areas into pedestrian lanes. But in order to increase pathways for walkers, bikers and other recreationists, SDOT is faced with two options. Along West Green Lake Drive North, SDOT would have to either eliminate a portion of street parking or remove either a northbound or southbound vehicle travel lane. In either scenario, a two-way pedestrian path would be constructed on the lake side of the road.

A third option is to remove street parking while keeping two lanes of travel in both north and southbound lanes, and implementing a pedestrian path on either side of the road.

Dubbed the “Green Lake Outer Loop” project, SDOT envisioned “a connected outer walking and biking path around Green Lake Park,” according to the project’s website. The outer loop, should it be approved and constructed, would provide more travel options for foot traffic in the popular Green Lake area.

Another portion of the project is the proposed creation of a new path extending from North 63rd Street to West Green Lake Dr. North, along the on-ramp and Aurora Drive North. This portion of the Green Lake Outer Loop project would not interfere with parking or traffic.

SDOT says the idea for the project came from community feedback, Vision Zero safety goals and the desire to provide more travel options to those not in a vehicle. The Green Lake Outer Loop project builds on both the Green Lake & Wallingford Multimodal Paving Project and the shared walking and biking path on West Green Lake Way North.

Over the winter, SDOT plans to conduct traffic analysis and continue engagement before reviewing community responses in the spring. Construction on the Greek Lake Outer Loop could begin as early as mid-2022.

SDOT’s survey is open now through Dec. 6.