City of Renton
Rainier Avenue S/N
S 3rd St (SR 900) to NW 3rd Pl
TIB Award Amount
$5,000,000
Region: Puget Sound   |   Legislative District: 37   |   Length: 0.51 mi. FY 2023 Urban Arterial Program (UAP)

Existing Conditions

Rainier Ave S/N is a vital arterial carrying 50,000 vehicles per day & is in need of infrastructure improvements to enhance travel & safety for general purpose, transit vehicle, pedestrians & bicyclists as well as transit mobility. As a T-1/T-2 truck route, maintaining and/or improving the mobility of freight & goods is a top priority of this corridor as well as the Region. The project also supports the aerospace industry cluster & Renton growth targets, as well as promoting economic revitalization & sustained urban land use. Rainier Ave S/N is a heavily travelled corridor with vehicles entering/exiting the numerous driveways along the corridor. Vehicles are currently able to make midblock left-turns to access businesses that results in traffic confusion & congestion. Since 2018, there have been 81 collisions, 40 being injury accidents & 1 causing severe injury. Narrow sidewalks adjacent to a heavily travelled roadway, insufficient pedestrian-scale illumination & substandard ADA accommodations contribute to an undesireable pedestrian environment.

Project Funding

  TIB Funds Local Funds Total Costs
Design 0 0 0
Right of Way 0 0 0
Construction 5,000,000 20,781,124 25,781,124
Project Totals $5,000,000 $20,781,124 $25,781,124

Local Match

TIB Participation Local Match Minimum Local Match
19.4% 80.6% 20%

Summary of Improvements

  • The project improves access and mobility between the Renton Downtown Core and connections to regional transportation facilities of I-405, SR 167, SR 900 and Tukwila Sounder Station. This project will result in improved transit speed and reliability and will provide a safer, more welcoming environment to walk, do business, and/or commute to work for people along the corridor.

Description of Improvements

Rainier Ave S Corridor Project Phase 4 intends to improve traffic safety and pedestrian accessibility, increase transit mobility, address infrastructure repair needs, and to encourage a transportation mode shift from SOV. This project will reduce collisions by eliminating left turns out of driveways by installing a center median and providing U-turns at the signalized intersections at S 3rd St and S 2nd St. The traffic signal upgrades and coordination will improve access and mobility between the Renton Growth Center and connections to regional transportation facilities of I-405, SR 167, SR 900 and Tukwila Sounder Station. Improvements include northbound and southbound business access transit (BAT) lanes between S 3rd St and S 2nd St, wider ADA accessible sidewalks with streetscape, installation of pedestrian actuated traffic (HAWK) signals just north of Rainier Ave S/SW Victoria St and just south of Rainier Ave N/NW 3rd Pl, pedestrian scale illumination, transit facility upgrades, access management, and reconstruction of substandard traffic signals at S 2nd St and Airport Way improve the pedestrian environment and safety that results in an aesthetically vibrant transportation corridor. The project enhances regional trail connections through constructing a segment of the Lake Washington Loop Trail from Airport Way to NW 3rd Pl and improves access to transit.