TIB Project Information

116th Avenue SE is a primary north-south arterial in the Benson Hill area, connecting neighbors to Cascade Village, Cascade and Benson Hill Elementary Schools, the post office, recreational activities and nearby unincorporated King County. Neighborhoods are physically disconnected from each other, as well as from retail and restaurant services. People cannot easily walk between residential areas and the commercial destinations and public transit.The existing baseball field (adjacent to the Cascade Village shopping area) draws people for recreational events the neighboring post office draws many users. Adding sidewalks on the east side of 116th Avenue SE will contribute to the completion of an active transportation network, that serves the Benson Hill community, provides pedestrian access to transit, and is accessible to people of all ages, abilities, races, and income groups.

• The 116th Ave SE corridor is a minor arterial street that also serves as a main north-to-south spine in the Benson Cascade neighborhood. This arterial connects several churches, Cascade Elementary School and playground, and a non-profit family community center within the strip of the project footprint. This neighborhood was part of unincorporated King County for much of its inception and as such, the street network was largely developed under unincorporated county street standards so basic infrastructure such as curb, gutter, sidewalk and street lighting was built inconsistently throughout the neighborhood or not at all. In 2014 the Benson-Cascade neighborhood was annexed into the City of Renton and this project is one of several that the city has prioritized in its 6-year TIP process to ensure that complete street investments are adequately implemented throughout the city. This project aims to install a sidewalk, curb and gutter, drainage improvements, upgrade lighting, add rectangular reflective beacons, and upgrade ramps along the west side of 116th Ave SE where complete street elements are missing so as to provide safer neighborhood access for pedestrians and students accessing the school and community center, as well as others using nearby transit to-from the community center and local parishes which provides food bank service.