New information released by the Seattle Department of Transportation offers a look at the second round of  improvements coming to the Ballard Ave Café Street.

Map showing proposed improvements on Ballard Ave. SDOT

The phase two upgrades follow a public survey and design charrette which showed support for curbside cafes, more room for pedestrians, and outdoor retail. They include:

  • Establishing the Ballard Ave Café Street to enhance the experience of walking, rolling, shopping, and dining on Ballard Ave  
  • Further support for freight/delivery and business access with curbside adjustments that increase load/unload zones, ADA parking, and food pick-up priority areas.  
  • Increasing and defining space for people walking and rolling to accommodate pedestrian volumes and support Ballard Avenue’s draw as a major Seattle destination. 
  • Improving pedestrian visibility and safety at the intersection of Ballard Ave NW and 20th Ave NW.  
  • Exploring community partnerships to add movable benches and tables in newly created public space.  
  • Adding bike parking racks, and bike share and scooter share parking spaces to serve Ballard Ave NW. 
  • Exploring paid parking on several blocks around the neighborhood to further support business access.   
  • Maintaining the one northbound travel lane on the Leary side of the street. 

Installation of the phase one improvements occurred in August 2022, and included new all-way stops, interim curb bulbs, and updated striping to address traffic flow.