A Safer Connection from West Seattle to Downtown: East Marginal Way is Open!
- JoshHolland
- Oct. 24, 2025
After more than a decade of advocacy, the East Marginal Way Corridor Improvement Project is complete — creating a safer, smoother, and more connected route between West Seattle and Downtown for everyone who bikes, walks, rolls, and drives.
New East Marginal Way Bike Path
What was once one of Seattle’s most intimidating streets is now a model for how safety, freight mobility, and community priorities can come together. The newly completed north segment features over a mile of protected bike lanes, upgraded signals, repaved streets, and a dedicated cycle track that separates people biking from heavy truck traffic — transforming the primary connection between West Seattle and Downtown.
Thirteen Years in the Making
This win didn’t happen overnight. In 2012, West Seattle Bike Connections (WSBC) — a coalition member of Seattle Neighborhood Greenways — made improving East Marginal Way its top priority. At the time, the road surface was crumbling, and the mix of trucks and bikes made every commute a tense experience.
WSBC founder Don Brubeck and a small group of neighbors decided to do something about it. They reached out to freight industry leaders, the Port of Seattle, and the Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) to find common ground. Their goal was ambitious: a design that would make the route safer for people biking and more efficient for freight movement.
Over the years, WSBC built partnerships, attended countless meetings, and kept the pressure on through mayoral administrations, planning studies, and funding cycles. The group’s steady, collaborative approach — rooted in listening, persistence, and coalition-building — paid off.
East Marginal Way was made safer for people walking, biking, and rolling. Lance David, who was killed while biking on the street, was the impetus behind motivating advocates and the city.
A True Coalition Effort
The improved corridor represents years of shared effort between WSBC, SDOT, the Port of Seattle, the Northwest Seaport Alliance, Cascade Bicycle Club, Sustainable West Seattle, and Seattle Neighborhood Greenways, among many others. Advocates and freight representatives alike recognized that safety and mobility aren’t competing goals — they’re connected ones.
As Brubeck once wrote back in 2012:
“Cycling can be part of the solution to freight mobility and congestion relief. We can work with the Port and SDOT on environmental improvements that keep and create living-wage jobs — while creating cycling routes that are reliable, safe, healthy, and beautiful alternatives to commuting by car.”
Thirteen years later, that vision has become reality.
Bob Anderton, Dongho Chang, and Community Advocates Talking about Safety Improvements Needed for East Marginal Way
Celebrate the Opening
Join West Seattle Bike Connections, SDOT, and other community advocates in celebrating this major milestone!
There will be food, drinks, and the opportunity to meet many of the individuals involved in building this fantastic new bike path, including advocates, elected officials, and others.
See the 200+ newly planted trees and hear about the art that will be added next year. SDOT is planning to turn on the new bike counter, so let’s turn out and get some impressive numbers logged!
What: Celebration event with a ribbon cutting, tabling by community partners, and free food and drinks! This is the last stop for Hot Bike Summer – If you have been following along, bring your passport to collect your prize!
- What: Celebration event with a ribbon cutting, tabling by community partners, and free food and drinks.
- Where: E Marginal Way S and S Hanford St (map)
- When: Saturday, October 25, from 10:30 AM to Noon
- Ride with a group: Bike or scoot to the event with our partners at Cascade Bicycle Club, West Seattle Bike Connections, and Best Side Cycling (weather permitting).