Pike Place Market begins trial to limit car traffic

Business Journals

22-04-2025

It is not a full street closure, but nonessential trips like visitor pass-throughs and ride-share vehicles at First Avenue and Pike Street will be restricted.
The Pike Place Market Preservation and Development Authority (PDA) says it is launching "a limited vehicle access pilot program" Wednesday.
It is not a full street closure. Authorized vehicles will still have access to Pike Place, the cobblestoned, north-south street, but nonessential trips like visitor pass-throughs and ride-share vehicles at First Avenue and Pike Street will be restricted.
Signage and a Seattle Department of Transportation flaggerwill be posted at First and Pike to guide vehicles and enforce permitted use.
Tuesday's announcement comes after Mayor Bruce Harrell last year told the Business Journal that he would like to shift away from today's dynamic of busy days when motor vehicles inch through a never-ending stream of pedestrians.
"I do have a vision of — I don't want to say a car-free Pike Place Market, but a very walkable area where people can enjoy a good pedestrian and shopping experience," Harrell told the paper.
The pilot aims to preserve essential street functions for the business and residential community while increasing safety and reducing congestion. This 'test and learn' approach aims to improve street operations and inform long-term planning without fully closing the street, according to the PDA.
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Pedestrian advocates have clamored for decades to restrict motor vehicles at the city's most popular tourist attraction, which drew nearly 21 million two years ago. This clashes with the wants and needs of market's 500 vendors as well as the occupants of over 400 apartments in and around the Market as well as history: Vehicles have used Pike Place nearly 24/7 for over 100 years.
'This pilot is the result of deep collaboration between the Market community and our city partners' Rachel Ligtenberg, executive director of Pike Place Market PDA, said in a news release. 'We're incredibly grateful to Mayor Harrell, the Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) and all involved for recognizing how essential this street is to the day-to-day operations of Pike Place Market, and for working with us to find practical solutions.'
The pilot aims to address essential street function and congestion during Seattle Public Utilities' ongoing construction project on Pike Place. It's estimated to last through the end of July. During this time, vehicle entry at First and Pike will be limited to emergency and ADA-permitted vehicles, commercial deliveries and pickups, business loading and unloading and customer curbside pickup for orders made in advance.
In addition, northbound left turns from First Avenue onto Pike Street won't be allowed, and parking enforcement will begin at 6 a.m. daily to maintain access to essential loading zones. No long-term parking from 6 a.m. 6 p.m. will be permitted on Pike Place, except for ADA-permitted vehicles.
Earlier this month, the PDA hosted a planning meeting as part of its broader 50-year master plan strategy with market businesses, neighbors and others. The group engaged in "a productive brainstorming session focused on realistic, community-first solutions," the release said.
The PDA is compiling feedback from the session and community drop-in sessions to create a comprehensive street management plan, which will be shared with the mayor's office, SDOT, and Market stakeholders before a broader community release.
A new webpage about the pilot is at PikePlaceMarket.org/Traffic.