Thursday, October 1, 2026
The City of Olympia is exploring changes to Capitol Boulevard and Capitol Way that would reduce the road from four lanes to three, and make room for bike lanes, upgraded bus stops and safer crossings.
Joey Jones, Senior Engineer with Olympia’s Public Works Transportation Department, outlined the plan, which spans from Carlyon Avenue at the Tumwater boundary to Union Avenue, involving lane reductions, new bike facilities and other street upgrades.
At a Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisor Committee meeting held on Thursday, Sept. 18, Jones said the project builds on Olympia’s Transportation Master Plan, aiming to improve mobility, accessibility and safety for all users.
Carlyon Avenue to O’Farrell Avenue
Three-lane vehicle section: two-way separated bike lane on NE side of street, 5 foot bike lane south bound, pavement repairs.
O’Farrell Avenue to Washington Street: three-lane section, two-way separated bike lane on the northeast side of the street to allow bikes to travel both north and south, bike and pedestrian crossing improvements at Washington Street and O’Farrell Avenue.
Washington Street to 25th Avenue (curve section): three-lane section, 4 foot minimum buffers, pavement repairs.
25th Avenue to 18th Avenue: three-lane section, 5 foot minimum bike lanes, crossing improvements at 2th, bus stops alternate in-lane and stops with passing lane.
18th Avenue to 14th Avenue: three-lane section, a 3 foot minimum buffer on bike lane, pavement overlay.
14th Avenue to 11th Avnue: three-lane section, parking separated bike lane southbound, 5 foot minimum buffer on bike lane northbound, pavement overlay.
11th Avenue to Union Avenue: three-lane section, a 3 foot minimum buffer on bike lanes, pavement overlay.
Jones also discussed the accessibility by addressing significant Americans with Disabilities Act compliance issues along Capitol Way. Many existing curb ramps, especially between 25th Avenue and Maple Park Avenue, do not meet current standards and will be updated.
Crossing enhancements at O’Farrell Avenue, Washington Street and 24th avenues would include ramp improvements, with accessibility considerations central to the design process.
In-lane bus stops with enhanced bike lanes at O’Farrell Avenue and Maple Park/15th avenues will substantially improve access for all users.
“All of these combined with the features serve to improve mobility for people who have a wider range of mobility, such as people using walking aids,” Jones told the committee.
The Capitol Way/Capitol Boulevard project is estimated to cost approximately $14 million, covering all project-related expenses, including design and labor.
The preliminary 2026 Capital Facilities Plan shows funding will be split between $4 million in local funds and $10 million from potential grants.
The project aims to finalize its concept by the end of this year, with official design beginning in early 2026. The team will then pursue grants to fund the construction, with an ideal timeline of 2028-30, contingent upon the success of the grant applications.
Jones said the project team is targeting grants from the National Highway System Asset Management Program and Transportation Improvement Board's Urban Arterials and Active Transportation programs.
21 comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here
JW
Another traffic lane gets placed on the altar and sacrificed for a few bicycle riders. Because the environment, or something.
Monday, September 22, 2025 Report this
KarenM
The current lane allocation leaves no room for cyclists and encourages speeds that are unsafe for people trying to cross the street. With the frequent bus service along this area, people walk to the bus and need to cross the street before or after their trip.
This renovation of the street will make it safer and more comfortable for everyone. This is a residential neighborhood where speeds should be respectful of those who live along the street.
I am pleased that the city is moving forward with this to support all of the users of the street.
Monday, September 22, 2025 Report this
JulesJames
More empty bike lanes. Fewer needed traffic lanes. When does the City of Olympia enter the 21st Century? E-bikes accelerate and cruise at urban arterial rates. There is no need for segregation - and there never really was the need demonstrated. Such a waste of taxpayer money.
Monday, September 22, 2025 Report this
Wesley
I prefer to go at least 40 M.P.H. in that corridor. I vote NO on these "improvements".
Monday, September 22, 2025 Report this
KarenM
If you want to drive 40 mph go somewhere other than Olympia. The maximum speed in Olympia on any street is 35mph. This corridor is through a residential area including a school and parks. Please respect the speed limit and keep everyone safe.
Monday, September 22, 2025 Report this
Quadlok
Weird to see the one good take come from someone named Karen.
Monday, September 22, 2025 Report this
KarenM
My last comment needs clarification.
The speed limit on streets in Olympia could be lower than 35 mph but no street has a speed limit higher than 35mph.
City Code - 10.08.020 - Maximum speed limit on all city streets of twenty-five miles per hour unless otherwise established. The maximum speed limit for all city streets is established at twenty-five miles per hour except where a lower or greater maximum lawful speed is established by this chapter or by state law.
There is a list of streets where the speed limit is 30 or 35.
Monday, September 22, 2025 Report this
Olycomment25
Ridiculous! I agree traffic drives too fast on this road but it’s a major thoroughfare too. Decreasing the number of traffic lanes for vacant bike lanes is just plain dumb. People are trying to get downtown to do business not make an environmental statement by riding a bike. Guess what? It rains here. Make it safer to cross on foot by putting in a push button activated stop light where necessary.
.You can probably figure out how to spend 4 million on that.
Monday, September 22, 2025 Report this
Southsoundguy
Dumb idea.
Tuesday, September 23, 2025 Report this
PatMer
I think the City's plan for "Mobility for more people" would be more accurate as "Traffic jams for more people."
Tuesday, September 23, 2025 Report this
leftcoast
Wesley's statement, "I prefer to go at least 40 M.P.H. in that corridor", is the best example of why this proposed change is necessary. Comments suggest that people see the point of this change being to add bicycle lanes. That is misunderstanding. The point of this change is to SLOW TRAFFIC and make this corridor safer for all users who are not in motorized vehicles. The project engineer discusses several types of safety improvements (enhanced pedestrian crossings, improved bus stops, improved bicycle lanes, etc.) but the comments all focus on the bike lanes and pronounce them "useless." I drive this corridor almost daily in my internal-combustion-engine-powered vehicle, and I can handle spending 3 minutes longer to get downtown.
Tuesday, September 23, 2025 Report this
johnosaunders
Unfortunately, this article does not point out that the majority of the cost of this project is for the routine resurfacing of Capitol Way/Boulevard. The cost of re-striping to 3 vehicle lanes is much smaller part of the total cost.
The reduction in lanes and pedestrian improvements are needed. The volume of traffic on Capitol Way has declined in the last 20 years. With lower traffic volumes the fastest speed of cars has increased. A pedestrian attempting to cross Capitol Way at 7th was killed recently while in a crosswalk. Only by reducing the number of lanes can we reduce the chance of that reoccurring.
Tuesday, September 23, 2025 Report this
TheGreatAnon
I've driven car & such for damned near 50 years so listen up dag nabbot! The Driver in me doesn't like this, no not one bit. The Uncle and Elder knows the age of cars is coming to an end. I like this proposal.
At an early age it was beaten into me driving was a privilege. They lied. Once the Interstate freeways were built driving became obligation. Cars are expensive, dangerous, bad for the environment and the kids today know it. They are right. We need to build infrastructure not for ourselves but for those to come.
Besides, if you are in a hurry to get from downtown Oly to Tumwater there is this vast expanse of car friendly concrete...
Tuesday, September 23, 2025 Report this
jimlazar
Before I-5 was built, this was part of the highway from Seattle to Portland. At that time, it may have needed four lanes. They've been there ever since, turning a neighborhood residential street into a raceway, with some people driving 40 miles per hour in a 25 zone.
Three-lane arterial streets can handle up to 25,000 vehicles per day. The current traffic volumes along Capitol Way in Olympia is about half that amount, and has not increased over the past 25 years. This set of improvements will NOT cause congestion. Note to Leftcoast: you will NOT be delayed for 3 minutes; I'd be surprised if it slowed your commute by three seconds.
There are occasional rear-end accidents on Capitol where a driver is turning left onto on of the local streets and the following driver does not stop. I've seen the aftermath of a couple of these. These should go away, because the left-turning traffic will have a center turn lane available. That will reduce accidents and improve safety.
The center turn lane can also be used as a median in constructing safer pedestrian crossings, so the person walking only needs to cross one lane of traffic before hitting the refuge island, like the crossings on 11th Avenue near the DNR building.
I commuted along this corridor for 25 years, until I retired. I would often cycle to work, and would stay on Capitol in the downhill direction, but had to detour through the neighborhood uphill, because I could not keep up with speeding auto traffic. This will solve that problem.
The City's Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee recommended this improvement in 1994, as a part of the City's first-ever bicycle transportation plan. Here we are, 30 years later, finally on the precipice of getting it done.
Neighbors along this corridor have been asking for improvements to slow traffic and improve the walking and cycling elements. It's nice to see it finally moving forward.
The vast majority of the cost of this project is for resurfacing of Capitol. That is not a "bike" or "pedestrian" related cost.
This is a good set of road, bicycle, walking, and neighborhood quality improvements.
Tuesday, September 23, 2025 Report this
jimlazar
I took a few minutes to look up the actual traffic counts along Capitol, going back to 1986.
40 years ago, the average daily traffic along this section of Capitol Way was 12,580 vehicles per day. Today it is under 10,000 vehicles per day. The capacity of a 3-lane arterial is about 25,000 vehicles per day.
Location Year Mo NB SB Total
Capitol Way n/o 21st Ave 2024 2 4909 4703 9612
Capitol Way n/o 21st Ave 2023 3 4952 4844 9796
Capitol Way n/o 21st Ave 2022 3 4801 4647 9448
Capitol Way n/o 21st Ave 2021 9 4457 4295 8752
Capitol Way n/o 21st Ave 2020 2 6088 5589 11677
Capitol Way n/o 21st Ave 2018 1 6296 6388 12684
Capitol Way n/o 21st Ave 2017 1 6360 6776 13136
Capitol Way n/o 21st Ave 2016 1 6283 6751 13034
Capitol Way n/o 21st Ave 2015 4 6639 5758 12397
Capitol Way n/o 21st Ave 2014 10 6081 5486 11567
Capitol Way n/o 21st Ave 2013 9 5888 5401 11289
Capitol Way n/o 21st Ave 2012 10 6354 5192 11546
Capitol Way n/o 21st Ave 2011 12 6203 5390 11593
Capitol Way n/o 21st Ave 2010 12 6403 5800 12203
Capitol Way n/o 21st Ave 2008 11 6206 5545 11751
Capitol Way n/o 21st Ave 2007 11 6407 5908 12315
Capitol Way n/o 21st Ave 1988 8 - 7326 -
Capitol Way n/o 21st Ave 1986 9 - - 12580
Tuesday, September 23, 2025 Report this
DaveinOlyWA
As a recreational bicyclist, it pains me that I would NEVER consider riding the area despite living only a few blocks away but this change might allow me to see the situation in a much different light.
But until that happens, I am forced to put the bike rack on the car and haul the bike to much safer locations before I can get a bit of exercise. This would be a game changer.
Wednesday, September 24, 2025 Report this
DaveinOlyWA
I guess I should have read the comments first. I did find out there appears to be no way to edit a comment soooo...
The comments here seems to suggest that the current situation is ok?
I find that hard to believe.
Is there anyone here who feels the corridor is too narrow? Especially when buses are involved?
Anyone here feel the area is more dangerous to walk, bike or drive? The number of pedestrian injuries and death should be enough data to answer the question.
So more room is needed and the other option is to remove street parking and I kinda feel like the general consensus here would lean towards any plan that reduces parking downtown is a non starter.
One thing that 3 lanes does is allow left turns which would help traffic flow. We are quite limited with options on Capital but we do have options for allowing better traffic flow around Capital.
Wednesday, September 24, 2025 Report this
KarenM
DaveinOly - There is no on street parking for the part of Capitol that this is changing - which is Carlyon to the south and Union to the north. Also, I didn't read in the comments that people think the current situation is okay. Those supporting the change are ready for improvements. You are correct that the turn lanes will help when people are waiting for an opening to turn left. I appreciate that the city recognizes the need for safety for everyone who uses this corridor.
Wednesday, September 24, 2025 Report this
nkhloly
So glad to see this project milestone. Many thanks to the staff, volunteers, and consultants who help keep us all moving safely. Years of good work have brought us to this point with this stretch of road.
There are safety, mobility, and economic benefits of updating legacy transportation infrastructure. Olympia is making it happen.
Wednesday, September 24, 2025 Report this
BillSpencer
I live around this area, and Capitol is a noisy and stressful place to walk or bike. I'm assuming most of the people complaining about the lane reduction don't actually live in the area and are using Capitol to drive in from Tumwater. Interstate 5 was built almost 70 years ago for that purpose, and this modernization is long overdue. I see Union and Jefferson as dangerous roads also overdue for a road diet and safety upgrades.
Monday, October 27, 2025 Report this
Jesse G.
As a resident on Capitol Way, I greatly appreciate the City's efforts to slow traffic to speeds resembling the 25mph posted limit between Carlyon and Union. Over the past two years, South Capitol neighborhood members have met several times with City leadership to address concerns over excessive speeding, vehicle accidents causing significant damage to personal / City properties, and dangerous conditions for residents walking / biking to neighborhood bus stops, businesses, and schools.
The City has responded by installing some additional safety features, such as the improved crosswalk at Vic's and the flashing lights / delineator posts at the corner between Washington and 24th. Time will tell if these features have an appreciable impact on drivers' behavior, but thus far I have not observed any change. I routinely experience drivers blowing through crosswalks at high speeds and reacting aggressively to me a) driving the posted 25mph speed limit and b) attempting to make the left turn into my driveway. Clearly many drivers view Capitol Way as a four-lane highway rather than a residential street, and will not adjust their behaviors until the City implements the above traffic lane adjustments.
All this is to say, I applaud City leadership for listening to traffic safety concerns in South Cap and other neighborhoods and pushing ahead plans to improve our residential streets.
Monday, November 3, 2025 Report this