29th Avenue Project

What We’re Fighting For

29th Ave NE is a mess.

The street is crumbling, and is already 15 years past its expected lifespan. Freight trucks have increased substantially in the last three years, speeding the street's fractures and threatening commuting bikers, bus riders, and pedestrians trying to access local businesses.

More than that, the increased traffic is endangering kids crossing the street (which has no crosswalk) to Northeast Middle School and Audubon Park, both located on 29th. Curbs and sidewalks continue to deteriorate, and the street is poorly lit, not only causing accidents at night, but presenting dangerous and debilitating roadblocks for residents with disabilities.

For the last five years, we've been pushing the city to complete a comprehensive 29th Ave NE Reconstruction - and, for the last five years, they've kept it in their budget, promising it would be worked on. In the last few years, it's been delayed - but early this year, in a very irregular move, Public Works cancelled the project entirely and downgraded it to an Asphalt Mill and Resurfacing job, currently slated for 2024.

We’re still fighting for a full reconstruction because this resurfacing plan won’t address any of the community’s problems with 29th Ave - it will make them worse.

Fifteen years ago, the Audubon neighborhood came together to try to fix those issues. It produced a detailed, comprehensive plan showing what 29th Ave NE could look like if it was redesigned - including traffic calming methods, making the street safer and inviting for bikers and pedestrians, adding bumpouts and crosswalks, and planning for climate change by taking advantage of natural rainwater runoff improvements that have already been completed.

None of these issues would be addressed with a resurfacing project. in fact, it will worsen them by encouraging drivers to speed and truck operators to use it as a thoroughfare.

There’s also evidence that a simple resurfacing won’t fix the cracks - other streets in the area have gotten similar surface-level treatments, only to have cracks reappear after a few years. It's a 10 year patch job 20 years too late, and will be flushing money down the toilet when the underlying structural problems - both of the design and the pavement underneath - won't be fixed.

And due to how the city funds these projects, people living along 29th will be paying for both projects - first the resurfacing, and the eventual reconstruction 10-15 years down the line. Many neighbors are living paycheck to paycheck - some on fixed income or near the poverty level - and while this is touted by Public Works as the “financially responsible option,” it is an extra expense many of our neighbors can’t afford.

How You Can Help

There’s lots of ways to get involved!

• Please sign our petition to Public Works to reinstate their full reconstruction plan: https://www.change.org/p/29th-ave-ne-reconstruction-can-t-wait-another-15-years
  

• Have thoughts about what you want to see? We’d love to have you fill out our survey online (or in person at the Audubon Farmer's Market!): https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSe4S9sjE-kO0sMMMXu9SY_yI7HuKc0YXjr7TqsYWvfA3uxN0w/viewform
  

• We have meetings roughly every third Tuesday of the month at 6pm - and are currently doing hybrid in-person and Zoom meetings. Please email 29thavene.taskforce@gmail.com for more details
  

Have questions? Please take a look at our other pages, or send us an email at 29thavene.taskforce@gmail.com.