Traffic signal at 3rd NW and RB Rd being revised to prevent collisions

Traffic Signal Change at 3rd Avenue NW and Richmond Beach Road

Last year, the City of Shoreline’s Annual Traffic Report indicated that the intersection of 3rd Ave NW and Richmond Beach Road had a high rate of collisions between vehicles turning left and vehicles coming through the intersection, predominately with eastbound vehicles turning left onto 3rd Ave NW.

In an effort to reduce these kinds of collisions, the City has been working with King County Traffic to update the signal operations at this intersection.

The changes will go into effect next Saturday, February 27.

The update to the signal timing will add a green left arrow for eastbound left turning vehicles, before westbound through green lights come on. This will allow eastbound left turning vehicles a brief period where they do not have to yield to oncoming traffic, Figure 1 on the attached PDF.

The green arrow will then turn to a yellow arrow and then the light will be solid green as the lights for westbound traffic change from red to green. This will allow both eastbound and westbound traffic to cross the intersection together, like how it is currently.

During this time, eastbound left turning vehicles and westbound left turning vehicles will continue to yield to oncoming traffic and wait for an adequate gap before turning left, Figure 2 on the attached PDF.

It is expected that westbound traffic will experience additional delays from 7am to 7pm, when the eastbound left turn arrow is scheduled to be in operation. The short delay is necessary in order to improve safety at this intersection.