Thursday, October 1, 2026
The Thurston Regional Planning Council has wrapped up the planning phase of the Martin Way Crossing Strategy and will present a final report on Friday, Dec. 5.
The strategy identifies 10 priority locations for pedestrian crossings, bicycle improvements and other multimodal upgrades along Martin Way. It aims to make the corridor safer and more accessible for people walking, biking and using transit, with a focus on underserved communities.
The planning council worked on the strategy from July 2024 through November 2025. The council partnered with the cities of Olympia and Lacey, Thurston County and Intercity Transit to develop preliminary designs and engage the public.
The planning council collected feedback from 532 community members between September 2024 and June 2025 through surveys, listening sessions and open houses. Public input helped guide the selection of crossing locations and preliminary designs.
Construction of the crossings would take place in the future as funding and permits become available.
In Olympia, the proposed locations are Devoe Street, The Bark Store and 4500 Martin Way.
The four proposed crossings in unincorporated Thurston County are located between Carpenter Road and Kinwood Street, Thurston County Food Bank, School Street and 7838 Martin Way.
The proposed locations in Lacey are Gerald Street, Blackhawk Lane and Copper Wood Lane.
The project team considered accessibility, safety and equity when selecting the proposed crosswalk locations.
Martin Way, a 7-mile corridor and former state highway, is a major regional thoroughfare connecting Olympia, Lacey and unincorporated Thurston County. It serves as an alternative to Interstate 5, has frequent transit service, and is home to a variety of businesses and destinations.
Martin Way is difficult to navigate without a car, and presents significant safety and accessibility challenges for pedestrians and bicyclists, including:
Since 2015, many serious incidents have been linked to pedestrians attempting to cross the roadway. From 2019 to 2023, one-third of fatal or serious collisions on the corridor involved pedestrians or bicyclists, with more than 70% occurring near bus stops.
The crossing strategy is funded via Washington’s Climate Commitment Act, which invests cap-and-invest dollars in climate action, public health and job creation. The plan serves as a roadmap for future investments, and positions local partners to pursue funding and implementation opportunities for the proposed crossings.
Thurston Regional Planning Council Senior Planner Aidan Dixon is going to present the project at a planning council meeting on Friday, Dec. 5.
3 comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here
chrispc2u
When are two crossings going to be added to Rainier Vista park so pedestrians can cross 45th without worrying about getting run over by speeding cars?
Tuesday, December 2, 2025 Report this
danwdurham
This crossing strategy certainly doesn't fall under the climate action category. Nor does it fall under public health. Oh yes, it falls under job creation. As such, it appears to be a way to spend funds without letting them expire. A colossal waste of funds. The project should be terminated.
Tuesday, December 2, 2025 Report this
The_Armed_Gardener
Olympia thinks lines on the streets will help the junkies cross at "Devoe and The Bark Store." They mean "The Jungle," AKA their little social slave control experiment and human suffering revenue generator. Um.. they are on drugs and don't have any idea where they are when they are in the middle of the street.
Tuesday, December 2, 2025 Report this