History
Commercial Avenue of Today looks far different than how it looked 50 or 100 years ago. Our primary retail and commercial corridor has changed and grown with Anacortes. Here are some fun facts and events that you may not know about Commercial Avenue:

- Leading into Downtown, Commercial Avenue has been the main street of Anacortes since at least the City’s founding in 1891. The street was originally called P Avenue and was changed to Commercial Avenue in 1902.
- Commercial Avenue has changed in character over time to meet the demands of business and the emerging technology of the time.
- Commercial Avenue was originally a dirt road and later became a wooden plank road with a railroad track running down the middle as of 1890. (source)

- Leading into Downtown, Commercial Avenue has been the main street of Anacortes since at least the City’s founding in 1891. The street was originally called P Avenue and was changed to Commercial Avenue in 1902.
- Commercial Avenue has changed in character over time to meet the demands of business and the emerging technology of the time.
- Commercial Avenue was originally a dirt road and later became a wooden plank road with a railroad track running down the middle as of 1890. (source)

Commercial Avenue, and the surrounding area south of 10th Street was considered a separate community from Anacortes until the early 1900s when the name of the area was changed from Nelson’s Addition to South Anacortes. To this day, Commercial Avenue between 3rd and 11th Streets is considered the Central Business District and the nature of the street is noticeably different.

Commercial Avenue, and the surrounding area south of 10th Street was considered a separate community from Anacortes until the early 1900s when the name of the area was changed from Nelson’s Addition to South Anacortes. To this day, Commercial Avenue between 3rd and 11th Streets is considered the Central Business District and the nature of the street is noticeably different.

In the late 1800s and early 1900s, the dominant form of transportation was walking, biking, and horse drawn carriages. Passenger rail also began running down the middle of Commercial Avenue in 1890. Ed Knapp’s Bicycle Shop, for example, was established in 1900 at Commercial Avenue and 7th Street. (link) horse linkbicycle photo

In the late 1800s and early 1900s, the dominant form of transportation was walking, biking, and horse drawn carriages. Passenger rail also began running down the middle of Commercial Avenue in 1890. Ed Knapp’s Bicycle Shop, for example, was established in 1900 at Commercial Avenue and 7th Street. (link) horse linkbicycle photo

Commercial Avenue began to be paved in 1914. After the street was paved, the automobile began to gain in popularity. Public transportation also began running along Commercial Avenue around this time in large trucks called jitneys. (link) (Paving at Commercial and 13th) (1916) link This bus line, later called the South Side Bus, carried those living in South Anacortes below 12th Street into the commercial core of the city.

Commercial Avenue began to be paved in 1914. After the street was paved, the automobile began to gain in popularity. Public transportation also began running along Commercial Avenue around this time in large trucks called jitneys. (link) (Paving at Commercial and 13th) (1916) link This bus line, later called the South Side Bus, carried those living in South Anacortes below 12th Street into the commercial core of the city.

Commercial Avenue began to be paved in 1914. After the street was paved, the automobile began to gain in popularity. Public transportation also began running along Commercial Avenue around this time in large trucks called jitneys. (link) (Paving at Commercial and 13th) (1916) link This bus line, later called the South Side Bus, carried those living in South Anacortes below 12th Street into the commercial core of the city.

Commercial Avenue began to be paved in 1914. After the street was paved, the automobile began to gain in popularity. Public transportation also began running along Commercial Avenue around this time in large trucks called jitneys. (link) (Paving at Commercial and 13th) (1916) link This bus line, later called the South Side Bus, carried those living in South Anacortes below 12th Street into the commercial core of the city.

In the early 1920s, Commercial Avenue was paved, but did not have a painted centerline. Instead there were vertical dividers placed at intersections. (1922 photo) (link)

In the early 1920s, Commercial Avenue was paved, but did not have a painted centerline. Instead there were vertical dividers placed at intersections. (1922 photo) (link)

In the 1920s and early 1930s, auto-oriented businesses began to appear along Commercial Avenue. From this point onward cars and public buses became the dominant forms of transportation.
In 1937 the SR 20 SPUR was built, which provided a major connection for people driving into Anacortes to access the ferry. (originally named Primary State Highway 1)

In the 1920s and early 1930s, auto-oriented businesses began to appear along Commercial Avenue. From this point onward cars and public buses became the dominant forms of transportation.
In 1937 the SR 20 SPUR was built, which provided a major connection for people driving into Anacortes to access the ferry. (originally named Primary State Highway 1)

A view of Commercial Avenue in 1946 with pedestrian-scaled lighting and a center stripe.

A view of Commercial Avenue in 1946 with pedestrian-scaled lighting and a center stripe.



From the 1950s onward, especially after the completion of the Highway 20 Spur in 1958, Commercial Avenue south of 12th Street became designed to accommodate motor vehicles through many wide lanes and auto-oriented businesses with large parking lots.

From the 1950s onward, especially after the completion of the Highway 20 Spur in 1958, Commercial Avenue south of 12th Street became designed to accommodate motor vehicles through many wide lanes and auto-oriented businesses with large parking lots.

In the Central Business District, Commercial Avenue between 3rd St and 11th St, was recently repaved to include buffered bike lanes in 2017, the street south of 12th has been largely unchanged in decades.
Commercial Avenue has changed and will continue to change in the future. We are now making our mark on designing the next phase of Commercial Avenue as a complete, multimodal street.

In the Central Business District, Commercial Avenue between 3rd St and 11th St, was recently repaved to include buffered bike lanes in 2017, the street south of 12th has been largely unchanged in decades.
Commercial Avenue has changed and will continue to change in the future. We are now making our mark on designing the next phase of Commercial Avenue as a complete, multimodal street.
Context
- South Commercial Avenue is the main route leading into Downtown Anacortes, the waterfront, and the ferry terminal and is heavily used by visitors passing through our community.
- The City currently has bike lanes, neighborhood bike routes, and trails such as the Tommy Thompson Trail. Commercial Avenue has bike lanes within the Central Business District, but no bike facilities along South Commercial Avenue.
- Existing sidewalk conditions provide no separation from the roadway, making walking stressful and uncomfortable.
- The character of Commercial Avenue is changing and more focus is being placed on designing for a “complete street” or a street that can comfortably be used by people walking, biking, rolling, and driving.
- The redesign of South Commercial Avenue and 12th Street will be the first stage of the bike and pedestrian improvements to the entire corridor of Commercial Avenue between 11th and 34th streets.
Background
The primary purpose of this project is to improve the conditions for people biking and walking along Commercial Avenue. The added benefits of the project are improving traffic flows through the intersection at 12th and Commercial Avenue while also enhancing the look and feel of our community’s main corridor. Here are a few milestones that have led to this project:
In late 2015, The City of Anacortes received a grant from WSDOT to develop a concept design that improves Commercial Avenue between 11th and 34th streets for biking and walking.
In January of 2016, Alta Planning + Design worked with the City and the community to develop a design for South Commercial Avenue between 11th and 34th streets as part of the South Commercial Avenue Corridor Plan.
The 2016 Anacortes Comprehensive Plan included recommendations for higher density housing adjacent to South Commercial Avenue and less auto-oriented, transit-friendly development.
In February 2016, the City Council approved the Parkway Alternative, which included wide sidewalks, protected bike lanes and plantings.
In June 2016, a group of students from the University of Washington, in partnership with the City, completed a Health Impact Assessment to analyze the South Commercial Avenue Corridor Plan.
In summer 2019, the city received grants from WSDOT and the Washington State Transportation Improvements Board for design and construction of improvements in the two-block area of Commercial Avenue between 11th to 13th streets.
Since November 2019, Alta Planning + Design has been working with the City and community to develop design alternatives for the intersection of Commercial Avenue and 12th Street.
Impact
Designing for the safety of people walking, biking, or rolling can have significant impacts on people’s lives. Listen to a few opinions in these videos to hear more!