TWO PETITIONS

VOTE NO on vacating South Tobin Street

Or

VOTE NO on vacating South Tobin Street until South 2nd Street is converted to a way-way

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You can sign one petition or both!

Petition 1:  Vote NO on vacating Tobin Street.
Petition 2:  Vote NO on vacating Tobin Street UNTIL South 2nd Street is converted to a two-way. (Which is already in the plans in both the city Center Community Plan and the Downtown Civic Core Action Plan.)

History:
In Renton, Washington, our community is once again faced with The Renton School Board/District behaving as if they are in a silo; adversely impacting thousands of residents and commuters, not to mention once again having used eminent domain to seize and destroy 32 homes and 8 businesses for the expansion of Renton High School.  Their behavior and lack of consideration, mirrors a disturbing pattern both present and past.  

Back in 1968, a similar threat of eminent domain was used to acquire property under the guise of building a new middle school, which never materialized. These actions demonstrate a history of  disregard for our community and its residents. Now, they are adding to this legacy of disruption by proposing the vacation of Tobin, which is a major east west corridor. 

This proposal will have significant impact on residents, commuters, businesses and emergency services. 

Current:
May 4th, 2026 there was a Public Hearing to: "Solicit public input regarding the adoption of an ordinance vacating a portion of city-right-way, S Tillicum St and Alley from Shattuck Ave S to Logan Ave S and S Tobin St from Shattuck Ave S to Logan Ave S. (Petitioner: Renton School District; File No. VAC-26-001)

After numerous audience comments at the Public Hearing with a solution suggested from numerous people, there were two votes: one, an addendum stating that Tobin would not be vacated until after South 2nd is converted to a two-way. And the vote failed. And the second vote was for the original motion, to not vacate Tobin. There was a 3:3 tie. And a tie-breaker was cast by the Mayor. 

The suggestions were made to wait because the closure of Tobin, without the conversion of South 2nd Street to a two-way, will lead to increased traffic congestion, longer commute times, and reduced accessibility to local businesses and homes. The City agreed in their Transportation Improvement Plan and said, “The South 2nd Street Conversion Project will be improving multimodal mobility in around the downtown core by converting an existing 4-lane one-way roadway to a roadway with one through land in each direction between Main Ave South and Rainier Ave South…The project is one of the strategies identified in the City Center Community Plan as well as the Downtown Civic Core Action Plan. The project enhances downtown Renton as a destination area, while improving circulation and enhancing pedestrian safety and environment….”

If any of you have been stuck on Airport because of an accident between Rainier and Logan, you are keenly aware of the issues that vacating South Tobin Street would cause. 

Future:

IF South Tobin is closed (between South Tobin and Logan) before the conversion of South 2nd Street to a two-way and you are stuck on airport heading East due to an accident on Airport you would need to do the following:

• Right on Shattuck
• Right on South Tobin
• Left on Lake
• Right on South 2nd
• Left on Rainier
• Left on South 3rd

Poor and dangerous driving behaviors will occur because some drivers will choose to bypass going left on Rainier and instead;

• Turn left into the Taco Time parking lot
• Maneuver through the drive-through area
• Enter the Safeway parking lot
• Maneuver through the parking lot
• And turn left on South 3rd

CHANGE STARTS HERE. JOIN US!

We urge you to sign at least ONE of the petitions (or BOTH) saying NO to the vacation of South Tobin and/or NO to the vacation of South Tobin until South 2nd street is converted to a two-way street. 

Please sign this petition to show your support and help us bring attention to this crucial issue. Together, we can make our voices heard and influence the decisions that directly affect our lives, neighborhoods, and people who work here.

For visuals (maps, plus City of Renton documents on the conversion of South 2nd Street) please consider reading Randy Corman’s blog at https://www.randycorman.com/?p=30045

FOR A BETTER RENTON
For A Better Renton is a 501c4. We are a diverse group of Democrats and Independents and Republicans, who believe in collaborating across partisanship differences to work in the best interest of Renton. 

Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed, citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has. ~ Margaret Mead