Route 40 TPMC Project Freight-and-Bus Only (FAB) Lane Pilot Program

Greetings Neighbors,

As part of the Route 40 Transit-Plus Multimodal Corridor project, we’re launching the first Freight-and-Bus Only Lanes (FAB lanes) in Seattle as a one-year pilot program. The FAB lanes will help keep people and goods moving and connect communities along these important freight and transit corridors.

FAB lanes will be piloted on Westlake Ave N, a major truck street, allowing freight vehicles over 26,000 pounds (about the size of a garbage truck, large box truck, or semi-truck) to use bus lanes to travel along the corridor. SDOT’s traffic analysis shows that the FAB lanes will help keep freight moving along Westlake Ave N, improve transit travel time, and have little impact on general-purpose traffic.

The FAB lanes will be piloted for one year after construction for the Route 40 project is completed. After the trial period ends, data will be reviewed and input from freight drivers will be considered to determine if FAB lanes should be installed permanently along Westlake Ave N and added to our toolbox for other Seattle streets.

The new bus lanes will remain in place following the Route 40 project completion.

Learn more by visiting the SDOT blog!

Overview of Improvements:

• Convert one northbound travel lane on Westlake Ave N to a FAB lane between Aloha St and where the Aurora Bridge crosses over Westlake Ave N.
• Convert one southbound travel lane on Westlake Ave N to a FAB lane between Blaine St and Aloha St.
• Travel lanes on the Fremont Bridge remain the same as today.
• Access to businesses and driveways will be maintained.

Learn more about FAB lanes and the Route 40 - Transit-Plus Multimodal Corridor on the project webpage.

Thank you again for your interest in Route 40. We look forward to sharing more information about project updates with you soon!