We are excited to announce Seattle is taking another step toward more efficient streets that move more people and goods with the installation of bus-only lanes, more specifically , along parts of the Route 40. We are rolling these out in partnership with King County Metro as part of the Route 40 Transit-Plus Multimodal Corridor Project and in time to help people navigate Revive I-5 construction this summer and beyond.
Starting as early as July 2025, we’ll begin installing new bus-only lanes in five key locations along the route. These transit enhancements are designed to improve transit reliability and travel time for Route 40 riders while maintaining access for local businesses and residents.
Route 40 is the 5th highest ridership route in the King County Metro bus network with more than 8,500 average weekday daily boardings (Fall 2024) – an 11% increase from Fall 2023. Since the pandemic, ridership has grown every year. Learn more about Route 40 ridership by visiting the King County Metro Rider Dashboard.
Once the Route 40 project is complete, we’re expecting 5-10% transit travel time reductions overall, and approximately 14-17% travel time reductions between Ballard and Downtown specifically.
Read our to learn more about the bus-only lanes.
Where will the bus-only lanes be installed?
Here’s a breakdown of the areas receiving bus-only lanes along Route 40 during this phase of the project:
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Holman Rd NW between 3rd Ave NW and N 104th St in the northbound direction. The existing two-way center turn lane will remain, allowing drivers to make left turns onto side streets.
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N 36th St, Fremont Pl N, and Fremont Ave N between 1st Ave NW and N 34th St in the eastbound and southbound directions. (note: the Fremont area bus-only lanes will be installed later, near the end of construction in Fremont)
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Leary Ave NW between NW Market St and 20th Ave NW in the northbound direction.
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NW Market St between 22nd Ave NW and 24th Ave NW in both the eastbound and westbound directions.
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Westlake Ave N between 4th Ave N and 9th Ave N in both the northbound and southbound directions. There will be a new two-way center turn lane to help drivers access businesses and homes along the street. After the Route 40 project construction is complete, we will install a pilot project called Freight and Bus (FAB) lanes in this area.
Looking Ahead
Following the installation of BAT lanes, the project team will collect performance data and evaluate how people and goods are moving along the corridor and in these neighborhoods. This work will inform any need for adjustments, and planning for the future to support safety and freight movement alongside public transit ensuring a more efficient traffic flow for everyone
 Route 40 Project map including locations where we'll be installing bus only lanes (BAT Lanes).
As part of our coordinated infrastructure improvements, two water shutoffs each in separate locations in Fremont are planned next week. These are necessary steps in our work with Seattle Public Utilities (SPU) to replace a 100-year-old waterline and improve long-term water service reliability in the neighborhood.
First Scheduled Water Shut Off:
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Date: Sunday, June 29
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Time: Approximately 4 AM - 11 AM
- This water shut off will require lane reductions on N 36th St between Francis Ave N and Evanston Ave N. We advise residents and commuters to plan ahead and use alternate routes during this time to avoid disruptions.
- Neighbors can expect noise as early as 4 AM while crews are performing the work.
- The below map shows the buildings that will be impacted by the water shut off on June 29.
Second Scheduled Water Shut Off:
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Date: Monday, June 30
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Time: Approximately 6 AM - 11 AM
- This water shut off will require lane reductions on N 35th St, east of Fremont Ave N. We advise residents and commuters to plan ahead and use alternate routes during this time to avoid disruptions.
- Neighbors can expect noise as early as 6 AM while crews are performing the work.
The below map shows the buildings that will be impacted by the water shut off on June 30
 June 30 Water Shut Off
Water Main Infrastructure Upgrades
The Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) is working with Seattle Public Utilities (SPU) to replace a 100-year-old waterline under Fremont Ave N between N 34th St and N 35th St and on Dayton Ave N and N 36th St. Completing the water main upgrades and the street upgrades at the same time will help reduce impacts to the community by coordinating major construction projects. This approach helps minimize travel disruptions, lower construction costs, and shorten the overall construction timeline compared to completing the projects separately.
When complete, the watermain upgrades are expected to:
- Improve capacity to deliver drinking water in your neighborhood
- Improve water system flow and pressure
- Ensure water service reliability and reduce disruptions
What to Expect:
Water service impacts will vary based on construction progress and the location of infrastructure upgrades. Specific buildings in Fremont will experience disruptions at different times throughout the project and for varying durations as we complete these essential improvements.
Advance Notifications
We are committed to keeping you informed:
- Notifications will be shared via the project email list at least one week in advance. You can subscribe here.
- Flyers with detailed information will also be distributed to buildings that will be impacted five days before the scheduled shut off.
Our team is actively providing affected business owners and residents with the most up-to-date information. If you have any specific questions or require further assistance, don’t hesitate to reach out to us at Route40@seattle.gov
You can learn how best to prepare for water main work by visiting SPU's webpage for tips on preparing for a water outage.
Route 40 has over 8,500 average weekday daily boardings (Fall 2024) - an 11% increase from Fall 2023. It is the fifth (5th) highest ridership route in the Metro network.
In addition to the 5-10% transit travel time savings, 14-17% in Ballard to Downtown, the Route 40 project will maintain and modernize vital infrastructure
- Temporary lane reductions
- Temporary driveway closures
- Temporary bus stop closures
- Temporary parking restrictions
- Temporary sidewalk detours
- Temporary storage of construction supplies in the street
- Temporary noise, dust and vibrations
- Bus stop relocations
- Drainage work: This involves digging trenches to help manage water flow
- Signal pole foundation excavation: This work involves digging for the pole foundations prior to when we order custom signal poles which takes a while to build and to make sure we know there are no underground obstructions
- Trenching for conduit: This involves digging trenches to lay down pipes or cables underground
- Sidewalk curb bulb out: This involves making the curbs stick outward for safety or accessibility
- Mill and fill overlay: This is when the top layer of the road gets removed and replaced with new asphalt
The construction timeline is always subject to change depending on weather conditions and materials availability. We are committed to keeping you informed and maintaining open communication throughout the remainder of this project.To learn more about the project and designs, visit our online open house.
If you own or manage a business in Fremont or Westlake Ave near the project corridor and would like to be featured, please email us at Route40@seattle.gov and send us a short description and picture of your business.
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Phone: (206) 775-8731 (leave a voicemail and we will return your call)
Our project team is in close coordination with the following projects. Please visit their project webpage to see the latest update:
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