Aurora Bus Only Lanes Expand and Summer Safety Projects Begin

City of Seattle, Washington sent this bulletin at 05/30/2025 09:00 AM PDT
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Queen Anne Buses Only Lanes

Expansion of Aurora Bus Only Lanes - South of Aurora Bridge

As soon as June 2025, we will be converting the right-most northbound lane on Aurora Ave N between South Lake Union and the Aurora Bridge into a bus-only lane. 

This bus-only lane will be in effect 24 hours a day and 7 days a week, while still allowing access to adjacent streets and properties.

New bus-only lane signs and red pavement markings will be installed in the coming weeks by our crews. This change is intended help maintain travel time and reliability of the RapidRide E Line, which is Metro’s highest ridership route. With the completion of this work the bus lanes on Aurora will be 24/7 from downtown to the city limits at N 145th St.

 

What’s Changing on this segment of Aurora? 

  • Northbound: Curb lane becomes a 24/7 bus-only lane from Prospect St to Lynn St.
  • No vehicle parking, loading, or driving in the bus lane. 

What's Not Changing?

  • Southbound: Remains 24/7 bus-only lane from Lynn St to Roy St. 
  • Business and driveway access stays open. 
  • Right turns still allowed from the bus lane. 

Construction details: 

  • Crews plan to install bus-only signs and red pavement markings in June 2025.   
  • Installation will be done at night and require a lane closure(s).   
  • The work will take approximately 1-2 nights. 
  • Please note this work is weather dependent.   

 

Aurora Ave N and N 103rd St: Construction Notice
103rd and Aurora new turn restrictions

New center concrete curb extension being installed on Aurora and 103rd as soon as mid-June. Once installed no left turns allowed onto or out of 103rd. Left turns permitted at 100th and 105th.
C-Curb image

Image of C-Curb on S Graham St similar to what will be installed on Aurora and 103rd.

More Aurora Safety Improvements Coming this Summer!

We have heard your concerns about repeated collisions along the Aurora corridor.  Based on your feedback and our collision pattern data, we will begin installing a series of safety improvements along Aurora this summer for all travelers.   

These changes will restrict left turns and thru-movements, with the goal of reducing cut-through traffic and crashes at key intersections.    

The planned improvements on Aurora include: 

  • New curbing extension at N 103rd St  
  • Median Islands at N 128th St and N 143rd St 
  • New crossing signal with a median island at N 137th St

As soon as mid-June crews will begin installing these improvements. Construction will continue throughout the summer months. There may be temporary short-term lane restrictions for this work. We will always maintain access to homes and businesses. Thank you for your patience as we work to improve Seattle’s streets!  

Christa Dumpys 

SDOT Sr. Public Engagement Lead