Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson celebrates new Denny Way bus reliability project to improve Route 8

(Crossposted announcement from the SDOT Blog)

The City of Seattle is rolling out a new extension of the eastbound red bus lane along one mile of Denny Way to help buses move more reliably through one of the city’s busiest and most congested corridors. Seattle Mayor Katie B. Wilson announced today the launch of the Denny Way Bus Reliability Project to improve transit for thousands of riders traveling through the corridor.

“I promised we would move quickly to make transit move more quickly, and that’s exactly what we’re doing,” said Mayor Wilson. “I’ve been one of the Route 8’s 8,000 daily riders and I know how frustrating it can be when buses are stuck in traffic – and you’re stuck wondering if you’re ever going to get to your destination. That’s why I’m so excited to be rolling out nine blocks of red carpet for transit riders on Denny Way.”

The project advances priorities outlined in Mayor Wilson’s first executive order issued in January shortly after taking office. The Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) developed the design and will deliver new eastbound business access and transit (BAT) lanes in two phases this year. These lanes give priority to buses while allowing access for turns and deliveries.

Denny Way is a key east–west connection linking Downtown, South Lake Union, and Capitol Hill. Today, it serves a variety of users —including buses, freight, and regional trips—within limited street space. Route 8 carries approximately 7,000 riders each day and is one of King County Metro’s top ten routes by ridership. However, it has long struggled with reliability, particularly along Denny Way, where buses are delayed by heavy congestion, especially eastbound in the afternoon.

Community members, transit riders, and local organizations have consistently expressed support for improving Route 8 reliability and reducing delays, recognizing the route as a key connection between several of Seattle’s fastest-growing neighborhoods.

“Transit riders have been forced to sit through traffic on Seattle’s slowest and least reliable bus for decades,” said Nick Sattele and Jason Li, co-leads, Fix The L8. “Instead of wasting time and money on more studies, Mayor Wilson elevated the solution that riders, engineers, and planners have all been pointing to: bus lanes. We need transit to be more attractive to meet our climate and mobility goals. We need alternatives to driving as the other Washington drives up gas prices and inflation. Finally, we have a mayor willing to cut the red tape and give Seattleites the freedom of mobility they deserve.”

A phased approach to deliver improvements this year

The Denny Way Bus Reliability Project will be delivered in two phases, with near-term improvements beginning in spring and additional upgrades planned for later this year.

Phase 1 (West End – Planned for May 2026)

The first phase includes three blocks of eastbound bus lanes from Queen Anne Avenue North to Second Avenue at the west end of the street serving riders on seven routes – the 1, 2, 8, 13, 24, 33, and the RapidRide D Line – carrying nearly 26,000 riders each day. This phase also extends an existing southbound bus-only lane on Queen Anne Avenue to Denny Way and adds a bus queue jump at Second Avenue to help bus riders move ahead of traffic at the intersection. These improvements are designed to help buses move more smoothly through congested intersections and streets. Installation is scheduled for May.

Phase 2 (East End – Planned for August 2026)

Additional improvements are planned east of Fifth Avenue, including an extension of the eastbound bus lane and intersection changes to better support transit operations along the corridor.

The next phase includes the following:

• Installing nine blocks of new Business Access and Transit (BAT) lane from Fifth Avenue to Fairview Avenue North in the eastbound direction.
• Shifting the eastbound bus lane between Fairview Avenue and Stewart Street to a curb side bus lane.
• Restricting turns at select locations, including eastbound left onto Dexter Avenue and right onto Yale Avenue, and westbound left turns onto Lenora Street and Boren Avenue.
• Closing the Yale Avenue slip lane where right turn is restricted.
• Reconfiguring the intersection at Lenora Street and Boren Avenue to enhance pedestrian safety.

These improvements are designed to help move thousands of bus riders through this busy corridor more efficiently.

Once these changes are in place, SDOT will monitor how the corridor is performing and make adjustments as needed.

SDOT is also identifying additional corridors where similar transit-priority improvements could deliver high-impact benefits for riders and the city, with plans to advance this work through the Levy-funded Transit Spot Improvement Program.

“I’m proud of how quickly our talented SDOT team has stepped up to respond to Mayor Katie B. Wilson’s first Executive Order,” said SDOT Acting Director Angela Brady, PE. “We’re implementing phased improvements this year to help buses move more efficiently through the Denny corridor and reduce delays for transit riders. This is a practical step we can take now and we’ll continue to build on this important work to support improved transit across our city.”

“Metro is grateful for the support of our Seattle partners as we move forward with making Denny Way work better for bus riders on Route 8,” said King County Metro General Manager Michelle Allison. “Helping buses move faster on busy city streets is a critical part of making transit a reliable and top choice for getting around town. We look forward to cutting ribbons this spring and summer and rolling out more red carpets for the 8 when work is complete!”

The project is supported by the voter-approved Seattle Transportation Levy and reflects the City’s commitment to delivering meaningful improvements for transit riders while supporting broader climate goals.

SDOT will continue working closely with King County Metro and community partners as the project moves forward. SDOT will also fund additional bus trips on the Route 8 via the voter-approved Seattle Transit Measure (STM), beginning in late August, and continue to partner to promote transit, walking, biking and rolling in the South Lake Union neighborhood. These additional bus trips are part of a comprehensive set of investments made possible by the STM, which expires in early 2027. The STM invests in local bus and streetcar service to make public transportation better, more reliable, and more accessible for everyone in our city.

The project builds on years of work to improve Route 8 and reflects long-standing community interest in more consistent transit service along the corridor.

What people are saying

“This is exactly the kind of investment we need if we want more people to choose transit. As a daily transit rider, I know how much reliability matters. When buses run late, it affects everything from getting to work on time to making it home to your family. These targeted, quick build improvements will make Route 8 faster and more dependable for the thousands of riders who rely on it every day. I appreciate Mayor Wilson and SDOT for moving with urgency to deliver meaningful improvements on this critical corridor.”

– Seattle City Councilmember Rob Saka (Transportation Chair)

“Buses are the backbone of Seattle’s transportation system. When our buses work well, our entire city works better. These truths are why today the City of Seattle is taking action to add bus priority lanes on Denny Way. Because bus reliability shouldn’t be a luxury, but an expectation. These bus lanes are more than just red paint; they demonstrate that we as a city will prioritize working people getting home, kids getting to school, elders to appointments, on time and on schedule. This less headache and more time for families to spend together.

Thank you to the transit riders and advocates who made this possible. Let’s make the L8 bus, into a Gr8 bus.”

– Seattle City Councilmember Alexis Mercedes Rinck (Position 8, Citywide) 

“Seattle and our region will not thrive or reach their full potential without safe and reliable public transportation. On corridors like Denny Way, where congestion regularly delays service, bus-only lanes are critical to making transit work and ensuring it remains a viable option for the public. With the significant investments our region continues to make in transit, it’s important that we take actions that improve reliability and keep service moving for the riders who depend on it every day.”

– Greg Woodfill, ATU 587 President/Business Representative