King County Metro and Seattle celebrate the completion of the Route 40 project that adds new bus lanes, crosswalks and sidewalk fixes along route

Cross posted from SDOT

The final phase of the Route 40 project is wrapping up, bringing new bus-only lanes, crosswalks, sidewalk repairs, and more along one of Seattle’s busiest bus routes.

The Route 40 connects Northgate light rail station to about 10 neighborhoods, including Greenwood, Crown Hill, Loyal Heights, Westlake, South Lake Union, all the way to Pioneer Square. It also moves through Ballard and Fremont, which have some of the highest bike and scooter ridership in the city.

Route 40 currently averages more than 9,000 weekday boardings and connects to other major bus routes like RapidRide C, D, and E Lines, as well as Route 44.

Route 40 improvements by-the-numbers

Upgrades from this project include new crosswalks, sidewalk fixes, and protected bike lanes, along with bus infrastructure improvements.

While crews were making these improvements, we partnered with Seattle Public Utilities to replace a 100-year-old aging water main, preventing future traffic disruptions for this needed maintenance work.

In total, this project includes:

• 6,000 feet of upgraded sidewalks
• 200 feet of new water mains
• 47 curb ramp upgrades
• 16 upgraded bus stops
• 15 new or upgraded crosswalks
• 2 blocks of protected bike lanes in Fremont, with a redesign north of the Fremont Bridge to make travel safer and calmer for everyone

Better bus travel times

This project also adds three miles of bus-priority lanes and changes to traffic signals to help buses avoid delays.

King County Metro says they’re already seeing improvements in bus travel times in some areas. New bus lanes on the Fremont Bridge, for example, help buses move ahead of traffic after bridge openings.

“We’ve heard from the community that speed and reliability are very important to them,” said Joe Rye, Capital Projects Manager at King County Metro. “That’s why we support projects like this that help the bus get through traffic quicker.”

Anjuli lives in Queen Anne and works in Fremont. She says riding the bus to work make the most sense for her.

“I would say it’s impacted my life quite a bit,” she says about her choice to switch from driving to transit. “I feel, as far as living in the city, I have a lot of freedom.”

Exploring new ways to move people – and goods

Building on these completed Route 40 improvements, we’re also planning a new Freight-and-Bus (FAB) lane pilot along portions of Westlake Avenue N.

FAB lanes allow buses and trucks to share dedicated lanes, helping buses avoid traffic delays while supporting freight deliveries.

The pilot will explore how these lanes can improve transit reliability while accommodating freight movement along the corridor.

Safer crossings for everyone

In Ballard, Pete was walking to his car from the gym when we caught up with him at the new traffic signal on 20th Ave NW and Leary Ave NW. He says he visits the neighborhood from North Beach a few times a week.

“This was a very dangerous intersection to cross,” he said. “So, it’s great.”

He says the new traffic signal makes him feel more in control when he crosses the street. “People actually have to stop.”

Ultimately, this project is about giving you options.

“The goal is that people have an opportunity to use modes that fit what their needs are. And they can rely on those modes to get them where they need to go – when they need to get there,” said Saleeba.

While major construction is complete, crews may return to finish a few smaller tasks over the coming weeks.

Thank you to the residents, businesses, and people traveling along Route 40 for your patience and feedback throughout the project.

What people are saying

“A reliable bus can make a real difference in someone’s day. It means parents can spend less time commuting and more time with their families. It also helps people get to work, school, and neighborhood businesses. Investments like Route 40 are about making everyday life easier for Seattle residents.”
– Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson

“Route 40 serves thousands of people each day, and these improvements will help riders travel more reliably through some of Seattle’s busiest neighborhoods. Upgrades to sidewalks, crossings, and the streets our buses use every day give Metro the ability to provide faster and more dependable service. The project also strengthens the regional network by improving connections to Link light rail and other major transit routes across King County. I appreciate the residents and businesses who pushed through years of construction, and I appreciate the City of Seattle for completing work that will make daily travel better for so many people.”
– King County Executive Girmay Zahilay

“Improving a busy transit corridor means looking at how buses and other vehicles safely share our streets with people walking and biking. Along Route 40, we’ve added bus lanes, dramatically improved sidewalks and crossings, and upgraded traffic signals to help people travel more safely and reliably. These improvements will serve Seattle neighborhoods for years to come.”
– Acting SDOT Director Angela Brady, PE

“The completion of this project is helping transform one of our ‘workhorse routes’ into a ‘racehorse.’ Investing in new bus lanes, infrastructure updates that allow our buses to stay in traffic and something as simple as lanes that allow us to move faster after the Fremont Bridge has opened for boat traffic are all part of collaborative effort between Metro and SDOT to increase the speed and reliability of transit for one of Metro’s busiest routes.”
– DeAnna Martin, Chief of Staff, King County Metro

“The Route 40 Project is a great example of what’s possible through a strong partnership between Seattle Department of Transportation and King County Metro. Infrastructure improvements on city streets are vital to having a safe and reliable transit system. As a key connection between Northgate, Ballard, Fremont, Westlake and Downtown, I’m very excited for the riders that will spend less time sitting in traffic and more time moving around the city.”
– King County Councilmember Jorge L. Barón (District 4)

“As the only member of Seattle City Council who lives car-free, fast and frequent transit access is essential to me and all Seattle residents. Improvements on Route 40 will be felt by those riding transit but also those walking, biking, and even driving throughout the corridor. As the 5th highest ridership route in the King County Metro network, the 40 also represents a vital connection between Ballard and Downtown as work continues to bring the full Ballard Link Extension online as soon as possible. I can’t wait to hop on board the 40 and see these improvements up close.”
– Seattle City Councilmember Alexis Mercedes Rinck (Position 8, Citywide)

“We are not just cutting a ribbon on this project; we are cutting travel times for transit riders. These bus lanes will put more time back in the day for the nearly 9,000 people who ride this route daily to get to work, groceries, school pickup, and healthcare. Thank you to Mayor Wilson and Director Brady for delivering for transit riders. And thank you to the voters of Seattle for investing in this project through the 2020 Seattle Transit Measure.”
– Kirk Hovenkotter, Executive Director Transportation Choices Coalition

“The Route 40 is a critical bus line for Ballard and Fremont residents to get to work and social activities. We appreciate the work that SDOT has done to speed up this route with dedicated bus lanes. We also appreciate how cyclists and pedestrians can now get where they’re going more safely. This transit corridor is now better for everyone!”
– Jason Weill, Ballard Fremont Green Streets

“These improvements have made a real difference in Fremont. We now have wider sidewalks, safer crossings, and streets that are more comfortable to walk along. The changes along 36th Street have also helped create a quieter, more welcoming space for people visiting local businesses and spending time in our neighborhood.”
– Lydia Heard of the Fremont Neighborhood Council

“The Fremont Chamber of Commerce is proud to see the City of Seattle and SDOT’s investment in improving the quality of life for the Fremont Community and beyond. The Chamber is looking forward to seeing the continued investment in our community to further improve upon the work that is on-going.”
– Fremont Chamber of Commerce

“Ensuring people have reliable, safe multimodal transit access is a core foundation of the Regional Transportation Plan. Puget Sound Regional Council helped fund the Route 40 corridor improvements because they make it easier for people to walk, bike, and roll to transit, and to reach jobs, homes, and services across the region.”
– Josh Brown, Executive Director, Puget Sound Regional Council

“The Transit Advisory Board (TAB) Co-chairs welcome the expanded bus lanes and multimodal corridor improvements to Route 40, which is the 5th highest ridership route in the Metro Network and serves as a vital transit route connecting Downtown Seattle to Fremont, Ballard, Loyal Heights, Crown Hill, and Northgate. This project will increase ridership and improve Route 40’s reliability, creating a safer, more efficient roadway for all. ”
– Transportation Advisory Board Co-Chairs Zach Burton and Ashwin Bhumbla

“Bus lanes are a proven solution to make transit faster, more reliable, and more convenient. SDOT demonstrated on Denny Way that they can build bus-only lanes quickly and affordably to provide freedom of mobility for all Seattlites. We need alternatives to driving as the other Washington drives up gas prices and inflation. Thankfully, we have a department working on just that.”
– Nick Sattele and Jason Li, co-leads, Fix The L8

“We all need to go places, and for those of us who can’t drive or don’t have cars, reliable, accessible transit makes all the difference in being able to participate in our communities. Nondrivers Alliance is especially excited about the sidewalk and crossing improvements with the Route 40 project. If you can’t get safely to the bus stop, you can’t ride the bus.”
– Anna Zivarts, Director, Nondrivers Alliance

“With the Ballard Link Extension being delayed yet again, now more than ever, we need to be investing in ensuring Ballard is appropriately connected to the rest of the city through, fast, reliable, and irresistibly good public transit. The route 40 improvements help make one of Ballards connections to downtown faster and more reliable, but there’s still more work to do and we’re excited to work with the Mayor and SDOT to ensure more of our buses get the same investments.”
– Save Ballard Rail