Route 40 - Transit-Plus Multimodal Corridor

Making bus trips faster, enhancing reliability, and improving safety.

July 19, 2024

What's Happening Now?

Construction continues on the Route 40 Transit Plus Multimodal Corridor project in Ballard and Westlake! Crews have nearly completed all potholing work which they expect to finish the week of July 22.

An excavator trenching through the street with three crew members nearby.

Crew members perform trenching work for new pipes and cables with the help of an excavator in the Ballard neighborhood.

What’s happening in North Aurora?

Crews have begun bus zone upgrades on Aurora Ave N and N 105th St/N Northgate Way. Neighbors and travelers should expect lane reductions during weekdays from 9 AM - 3 PM heading eastbound on N 105th St/N Northgate Way, just east of Aurora Ave N. These lane reductions are expected to extend into August.

What’s happening in Ballard?

Neighbors can expect several construction activities along this area through the end of July and into August.

NW Market St between Ballard Ave NW and 22nd Ave NW:

  • Stormwater drainage improvements and electrical trenching for improved crossings. Some of this work will require some sidewalk demo so please make sure to use all pedestrian detours. 
  • Curb ramp improvements. The crews are scheduled to continue work on the crossing near NW Market St through early August. Pedestrians will maintain access but may need to take slight detours.
  • Sidewalk and bus zone improvements: Crews will work on select sidewalk repairs and update the bus zones on both north and south sides of NW Market St. Please see bus design changes here. 

Neighbors should expect to see lane reductions on NW Market St as early as Saturday, July 20 through August during non-peak hours (9 AM-3 PM), on weekdays and weekends. Parking restrictions along NW Market St is also expected for staging and construction activity. 

We are expecting that access to stores and businesses will still be available during their open hours. Please continue to shop and support Ballard businesses.

Leary Ave NW, between NW Vernon Pl and NW Market St:

Crews will continue trenching for electrical conduit for the future pedestrian crossing improvements we’ll be installing on Leary Ave NW. This involves digging trenches to lay down pipes or cables underground. Neighbors should expect to see work on this intersection off and on through the Summer and Fall.

What’s happening in Fremont and Westlake?

While civil work—like utilities, pavement upgrades, and sidewalks—in Fremont won’t begin until 2025, community members may continue to see crews doing some short-term prep work before major construction occurs. You can also expect some preliminary work on Westlake Ave N. Please note, there may be temporary traffic impacts.

What you can expect during construction:

  • Temporary lane reductions
  • Temporary driveway closures
  • Temporary bus stop closures
  • Temporary parking restrictions
  • Temporary sidewalk detours
  • Temporary storage of construction supplies in the street  
  • 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. If you want to receive project and construction updates you can subscribe to get our project emails. To learn more about the project and designs, visit our online open house. 

Partnering with King County Metro, we plan to make improvements to this vital transit corridor. 

The objectives of the project are to reduce transit travel times, improve transit reliability, and increase safety and transit access along the Route 40 corridor. We have a goal of reducing peak transit travel times by 5% to 10% and making the time between buses more consistent so trips take about the same amount of time, no matter the time of day.

Improvements made as part of this Transit-Plus Multimodal Corridor project will include: 

  • Dedicated bus lanes: Bus-only lanes that separate buses from traffic and improve transit travel times and reliability
  • Signal upgrades or optimization: Transit signal priority extends or activates green lights to reduce waiting times for buses at signals
  • Channelization changes or turn restrictions: Changes to lane markings, and restricting turns for other vehicles so that buses can move faster and avoid right-of-way conflicts, making all travelers safer
  • Safety improvements: Improvements to crossings and transit connections to help people get to bus stops more easily and safely
  • Sidewalk upgrades: Repaving sidewalks and upgrading curb ramps to become ADA-accessible in key locations 
  • Upgraded watermain in Fremont
  • New northbound bike lane connection on Fremont Ave N and Neighborhood Greenway connection near 20th Ave NW and Leary Way NW 

Route 40 corridor improvements were first identified as part of the Levy to Move Seattle and King County Metro's METRO CONNECTS program. Based on results of the 2018 Levy Workplan Report, Route 40 will not be transitioned to RapidRide during this project. However, improvements will be designed to align with potential future RapidRide expansion.

Fremont Watermain Project
We are working with Seattle Public Utilities (SPU) to replace a 100-year-old waterline under Fremont Ave between N 34th St and N 35th St. This collaboration between SDOT and SPU will aim to minimize traffic impacts while completing these crucial replacements to the area’s aging watermain. 

In 2025, SDOT will demolish and upgrade the concrete street on Fremont Ave N between N 34th St and N 35th St. Under the street, there is a watermain that needs to be upgraded. SPU will upgrade the watermain while the street is demolished and the Route 40 improvements are installed.   

Completing the watermain upgrades and the street upgrades at the same time will help reduce impacts to the community by coordinating major construction projects. It also helps reduce travel impacts, minimize construction costs, and shorten construction timelines compared to the projects being completed separately. 
Want to learn more? Check out the watermain factsheet.

Route 40 Background

Running north to south, Route 40 is 13.5 miles long and passes through the neighborhoods of Northgate, Crown Hill, Loyal Heights, Ballard, Fremont, South Lake Union, Downtown Seattle, and Pioneer Square.

Before COVID, Route 40 was one of Metro's highest ridership routes, serving over 13,000 weekday riders — the third highest ridership route in the system behind the D and E Lines. During COVID pandemic, it remains one of Metro's top highest ridership routes, serving an average of over 7,000 customers each weekday.

Route 40 buses are scheduled to arrive every 5 to 10 minutes during peak periods and stops are located approximately every quarter mile throughout the route. However, buses on this route are often slow and unreliable, impacting thousands of people who rely on transit. This project will identify and implement improvements that provide faster and more reliable transit service for Route 40 and other bus routes that share the corridor.

Key Transit Connections

Route 40 connects with some of the highest ridership routes in our system, such as the RapidRide C, D, and E Lines, as well as Route 44. Additionally, Route 40 ends at the Northgate Transit Center, where many regional transit routes come together. Route 40 connects to the Northgate Link light rail station, completed in October 2021, and will connect to the Ballard station to be completed in 2037-39.

Fremont Watermain Project
We are working with Seattle Public Utilities (SPU) to replace a 100-year-old waterline under Fremont Ave between N 34th St and N 35th St. This collaboration between SDOT and SPU will aim to minimize traffic impacts while completing these crucial replacements to the area’s aging watermain. 

In 2025, SDOT will demolish and upgrade the concrete street on Fremont Ave N between N 34th St and N 35th St. Under the street, there is a watermain that needs to be upgraded. SPU will upgrade the watermain while the street is demolished and the Route 40 improvements are installed.   

Completing the watermain upgrades and the street upgrades at the same time will help reduce impacts to the community by coordinating major construction projects. It also helps reduce travel impacts, minimize construction costs, and shorten construction timelines compared to the projects being completed separately. 
Want to learn more? Check out the watermain factsheet.

Project Map

Route 40 Updated Map

Route 40 improvements include: 

  • 3 miles of Businesses Access and Transit only lanes or Freight and Bus only lanes
  • 47 upgraded curb ramps
  • 8 new bus bulbs
  • 6,000+ feet of upgraded sidewalks
  • 3 new or upgraded crosswalks 

Project Schedule

Schedule graphic at Pre-Construction

  1. Planning (2019-2021): We collected traffic data, reviewed plans, and gathered community experiences to define options.
  2. Design (2021-2023): We are collaborating with the community, working to secure regulatory approval (e.g., Environmental Assessment), and developing a more detailed final design.
  3. Construction (as soon as 2024): We will construct the project and keep the community informed on the latest construction updates, schedule, and expected impacts.
  4. Service launch (planned for 2025)

Anticipated Construction Timeline 

  • 2024: Holman Road, N 105th St/ N Northgate Way and Aurora
  • 2024-2025: Ballard, Leary Way NW, Westlake Ave N
  • 2025-2026: Fremont

This timeline may change depending on weather conditions, crew and materials availability, or other circumstances. We will communicate any schedule changes with the public.

See more on the RapidRide Program update.

See more on the comprehensive assessment of the Levy to Move Seattle.

Community Outreach

Tabling outreach event June 2023 in Fremont.

Tabling outreach event June 2023 in Fremont. (Picture credit SDOT)

Since 2020, we’ve been working with project partners, community members, and neighborhood organizations to gather feedback to help shape the design of the street improvements for the Route 40 project. At key design milestones, we’ve conducted surveys, hosted briefings, and been in the community to gather feedback. Feedback from the survey respondents can be found here: 

Outreach at a Glance 

To see the full list of outreach activities completed during the planning and design phases, please view the Route 40 Transit-Plus Multimodal Corridor Outreach Activities Report. 

Graphic showing icons of different outreach options.

Other Projects Along This Route

SDOT and Metro are focusing many investments along Route 40. Our project team is in close coordination with the following projects: 

Project Materials

Funding

This project is being funded by the 9-year Levy to Move Seattle, approved by voters in 2015 to improve safety for all travelers, maintain our streets and bridges, and invest in reliable, affordable travel options for a growing city. Additional sources include federal grants, state grants, King County Metro funds, and Vehicle Licensing Fees from the Seattle Transit Benefit District.

Environmental Updates

SDOT has determined that the Route 40 Transit-Plus Multimodal Corridor Project will not have a probable significant adverse impact on the environment. As a result, SDOT issued a Determination of Non-significance (DNS) on May 22, 2023. This decision was made after review of the adopted National Environmental Policy Act Documented Categorical Exclusion (DCE) Worksheet and technical reports.

Please see the DNS below for more information. 

SEPA Documents

Translation

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Transportation

Greg Spotts, Director
Address: 700 5th Ave, Suite 3800, Seattle, WA, 98104
Mailing Address: PO Box 34996, Seattle, WA, 98124-4996
Phone: (206) 684-7623
684-Road@seattle.gov

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The Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) is on a mission to deliver a transportation system that provides safe and affordable access to places and opportunities for everyone as we work to achieve our vision of Seattle as a thriving, equitable community powered by dependable transportation.