Seattle finishes Route 40 bus lanes and safety upgrades

Seattle has completed major upgrades along King County Metro’s Route 40, a busy corridor connecting Northgate with neighborhoods including Greenwood, Ballard, Fremont, South Lake Union and Pioneer Square. The project adds three miles of bus-priority lanes and signal changes intended to reduce delays, along with more than 6,000 feet of improved sidewalks, safer crossings, curb ramps and protected bike lanes in Fremont. Metro says travel times have already improved in some areas, including near the Fremont Bridge, and the route serves more than 9,000 weekday boardings. Crews also coordinated water-main replacement with the street work to help avoid future disruptions. Officials say the changes are intended to make transit more reliable and travel safer for people walking, biking and rolling along the corridor.