RapidRide J Line

Our RapidRide J Line project will make it easier and more convenient for you to get around the University District, Eastlake, South Lake Union, and Belltown. Whether you’re commuting to work, heading to class at the University of Washington, visiting the doctor, or shopping at local businesses, these upgrades will help you travel faster and more reliably.

As part of the project, we’ll upgrade streets, sidewalks, pedestrian ramps, streetlights, and traffic signals. We’ll also add protected bike lanes and replace the water main on Eastlake Ave E. These upgrades will support our local businesses, make it easier for you to get to housing, and help create safer, more connected neighborhoods for everyone. You can download maps of the final project using this link.

Updated: December 5, 2025

What's happening now

Removing existing street surface before we pave the new street

Image shows the removal of the existing street surface on Eastlake Ave E.

University District Construction

Paving and bus stop closure on Roosevelt Way NE :

We’ve finished a section of paving on the west side of Roosevelt Way NE near NE 42nd St. The southbound bus stop near the UW Clinic at NE 42nd St is reopened, and the Clinic’s shuttle pick-up and drop-off area has been restored to its original location. 

Crews will return early next year to begin sidewalk construction in this area. During that work, the shuttle and bus stop locations will be temporarily relocated. More information will be provided at that time.

Electrical work and sidewalk installation on NE 43rd St 

We expect to finish installing new electrical systems and paving the sidewalk on NE 43rd St, between 12th Ave NE and Roosevelt Way NE, as crews complete work on the south corners. Over the next several weeks, you will see crews demolishing the sidewalk, digging trenches, installing underground electrical lines, and constructing new sidewalks. NE 43rd St remains open to traffic between 11th Ave NE and Roosevelt Way NE. You will not be able to travel eastbound on NE 43rd St between 11th Ave NE and 12th Ave NE. If you are using the sidewalks, you will be directed to use the sidewalks on the north side of the street.  

Sidewalk closure on 11th Ave NE between NE 43rd St and NE 45th St 

You will not be able to use the east side sidewalk on 11th Ave NE, between NE 43rd St and NE 45th St. This will remain closed so that we can complete street paving in the area.  

 Electrical work and sidewalk installation on 11th Ave NE and NE 42nd St intersection

We are completing our electrical installations in this area. You will see us pouring new sidewalks and pedestrian ramps at the 11th Ave NE and NE 42nd St intersection. Traffic will be directed around the work area, and signs will guide pedestrians safely through the construction zone. 

Light pole foundation installation in the U District 

We will continue installing foundations for new light poles in the U District over the next few weeks. This work will take place on NE 43rd St, Roosevelt Way NE, and Eastlake Ave NE. To complete this work safely, we will need to temporarily close sections of the sidewalk and direct pedestrians around the work areas or to the opposite side of the street. Please follow all signs and directions from crews.

Lighting and paving work on Eastlake Ave NE 

Throughout December, we will finish installing new lighting and street paving on the east side of Eastlake Ave NE between 11th Ave NE and NE Campus Parkway. One northbound lane will remain open throughout the construction; however, NE 41st St, between Roosevelt Way NE and Eastlake Ave NE, will remain closed.  

Eastlake Construction

Map of construction work along Eastlake Ave EThe map above shows where we are currently working in the Eastlake neighborhood. Click here to download a larger PDF of this map.

Detour for northbound traffic on Eastlake Ave E between Harvard Ave E and E Allison St 

Map shows detour from Eastlake Ave E onto E Allison StMap shows detour route for traffic between E Allison St and Harvard Ave E. Click here to download a larger PDF of this map.

As of yesterday, the northbound lanes of Eastlake Ave E between Harvard Ave E and E Allison St are closed to traffic. This closure allows our crews to continue construction on both the east and west sides of Eastlake Ave E in this area. 

During the closure, northbound traffic will be detoured east on E Allison St and north on Harvard Ave E, reconnecting with Eastlake Ave E near the University Bridge. Southbound lanes will remain open, although traffic will shift to the east side of Eastlake Ave E. 

As shown in the map above, E Allison St will be closed between Eastlake Ave and Fairview Ave E for roadway construction as early as next week. At the same time, we will shift southbound traffic onto the east side of Eastlake Ave E. Please pay close attention signage for more information on turn restrictions and lane shifts.
 
We are coordinating closely with nearby businesses and residents to maintain access throughout this closure. Thank you for your patience as we continue this work. 

The image shows the team leveling the surface on Eastlake Ave E ahead of pouring concrete for the new streetImage shows equipment used to level the subsurface of  Eastlake Ave E before we pour new conrete street panels.

Paving work along Eastlake Ave E  

Our crews are actively demolishing, preparing, and repaving multiple sections of Eastlake Ave E: 

  • Between Harvard Ave E and E Shelby St: We expect to begin demolishing the west side of Eastlake Ave E between Harvard Ave E and E Shelby St as early as December 9. Crews will start near E Shelby St and progress north. During this work, we will relocate your southbound bus stop to a new location south of E Shelby St. For the latest information on stop locations and service changes, please visit King County Metro’s website.
  • Between E Boston St and E Howe St: As early as December 9, crews will begin demolishing the old street on the east side of Eastlake Ave E, starting at the south end of the block. You can expect increased noise, vibrations, and dust during this work. 
  • Between E Boston St and E Lynn St: We expect to finish demolishing the east side of the street early next week and begin paving soon afterwards. To complete this work, we have closed the entrance to the east side of E Howe St from Eastlake Ave E. Driveways on E Howe St will remain accessible from Franklin Ave E.

We’ll continue coordinating with property owners and residents to maintain driveway access. Traffic will be shifted to the opposite side of the street from where crews are working. 

Water main replacement on Eastlake Ave E 

Our water main replacement work on Eastlake Ave E is nearly complete! Crews are currently installing the new water main on the east side of Eastlake Ave E between E Louisa St and E Lynn St. We expect to begin transferring water services for nearby buildings in the new year. We will share more information ahead of any upcoming water outages. 

Fairview Ave N Construction 

Frontage road closure near Fairview Ave N and Yale Ave N 

Work is underway to install new communication utility systems on the west side of Fairview Ave N, along the frontage road between Yale Ave N and Fairview Pl N. Pedestrians and bicyclists will be directed onto the frontage road around the work area. Our work will take place on weekdays between 7 AM and 5 PM. We will reopen the affected areas at the end of each workday, and we do not expect any weekend work. 

Installing drainage for storm water on Fairview Ave N   

Over the next few weeks, crews will work overnight to install drainage upgrades on the east side of Fairview Ave N between Valley St and Roy St. These improvements will help capture rainwater runoff and prevent debris from clogging underground pipes. To minimize impacts on daytime traffic, crews will demolish the roadway at night during the weekends of December 5 and December 13. During this work, traffic will be shifted around construction areas, and driveways will remain accessible. 

Bus shelter foundation installation at Aloha St and Harrison St 

Crews are installing new bus shelter foundations at the northeast corner of Aloha St and Fairview Ave N, and at the southwest corner of Harrison St and Fairview Ave N. This work will continue for several weeks as we remove the sidewalk, dig trenches, complete electrical system upgrades, and pour concrete for the foundations. Pedestrians will be detoured to the opposite side of the street. Please follow all signs and directions from crews when traveling near the work zone. 

Street paving on Harrison St 

During the weekend of December 20, crews will remove and replace portions of the street on the west and north sides of Harrison St near Fairview Ave N. We will shift traffic around the work zone. More information will be provided soon.  

Weekly Online Open House

We encourage you to join fellow community members and our project team during our weekly online open house every Thursday between 2 and 3 p.m. Feel free to join our discussion anytime during the hour-long session to ask your questions in the way that makes you most comfortable. You can leave your camera off, type your questions in the chat, or simply listen as others share theirs.  

We want to ensure that those participating understand how to use Teams to engage with the project team. Please view this tutorial from Microsoft if you need assistance prior to our online drop-in sessions. There is information available about how to use your camera, mute and unmute yourself, and chat with other meeting participants. We are also available to offer technical support during our drop-in session if you encounter any issues as well. We look forward to connecting with you! 

You can access the online meetings with the details below:
Meeting link 
Meeting ID: 237 305 138 093 
Passcode: mBSfNf

You can download a PDF that shows the upgrades this project will make by clicking this link.

We plan to upgrade from the existing Route 70 to the RapidRide service in 2027.

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Water Main Construction Information

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About the Work

How to Prepare

Upcoming Shutoffs

When the city builds large projects, we find ways to reduce our impacts to community members by working together across agencies to updates vital services. An example of this is installing a new water main on Eastlake Ave E ahead of laying the new concrete road surface. This work brings the existing 100-year-old water main up to a modern earthquake resistant standard. 
 
To complete this work, our contractor works with Seattle Public Utilities (SPU) to schedule the various steps needed to remove the existing water main and install the new one. The work is divided into zones allowing the teams to close off water supply and minimalize disruptions to businesses owners and people living in the area. Outreach is conducted to determine the various times when water shut offs have the least impact to your community as a whole.  

There are various steps taken to replace a water main that require shutting off the water supply for different lengths of time. These steps include, testing valves to make sure they turn off the water, capping off the existence service, creating a temporary water main, switching the water to the temporary line, building the new line, testing the new water main, and finally switching the water supply to the new line.  
 
To keep you informed, we will develop maps, send emails, contact businesses directly, and share information with community groups and property owners. SPU will conduct direct outreach and place notifications onto buildings typically five days ahead of a planned outage. You can always check the status of water outages through SPU’s Water Outage Map. 

A map that shows watermain work locations along Eastlake Avenue. Fuhrman Ave E Zone, E Allison St. Zone, E Edgar St. Zone, E Louisa St Zone, E Lynn St Zone, E Newton St Zone, E Garfield St. Zone

Water main zone map

The map shows key water main work zones during this project.  However, the areas impacted can be much further out from these zones, as these are determined by the position of shut-off valves.  Please review the "Upcoming Shut Off" tabs for more information about specific impacts. 

How to prepare for a water outage

You can learn how best to prepare for water main work by visiting  SPU's webpage for tips on preparing for a water outage.  

If you operate an apartment, hotel, or business

When managing a project of this size, we collaborate with SPU to inform properties affected by major water shutoffs. These notifications are sent before the work and include specific time frames. However, we may need to contact you immediately for smaller shutoffs, connections, or emergencies.

Please email RapidRide@seattle.gov with the best contact person for your property, along with their contact information. This will allow us to keep you informed. 

Water Shut Offs

There are no scheduled water shutoffs this coming week. 

Please be aware that planned water outages may be changed or canceled. 

All our nighttime activities will follow the City of Seattle’s noise variance requirements. For more information about the City’s noise code, please visit their website.   

Please visit SPU's webpage for tips on preparing for a water outage. Please visit SPU's Water Outages map for more information on affected properties. Our project website also has answers to frequently asked questions about water outages. 

Project Overview

We're partnering with King County Metro (KCM) to enhance transit connections and upgrade existing bus routes to Metro RapidRide service. The project upgrades the current Route 70 to a RapidRide level of service, improving transit connections to  Downtown, Belltown, South Lake Union, Eastlake, and the University District neighborhoods. In addition to improving bus reliability with all day transit service, the project will install new bus stations, repave streets, add new protected bike lanes, and improve pedestrian accessibility.

The RapidRide J Line project also addresses current and future mobility needs for travelers, transit capacity constraints along the route, and provides equitable transportation access to major institutions, employers, and neighborhoods.

The RapidRide J Line project will:

  • Improve transit travel time and reliability throughout the route by adding transit lanes and transit signal priority  
  • Provide a high-quality rider experience with stations that include shelters, lighting, real-time arrival information, and all-door boarding
  • Improve access to transit through upgraded curb ramps, sidewalks, and signals
  • Improve connections to Link light rail, other bus lines, and Seattle Streetcar
  • Install protected bike lanes to improve safety of all travelers
  • Reduce greenhouse gas emissions with more transit options and fewer cars on the road
  • Pave Eastlake Ave E from E from Fuhrman Ave E to Fairview Ave E with at least 12 inches of concrete, creating a roadway that will last more than 50 years
  • Partner with Seattle Public Utilities to replace the existing watermain on Eastlake Ave E 

The RapidRide J Line project will bring many improvements to the neighborhoods served by the upgraded bus route. These improvements include: 

  • 15,130 feet of repaired sidewalks
  • 2 miles of repaved roadway
  • 3.7 lane-miles of protected bike facilities
  • 2 miles of bus priority lanes
  • 177 improved crosswalks
  • 33 intersections with traffic signal improvements, including 253 new traffic signal devices
  • 190 newly planted trees
  • 8,900 feet of  watermain replacement, in partnership with Seattle Public Utilities 

The links below connect to videos highlighting some of the changes that will be in place once the work is complete:  

Station Amenities

The following amenities will be included at RapidRide J Line stations:

  • A 12-ft bus shelter canopy
  • Real-time arrival information
  • All-door boarding
  • Benches
  • Pedestrian-level lighting
  • Signature signposts and route information maps

Graphic showing components of a typical RapidRide bus station.

Project Map

You can see the changes this project will make along the entire route by downloading the final design plans.  

Map showing length of project from downtown up to the U DIstrict

 Click this link to download a higher resolution map

A chart showing different project phases including planning, design and construction. An arrow says 'we are here' on 'during construction'

  • Planning (2014-2017): We collected traffic data, reviewed plans, and gathered community experiences to define options.
  • Design (2017-2023): We are collaborating with the community, working to secure regulatory approval (e.g., Environmental Assessment), and developing a more detailed final design.
  • Construction (2024): We are constructing the project and will keep the community informed on the latest construction updates, schedule, and expected impacts.
  • Service launch (planned for 2027)

Funding

RapidRide J Line is partially funded by the 9-year Levy to Move Seattle, approved by voters in 2015. Additional funding is being sought through a Federal Transit Administration Small Starts Grant.

Contact Information

We're always interested in meeting with community and neighborhood groups that want to learn more about the project.You can request a briefing by emailing RapidRide@seattle.gov or calling (206) 257-2202.

Construction Outreach Materials

As construction continues, we will house all construction related outreach materials within this section. 

November 2024

September 2024

Trees are fundamental to the character of Seattle and to our quality of life. In our rapidly changing climate, Seattle's urban forest is an increasingly important asset, playing a critical role in mitigating climate change impacts, including heat island effects, as well as supporting Seattle's public health, providing habitat for wildlife, creating spaces for exploration and enjoyment, cleaning our air and water, and reducing the quantity of stormwater runoff, further helping water quality.  

The RapidRide J Line project will remove 92 trees in areas where we will widen sidewalks and install new bus shelters. As part of the tree mitigation plan, we will plant approximately 190 new trees, which have been chosen based upon their suitability for an urban environment. Once the project is complete, there will be a net gain of 98 trees. 

The map below identifies where trees are being retained and removed, as well as where new trees will be planted. 

Image shows map of where trees will be remove or planted throughout the projectClick this link to download a larger version of the tree map above.

The Rapid Ride J Line project area includes nine existing permanent artworks from the City of Seattle’s Public Art Collection. The Office of Arts & Culture is working closely with Seattle Department of Transportation to protect the artworks during construction. The three artworks that will be impacted include:

  • “Dreamboats” by Linda Beaumont will stay in place and be protected as needed during construction
  • “Lost in Thought” by Ellen Sollod will have one of three ground mosaics removed and reinstalled during construction
  • “Cornerstones” by Stacy Levy will see all thirty-two concrete and glass inlay artworks deinstalled and reinstalled during construction. As part of the deinstallation and reinstallation, ARTS will work with the artist to repair, remake, and restore the damaged and missing artwork prior to reinstallation. 

For more information about the Public Art program, visit the Office of Arts & Culture’s Public Art webpage or email the Office of Arts & Culture at arts.culture@seattle.gov.

RapidRide J Line outreach conducted to date

 From 2015-2023 the project has engaged the public with: 

  • 115 community meetings and briefings
  • More than 1,685 community members engaged
  • Emails and mailers to more than 40,000 neighborhood residents and businesses 

Date Event
Phase 1 - Mode Analysis and Existing Conditions
February 2015                              Presented to Eastlake District Council meeting
Phase 2 - Characteristics of BRT and Multimodal Components
March-April 2015 Key stakeholder group outreach, including phone calls to develop an outreach list
May 2015 Open houses (2) to discuss mode analysis and existing conditions
July 2015 Joined Cascade Bicycle Club for walking audit of Eastlake Ave E
August 2015 Presentation to South Lake Union Chamber of Commerce
September 2015 Forum meeting in South Lake Union to discuss mode options
September 2015 Forum meeting in South Lake Union to discuss mode options
October 2015 Presented to Eastlake District Council meeting
November 2015 Forum meeting in South Lake Union to discuss BRT in-depth
November 2015 Presented to Roosevelt Neighborhood Association
December 2015 Open houses (2) to discuss BRT and multi-modal options
January 2016 Presented to Maple Leaf Community Council
January 2016 Presented to University Transportation Committee
January 2016 Presented to Eastlake Community Council
March 2016 Presented to U-District Partnership
March 2016 Project staff conducted business access survey
Phase 3 - Recommended Corridor Concept
May 2016 Forum meeting to review recommended corridor concept
June 2016 Presentation to Seattle Transit Advisory Board
June 2016 Presented to Fred Hutchinson staff
June 2016 Open houses (2) to review recommended corridor concept
July 2016 Reviewed recommended corridor concept with Vulcan staff
September 2016 Presentation to Seattle Bicycle Advisory Board
July 2017 Submitted Locally Preferred Alternative to Seattle City Council (approved July 2017)
November 2017 Notifications for public scoping meeting: • Email update • Mailed notice
December 2017 Public scoping open house to inform project Environmental Assessment
March 2018 Attended Eastlake Community Council meeting
April 2018 Attended Eastlake Community Council meeting
August 2018 Project email update
September 2018 Presentation to Seattle Bicycle Advisory Board
October 2018 Notifications for Eastlake neighborhood question and answer meeting: • Email update • Mailed notice
October 2018 Hosted Eastlake neighborhood question and answer session to review bicycle alternatives analysis and parking analysis
December 2018 Email invitations sent for Eastlake community parking workshop
January 2019 Hosted Eastlake community parking workshop to discuss opportunities for RPZ updates, transportation options, shared parking, and load zone relocations
April 2019 Attended Eastlake Community Council meeting
April to June 2019 Project outreach staff conducted door-to-door access surveys for Eastlake businesses
May 2019 Attended WSDOT/SDOT community parking briefing to review parking effects from the SR 520 project
July 2019 Briefing with Friends of Seattle's Olmsted Parks to review the Ravenna Boulevard park
July 2019 Briefing with members of Eastlake Community Council and SAFE Eastlake
July 2019 Notifications for Eastlake business parking workshops: • Mailed notice • Emailed notice • Door-to-door flyers
July 2019 Hosted Eastlake business parking workshops to discuss opportunities for load zone relocations, transportation options, shared parking, and RPZ updates
October 2019 Hosted U-District and Roosevelt Open House and Question & Answer Session
October 2019 Hosted Eastlake, South Lake Union and Downtown Open House and Question & Answer Session
October 2019 Captured community feedback through online open house
October 2019 Presentation to Seattle Transit Advisory Board
October 2019 Briefings with:
  • Eastlake Coffee
  • Patrick's Fly Shop
November 2019 Briefings with:
  • Seattle Public Library
  • Eastlake Fitness and DJ's Apartments
  • Seattle Children's Hospital
January 2020

Notifications for Environmental Assessment and Section 4(f) comment period:

  • Mailed notice
  • Emailed notice
  • Notice at Seattle public libraries
  • Notice of availability
January 2020 Hosted U District, Roosevelt, Eastlake, and Downtown Drop-in Sessions for Environmental Assessment and Section 4(f) comment period.
January 2020 Briefing with the Eastlake Community Council Board.
February 2020 Briefing with the University of Washington.
December 2020 Route Update Public Meeting(virtual).
December 2020 (Add new line) Attended North Link Connections Mobility Board meeting
January 2021 Briefing with Councilmember Alex Pedersen
March 2021 Briefings with:
  • U District Partnership
  • Belltown United
March 2021 Attended Roosevelt Neighborhood Association meeting
March 2021 Attended North Link Connections Mobility Board meeting
May 2021 Attended Northeast District Council meeting
June 2021 Briefings with: 
  • Councilmember Girmay Zahilay
  • Council staff
  • SpotHero
  • Interbranch Transit
June 2021 Attended Mercer Corridor Stakeholder Committee meeting
July 2021 SpotHero demo at Eastlake Community Council Board meeting
August 2021 Briefings with:
  • Prime Parking
  • UW Student Life
October 2021 U District Link light rail station grand opening tabling
October 2021 Email update to community-based organizations to take Supplemental EA Survey
October 2021 Presentation to the Seattle Bicycle Advisory Board
November 2021 Received community feedback through Supplemental EA Survey
December 2021 Briefing with:
  • Vulcan
  • Eastlake Community Council Board
  • Property owners on Eastlake Ave
January 2022 Project team responded to email inquiries about shortened route
February 2022 Project communications with:
  • Seattle Neighborhood Greenways
  • Cascade Bicycle Club
February 2022 Project outreach staff conducted door to door notification of geotechnical boring work
March 2022 Briefing with:
  • Eastlake Fitness
  • Property owners on Eastlake Ave
April 2022 Briefing with Eastlake Community Council
May 2022 Project email update about FONSI
May 2022 Briefing with Seattle Police Department
July 2022 Briefing with Vulcan
August 2022 Project outreach staff conducted door to door notification of geotechnical boring work
August 2022 Project email update for geotechnical boring work
August 2022 Presentation to Eastlake Community Council
September 2022 Captured community feedback through Community Design Survey
September 2022 Notifications for virtual Multimodal Engagement Sessions
  • Sent mailer
  • Sent invitation through project email update
September 2022 Hosted virtual Multimodal Engagement Sessions
September 2022 Project email update with follow up from Multimodal Engagement Sessions
September 2022 Briefings with:
  • Seattle Neighborhood Greenways
  • Eastlake Community Council
  • U District Partnership
October 2022 Briefings with:
  • University of Washington Transportation Services
  • Seattle Pedestrian Advisory Board
November 2022 SDOT Director Greg Spotts Walking and Listening Tour along Eastlake Ave
February 2023 Briefings with:
  • Seattle Police Department
  • General Services Administration
March 2023 Briefings with:
  • Fred Hutch
  • Seattle Police Department
March 2023 Briefings with Escala Condominiums
April 2023 Briefings with Eastlake Community Council
May 2023 Briefings with:
  • U District Partnership
  • Spruce Street School
June 2023 Briefings with Vulcan
July 2023 Briefings with:
  • Commute Seattle
  • MKA, Aedas, and Seattle Children’s Hospita
August 2023 Briefings with:
  • Eastlake Community Council
  • G3 and Associates
  • Seattle Police Department
September 2023 Briefings with:
  • Harvard Avenue Parking
  • TOPS K-8 School
October 2023 Briefings with:
  • Pembroke
  • UW Transit
November 2023 Briefings with:
  • Escala Condominiums
  • Mercer Corridor Group
December 2023 Briefings with Pembroke
January 2024 Briefings with South Lake Union Community Council

Project Materials

September 2024

March 2024

Updated project maps (January 2024)

Videos highlighting changes along the route (Oct 2023)

Project Maps (June2023)

March 2023

December 2022

September 2022

May 2022

Previous National Environmental Policy Act Materials 

October 2021

Supplemental Environmental Assessment Appendices

Scroll down to view the January 2020 Environmental Assessment

April 2021

February 2021

January 2021

December 2020

January 2020
 Environmental Assessment Appendices

October 2019

July 2019

April 2019

January 2019

October 2018

September 2018

December 2017 - Environmental Scoping

July 2017

June 2017

June 2016 Open Houses

December 2015 Open Houses

May 2015 Open Houses

Reference Documents

Transportation

Adiam Emery, Interim 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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