Transit Improvements are coming to NW Market and 45th Streets

The City of Seattle plans to design and build transit improvements for NW Market Street and 45th Street, connecting Ballard, Wallingford and the University District.

Transit improvements are designed to keep people moving quickly and reliably throughout the day on heavily used Metro corridors. They are made possible by Bridging the Gap, the City’s voter-approved transportation funding measure.

To provide more efficient transit service and make using transit an attractive option for more people, Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) is proposing the following traffic signal and road improvements:

• Implement traffic signal priority (TSP) so green lights stay green longer or red lights change to green faster as buses approach a traffic signal
• Modify a signalized intersection’s approach lane so buses can get a head start on general traffic (queue jump) when the signal turns green
• Build sidewalk extensions (bus bulbs) so buses save time by no longer pulling in and out of parking lanes to pick up passengers while providing added waiting space and more room for passenger amenities

The NW Market/45th Street Corridor is a major east-west transit corridor with high transit demand. By improving transit speed and reliability in this corridor, transit will attract new riders and become a more convenient travel option for existing riders.

SDOT is proposing transit improvements from 32nd Avenue NW in Ballard to Montlake Boulevard NE in the University District on NW Market Street, 45th Street, 15th Avenue NE and NE Pacific Street. This will benefit King County Metro Route 44 connecting Ballard, Wallingford and the University District. Project goals include faster travel time and better passenger waiting environment at bus stops.

Average transit travel time is projected to improve 10% to 20% throughout the day. Waiting areas for bus passengers will be improved by widening sidewalks to create “bus bulbs” at high use stops.

SDOT’s team will also work with Metro to evaluate distances between bus stops to ensure that bus stop intervals effectively balance the need for access with the need for faster, more reliable transit.

Metro’s Route 44 is currently one of the most popular routes in Seattle, carrying over 5,500 riders per day. It runs frequently during the day with buses arriving every 10 to15 minutes, seven days per week, 18 hours a day. Other Metro bus routes in the area carrying thousands of riders each day will benefit from the proposed improvements as well.

Route 44 operates with clean, quiet electric trolley buses. Electric buses are powered by Seattle City Light, which emits zero net climate-altering greenhouse gases. The improvements described in this brochure will make Route 44 a rapid trolley.

Questions?
For questions about street improvements to benefit transit, please contact:
Jeff Bender
(206) 684-8837
jeff.bender@seattle.gov