6th Avenue Changes to Road Layout

April 2024

Bus-only lane removal on 6th Ave between Madison St and Olive Way

In spring 2024, we will modify the layout and curb regulations on 6th Avenue between Madison Street and Olive Way. This work will remove the bus-only lane and restore afternoon and evening curbside use for business access needs such as loading for people and goods.Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) crews will perform the work on a weekend to reduce disruption.

Impacts will include:

  • short-term lane closures
  • noise, dust, and some vibration

See project area map below:

This map depicts the project area on 6th Avenue, between Olive Way and Madison St

Background

The bus-only lane on 6th Avenue was put in place during the time known as the Seattle Squeeze. At that time, when buses were moved from the Seattle Transit Tunnel to surface streets, the bus lane on 6th Avenue improved the movement of higher volumes of scheduled transit through this corridor. Recently, transit service along 6th Avenue during peak periods has been reduced to approximately one scheduled bus trip every 25 minutes, due to service changes and transit route restructuring. With the reduction in bus trips on this street, we are now removing the bus-only lane restriction.

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.