RapidRide J Line

Tree pruning and removal 
We completed pruning work for this season allowing enough space to accommodate tall vehicles through lanes shifting around work zones.  Tree removal crews are still at work to remove trees that conflict with the new project pieces like bus platforms or poles for overhead bus powerlines.  Ahead of starting this work, we will place no parking signage and remove them as we complete work at each location. Crews will begin work at the north end of the project. We anticipate that tree removal work will be complete by mid-December. 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 by the end of the project.  

University District 

Drainage work
Drainage work continues in the U District. Crews plan to be at these locations from December 6 to December 23, Monday through Friday. 

• 11th Ave NE and NE 41st St 
• Eastlake Ave NE and NE 41st St
• Roosevelt Way NE and NE 41st St 

Crews are currently upgrading drainage inlets. As a result, please be prepared for detours while walking, riding bikes, or using scooters. Additionally, there may be some noise and vibrations during this period. Rest assured that once the work is complete, all detours will be removed, and any closed lanes will be patched up and reopened. Thank you for your patience and understanding during this construction project.

Eastlake 

Drainage upgrades on Eastlake Ave E between Fuhrman Ave E and E Allison St.   
Crews are upgrading stormwater drainage on Eastlake Ave E between Fuhrman Ave E and E Allison St. This work will improve the area's ability to manage rainfall. Southbound traffic lanes will shift in this area to create safe work zones for crews to complete their work.  

Northbound detour at E Allison St 
To provide a safe working zone and material storage, we have implemented a northbound detour from Eastlake Ave E onto E Allison St and then down Harvard Ave E to rejoin Eastlake Ave E. This detour will remain in use for the majority of the project.

Bus stop changes 
To allow for safe construction of the RapidRide J Line, crews will close some bus stops through construction requiring riders to use other nearby stops. This will allow us to build the new RapidRide stops with minimum disruption. To locate the best alternative stops please visit King County Metro’s website.

Stormwater work and road closure at E Garfield St
To ensure continuous improvement of storm drainage systems, our crews have closed E Garfield St for necessary upgrades. We are working with local business owners to minimize disruption, and access to parking areas will be maintained throughout the construction phase. Currently, our teams have initiated stormwater work along Eastlake Ave E to E Galer St. In the upcoming weeks, the stormwater work will progress northbound towards E Howe St and then continue to E Lynn St. This will conclude the mainline stormwater work, and we will then shift our focus towards the installation of inlets and connections to the main line. This comprehensive approach will enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of the storm drainage system, ensuring the long-term resilience of the community.

Load zone relocation 
We have begun moving business load zones along Eastlake Ave E to their new and final locations on adjacent side streets. You can view the location of business load zone on our final project map. 

Weekly Online Open House  

 Join us for our weekly online open house every Thursday between 2 and 3 p.m. Please note that we will take a pause for the Thanksgiving holiday and will resume the following week. Feel free to join our meeting 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 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.

During construction, you can expect:   

• Typical construction hours are weekdays,7 a.m. to 5 p.m., with occasional weekend and night work  
• Parking restrictions  
• Shifting traffic lanes and driveway access 
• Flaggers directing traffic around work areas 
• Detours for people walking, biking, and rolling  
• Temporary bus detours and bus stop relocations for Route 70  
• Construction staging including materials, equipment and vehicles stored at or near the construction site
• Typical impacts such as noise, dust and debris, and truck activity  

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

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