Denny Way Bus Upgrades Planned This Summer Include Permanent I-5 Ramp Reroute

Key Points:

• Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson announced a plan to improve bus speeds on Denny Way by adding a half-mile eastbound bus lane and permanently rerouting traffic to the southbound I-5 ramp, aiming to enhance reliability for the frequently delayed Route 8 bus.
• The new traffic configuration will close the slip lane from eastbound Denny to Yale Avenue, rerouting I-5 bound drivers via Boren Avenue and Howell Street to improve pedestrian safety and reduce congestion.
• The eastbound business access and transit (BAT) lane will keep Route 8 buses mostly out of traffic between 5th Avenue and Stewart Street, with changes timed to coincide with a fall increase in Route 8 frequency funded by the 2020 Seattle Transit Measure.
• Advocacy groups like Fix the L8 have long pushed for these improvements, highlighting Route 8's reputation as Seattle's least reliable bus route, and Mayor Wilson's campaign support helped overcome previous resistance from the Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT).
• SDOT is also evaluating bus priority improvements on other key corridors, including 24th Avenue E and Lenora Street, targeting routes with high ridership and significant delays to enhance overall transit reliability and equity across Seattle.