Riders heading between Mount Baker, the Central District, and the University of Washington can expect a more reliable bus service, thanks to the completion of the Route 48 project. The Seattle Department of Transportation's (SDOT) blog heralds improvements designed to make commutes smoother and more efficient. Upgrades include a new bus-only lane, enhanced signal systems, and reshaped curb ramps across crucial intersections.
According to the SDOT blog, one significant enhancement is the new signal at Boyer Ave E and 24th Ave E in Montlake, which gives buses priority and reduces vehicular conflicts with a fresh, protected left turn. This modification aims to seamlessly blend the transit modes, granting pedestrians a head start at crosswalks and cyclists a better link to the Central Area Neighborhood Greenway.
The Route 48 project also boasts a freshly minted bus-only lane on 23rd Ave S in Judkins Park. Stretching between S Massachusetts St and S Grand St, this lane keeps buses out of the worst traffic snarls. Furthermore, the project's signal improvements are slated to work with the bus-only lane, supporting more punctual and dependable transit services.
The project's completion seems close at hand, although some minor tasks remain. The SDOT announcement indicated that tidying up and finishing touches in the project area will occur over the following weeks. Transit-signal priority upgrades are also expected to roll out progressively as the fiber optic connections are completed, stretching into early 2025.
