New Denny Way bus lane launches to fix ‘Always Late 8’ delays
New bus-only lane added to Denny Way in hopes of fixing 'Always Late 8' route
A new eastbound bus-only lane is now active on Denny Way between 5th Avenue North and Stewart Street to speed up transit. The project fulfills a key 2025 campaign promise by Mayor Katie Wilson to address severe congestion on Route 8.
SEATTLE - A major traffic shift is underway for Seattle drivers following the completion of a key transit project along Denny Way.
Crews have finished Phase Two of a new bus-only lane project aimed at speeding up public transit on one of the city's most congested corridors: A one-mile stretch of the curbside eastbound lane between 5th Avenue North and Stewart Street.
What did the city change?
What we know:
According to the Seattle Department of Transportation, the project was divided into two phases.
Phase 1, which was completed in May, sought to:
- Install a southbound business access and transit lane in the center lane on Queen Anne Ave N between John St and Denny Way
- Install an eastbound curbside business access and transit lane on Denny Way between Queen Anne Ave N and 2nd Ave
- Install a bus priority signal at 2nd Ave
Phase 2, which officially finished on Monday, sought to:
- Install a new eastbound curbside bus lane on Denny Way from 5th Ave N to Fairview Ave N
- Redesign the block between Fairview Ave N and Yale Ave N
- Restrict turns to support bus reliability and the recommended access pattern
- Remove some parking on Boren Ave N in the block south of Denny Way and on Minor Ave north of Howell St to add a protected left-turn phase.
- Keep a gap in the new bus lane between 2nd Ave and 5th Ave.
Dig deeper:
The following turns have been restricted to reduce crossing distances and "conflict points" between those walking and those driving, SDOT said.
- No left turn from eastbound Denny Way to Dexter Ave N
- No left turn from westbound Denny Way to Lenora St / Boren Ave
- No right turn from eastbound Denny Way to Yale Ave N by closing the Yale Ave slip lane
Additionally, SDOT said that the parking removal was done to help make turning movements easier for drivers and the protected left-turn installation is designed to help prevent traffic from backing up onto Denny Way.
Finally, the agency added that maintaining the gap in the new bus lane was done because traffic volumes are higher between 2nd Ave and 5th Ave, and more eastbound traffic leaves Denny Way at 5th Ave N.
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Campaign Promise Delivered
The backstory:
The infrastructure change fulfills a campaign promise Mayor Katie Wilson made during her 2025 election run.
Earlier this year in April, Wilson said, "I’ve been one of Route 8’s 8,000 daily riders, and I know how frustrating it can be when buses are stuck in traffic – and you’re stuck wondering if you’re ever going to get to your destination. That’s why I’m so excited to be rolling out nine blocks of red carpet for transit riders on Denny Way."
The Seattle Department of Transportation noted that Route 8 carries about 7,000 riders each day and is one of King County Metro's top ten most populated routes.
Wilson pledged to tackle the notoriously slow corridor, which serves Route 8. Local transit riders have long dubbed the line the "Always Late 8" due to frequent gridlock and scheduling delays.
Drivers Should Anticipate Delays
What's next:
City officials advise commuters to expect traffic delays in the area as drivers adjust to the new lane configuration.
The transit-only designation is now in full effect, reducing general traffic to the remaining eastbound lanes.
Drivers are encouraged to plan for extra travel time or seek alternate routes through the area.
The city also said that it will be monitoring travel times and traffic patterns to track the impact of the adjustments.
"Based on those results, we may return to adjust the design as needed," SDOT said.
The Source: Information for this story came from the Seattle Department of Transportation and original FOX 13 Seattle reporting.
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