Metro and Seattle installing bus lanes on Battery, Wall streets

Metro is working with the City of Seattle to make bus service faster and more reliable along Battery and Wall streets. This corridor is used by some of Metro’s busiest routes, including the 5, 26, 28, and 358.

Improvements include new bus lanes on Battery Street between Third Avenue and Sixth Avenue, and on Wall Street between Denny Way and Fifth Avenue, as well as a bus queue jump signal at the intersection of Fifth Avenue and Wall Street.

Benefits

The work is being done to provide a reliable connection for buses between Aurora Avenue N and Third Avenue in downtown Seattle. Bus riders will notice an immediate improvement, and can expect consistent reliability during construction of the Alaskan Way Viaduct’s north portal.

Bus lanes help move bus riders and others more efficiently by reserving outside curb lanes for right-turning vehicles and buses. This project will maintain-or in some cases improve-access to businesses and residences.

Bus queue jump signals allow buses to bypass traffic lined up at the intersection.

Details

• A new 24/7 center bus-only lane on Battery Street between Third Avenue and Sixth Avenue, which will leave one general-purpose traffic lane for vehicles headed to Denny Way and State Route 99. Three on-street parking spaces will be removed along the south curb.
• A new 24/7 bus lane on Wall Street between Denny Way and Fifth Avenue, on the north side of the street, which will leave two general-purpose traffic lanes. Five parking spaces will be eliminated along the south curb.
• Vehicle access to business driveways, alleys, and parking will be maintained.

Schedule

Metro has completed design work on the project and has signed an agreement with the City of Seattle to install the improvements with Metro funding. The current schedule calls for the bus lane to be installed later this month (April 2011).