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Eastlake Layover Facility - Programs & Projects

Eastlake Layover Facility

Helping our buses stay on time

Currently, some buses lay over along Eastlake Avenue E between trips. But with growing demand for other street uses, such as pedestrian access and bike lanes—and the desire to provide bus operators a safe location to take required rest breaks, the construction of a layover facility is now underway.

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Eastlake Layover Facility
Watch our final design presentation to learn more about the Eastlake Layover Facility.

What's happening now

Crews will be closing the northbound traffic lanes of Lakeview Boulevard East to begin work installing underground utilities. This drainage work is expected to continue over the weekends through fall 2023. The planned schedule is:

  • Saturday, September 30th from 7 am to 5 pm
  • Sunday, October 1st from 7 am to 5 pm
  • Saturday, October 7th from 7 am to 5 pm
  • Sunday, October 8th from 7 am to 5 pm
  • Saturday, October 14th from 7 am to 5 pm
  • Sunday, October 15th from 7 am to 5 pm

Effects on the area

  • The northbound traffic lane on Lakeview Boulevard will be closed from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. The southbound travel lane will remain open.
  • All lanes will reopen after 5 p.m.
  • A detour route will be in place for people driving northbound. See the map below for details.
  • Access for people walking and rolling will be maintained on the west side of Lakeview Boulevard.
  • Access to the northbound and southbound bike lanes will be maintained. People using the northbound bike lane will be provided with a path through the construction zone and then continue on to the existing bike lane. People using the southbound bike lane will shift to the southbound travel lane when traveling through the construction zone.
  • Access to businesses and residential buildings will be maintained.

Safety reminder

When you are driving, biking and rolling around the construction of the new Metro layover facility, be aware of the work being done. Work sites can change daily — please pay attention to traffic patterns and be aware of all activities taking place around you, including other drivers and people who may be walking, biking, or rolling in the area.

Construction for this project will continue over the summer which means more traffic through this corridor. Follow all work crew instructions and read posted signs. Traffic cones, high-visibility barrels, and other warning signs help people move safely through work zones. Flaggers are there for your safety and the safety of workers on-site.

Please be attentive, careful and courteous in the construction zone. Everyone working in the public right–of–way deserves to get home safely at the end of each workday.

What to expect during construction

Typical work hours are Monday through Friday, 8 am to 5 pm, with periodic scheduling of nighttime and weekend work. (Adverse weather may result in delays.) You can expect:

  • Temporary parking restrictions
  • Periodic lane closures
  • Flaggers to direct traffic around work areas
  • Construction staging areas near the site
  • Sidewalk, intersection and lane closures
  • Detours for people walking, rolling and biking
  • Construction impacts, such as noise (saw cutting of pavement), truck activity, dust and debris

We will provide notifications to businesses and residents ahead of construction activities in your area.

Project schedule

  • Construction: Spring 2023 to Summer 2024
  • Open for bus service: Summer 2024

Construction for the Eastlake Layover Facility project has begun and is expected to last until summer 2024. Please sign up for updates to stay informed on construction activities for this project.

Our team will regularly share information about how construction will affect the neighborhood. We will reach out to affected communities in advance of active work, noting the corresponding schedules and impacts. We are also coordinating with our partners at the Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT), to minimize impacts on concurrent construction work—you can visit their project webpage to learn more.

Roadway changes

There will be several roadway changes for drivers, pedestrians and cyclists once the project is complete.

  • There will be impacts to some on-street parking stalls on the west side of Eastlake Ave E. Parking will be:
    • removed between Roy and Mercer streets
    • reduced to six stalls between Mercer and Republican streets
    • removed between Harrison and Thomas streets
    • restricted to weekend-only between Thomas and John streets
  • Permanent lane reductions – from four to two lanes – between Roy and Stewart streets.
  • A shared-use path on the east side of Eastlake Avenue East between Roy and Mercer streets.
  • Replacement of the northbound right-turn slip lane to Lakeview Boulevard East with a right-turn-only lane at Roy Street.
  • New or improved pedestrian crossings.
  • New traffic signal installation at the Eastlake Avenue East and Republican Street intersection.
  • Removal of the existing bus stop at Mercer Street and Eastlake Avenue East (which serves routes 355 and 304). An alternative stop will be Route 70 at Mercer Street and Fairview Avenue. Please refer to Metro’s North Link Connections Mobility Project for more information.

Frequently asked questions

A layover facility is a space where King County Metro bus operators can take their mandated rest breaks to help them stay alert. When complete, the Eastlake Layover Facility will accommodate 11 bus layover spaces (six off-street and five on-street) and provide a space for bus operators to take breaks and access safe restroom facilities. This facility will not be open to the public or transit riders.

A layover facility is important because it allows buses to start their next trip on time and provides a safe place for King County Metro bus operators to take their mandated rest breaks to help keep them alert while on the road.

  • Keeps buses on schedule
  • Frees up street space for other uses
  • Moves “out of service” buses off-street instead of taking valuable curb space
  • Provides safe and reliable restrooms and break areas for bus operators

Once the construction of the layover facility is completed, there will be roadway changes to Eastlake Ave East. Some of these changes include:

  • Shared-use path on the east side of Eastlake Ave East between Roy Street and Mercer Street
  • New or improved pedestrian crossings
  • New traffic signal at Eastlake Ave E and Republican Steet
  • Permanent lane reductions from four to two lanes between Roy and Stewart Streets
  • Reduced and restricted parking in some areas
  • Removal of a bus stop at Mercer Street and Eastlake Ave E
  • New protected bike lanes on the east and west sides of Eastlake Ave E between Fairview Ave and Stewart Street.

Improvements for pedestrians and cyclists will include a shared-use path on the east side of Eastlake Ave E between Roy St and Mercer St and new protected bike lanes on the east and west sides of Eastlake Ave E between Fairview Ave N and Stewart St

Metro is working in partnership with the Seattle Department of Transportation’s Eastlake Layover Facility Mobility Improvements Project to construct protected bike lanes. SDOT will install new protected bike lanes on the east and west side of Eastlake Ave E between Fairview Ave N to Roy Street. Please contact Ching Chan with the Seattle Department of Transportation via email or by phone at 206-257-2263 for more information.

Parking will be reduced or restricted on some sections of Eastlake Ave E.

On-street parking stalls on the west side of the roadway will be:

  • removed between Roy and Mercer streets
  • reduced to six stalls between Mercer and Republican streets
  • removed between Harrison and Thomas streets
  • restricted to weekend-only between Thomas and John streets

Access to businesses and residential buildings will be maintained during construction. We are reaching out to neighbors, businesses, and local community organizations in advance of construction near them to share when and where work will happen, as well as what impacts to expect.

Yes, load zones will also be affected but reinstated after construction is complete. Feel free to contact us if you have questions.

Yes, driveway restrictions will be needed for paving activities which are typically short term. Our team will inform residents and businesses in the area when driveway restrictions will take place.

Please visit the Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) Permits and Services website for more information on Restricted Parking Zone (RPZ) Permits. You can also contact SDOT by email rpzinfo@seattle.gov.

From Metro Matters Blog

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Eastlake Layover Facility Update

Have a say

We conducted an initial phase of public outreach between November 2017 and January 2018 to get feedback on the design of the facility. We conducted a second phase of public outreach in late 2019 to introduce the updated designs at the 60% milestone and report back on how community input influenced specific elements of the design.

From input received through stakeholder meetings, door-to-door outreach, and an online open house with survey, several key themes emerged.

People told us they would prefer bright, colorful concrete and structures that stand out rather than blend in. They would also prefer vegetation and natural, plant-based screening over physical barriers or walls that are textured or painted. This feedback informed the design you see today.

In general, for any future layover projects, people told us it’s important that Metro design facilities that are safe and secure, as well as pedestrian- and bike-friendly. Off-street layover facilities should provide comfort for bus operators, fit in with their surrounding neighborhoods, and minimize noise and environmental pollution and congestion. People cited landscaping, lighting, and screening as the most important features for future off-street layover facilities.

More detail about the public outreach process and what we heard is available in the Final Design Outreach Report   PDF.

Environmental review process

Metro completed environmental review under the State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) for the Eastlake Layover Facility. After completing a SEPA checklist, a Determination of Non-Significance (DNS) was issued on Dec. 14, 2018. The DNS was published in the Seattle Times and mailed to property owners within 500 feet of the proposed facility. The 14-day public comment period ended at 5 p.m. on Dec. 28, 2018.

Get in touch

Additional resources:

Contact us

Metro Community Engagement
King County Metro
email: community.relations@kingcounty.gov
or call 206-257-2234


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