Seattle and King County officials celebrate completion of Route 40 transit project

Seattle and King County officials cut the ribbon on Thursday to mark the official completion of extensive upgrades to transit route 40 after years of planning and construction. The multi-year infrastructure project introduces three new miles of dedicated business access and transit lanes along heavily congested corridors connecting Downtown Seattle, Fremont, Ballard, Crown Hill, and Northgate. Local leaders gathered at the site to celebrate the milestone.

In addition to the new lanes, construction crews installed more than 6,000 feet of fresh sidewalks, completely upgraded 16 bus stops, and added multiple new crosswalks and curb ramps to enhance pedestrian safety. King County Executive Girmay Zahilay said that one of the busiest transit routes in the county has finally become faster, safer, and easier to use for everyone. Transit officials said that the corridor regularly serves roughly 9,000 daily passengers who rely on the connection for their daily commutes across the city.

The project faced substantial resistance from local business owners throughout the construction phase due to widespread concerns over traffic disruptions and the loss of nearby street parking. City and county planners noted that simultaneous utility work, which included replacing sections of aging water mains beneath the roadways, extended the overall implementation timeline alongside earlier funding adjustments and planning delays.

Early performance data released by transit planners indicates an 11 percent improvement in overall travel times along the corridor during peak hours. Transportation officials estimate that the newly operational bus lanes and signal changes save passengers roughly 90 seconds per trip on average. Regular service on the fully updated route continues under standard King County Metro operations, with buses running daily schedules.