Drivers on Denny Way in Seattle are now sharing a single lane of general traffic after the installation of a new dedicated bus lane through the heart of the city, from roughly 5th Avenue to Interstate 5.
The traffic pattern changes took effect on Monday to prioritize public transit along the busy corridor.
Mayor Katie Wilson supported the bus lane initiative, which reallocated a full lane of traffic exclusively for bus transit. Seattle city officials stated the dedicated lane aims to improve overall traffic flow by minimizing lane switching and turning conflicts among vehicles.
The newly designated bus lane does serve Route 8, a transit line carrying approximately 7,000 daily passengers across the city. The route was infamous among transit riders for on time performance, often billed as the ‘Late 8.’
Drivers along Denny Way were trying to deal with the new traffic flow. Some seemed totally oblivious to the change Monday afternoon, others have reported mixed experiences following the change. Drivers navigating the corridor have found themselves reduced to a single lane of travel. A driver who yelled when stopped at traffic light, expressed his frustration with the resulting delays. “it really sucks it creates mroe traffic. We already have traffic with two lanes!” said the driver who only had time to give his first name Antonio before pulling through a green light near the intersection along Denny near Westlake.
Other area drivers noted that traffic levels did not appear drastically altered. Driver Brendan Rushing said the change was intended to reduce congestion between buses and general traffic, noting he had not seen a major increase in traffic overall. City officials maintain that keeping cars in one lane reduces lane switching and turning movements, which helps maintain smooth traffic flow. Some left turns have been eliminated in addition to the dedicated bus lane. The dedicated lane directly impacts commuters on Route 8, which serves approximately 7,000 daily riders daily.
Daniel Top, a bus commuter who uses route 8 multiple times a week, said he often plans extra travel time because buses can experience delays. “I know when to leave when I’m going to get there, I know when I need to leave a little extra time,” Top said. Top noted that the dedicated lane provides relief to transit riders who rely on the corridor. The project to him offers “peace of mind in seeing the city kind of moving toward a more transit-centric future that makes me feel like Seattle is going in the right direction,” Top said.
According to the City of Seattle’s website, the Seattle Department of Transportation will allocate funding for additional bus trips on Route 8 from the current Seattle Transit Measure, which expires in early 2027.
Voters will decide in November whether to approve a 0.3% sales tax increase more than 10 years to support citywide transit improvements.
If approved, the proposed 2026 Seattle Transit Measure seeks to fund approximately 275,000 bus trips annually in Seattle. That total represents an increase of nearly 100,000 trips compared to current daily averages.
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