The RapidRide J Line upgrades King County Metro’s Route 70 with an improved RapidRide level of service. The project will enhance bus speed, access, reliability, and station amenities. It will also install protected bike lanes, a new watermain and paving on Eastlake Ave E, and bring many more upgrades as it connects Downtown Seattle with the neighborhoods of Belltown, South Lake Union, Eastlake, and the University District.
Updated: January 26, 2024
What's happening now
RapidRide J Line
On Friday, January 26, the City of Seattle welcomed Federal Transit Administration Administrator Nuria Fernandez for a check presentation to celebrate the City’s receipt of $64.2 million in FTA Small Starts Grant Funding for the RapidRide J Line project. Senator Patty Murray, Mayor Bruce Harrell, King County Executive Dow Constantine, and other local and community leaders and stakeholders joined her.
The RapidRide J Line project has reached final design. You can find our final designs shown on maps in the Project Materials section of our webpage. We will select a contractor by the end of spring 2024 and begin preparations for construction. We expect construction to begin later this year.
Throughout the planning process, we’re thankful for the community members who shared their input and suggestions, such as:
- The need to preserve the planted medians on Eastlake Ave E
- The need to ensure load zones are maintained for business access
- The loss of on-street parking and potential impacts to businesses
- The potential loss of tree canopy throughout the project area
- The need to extend bike lane protection heading northbound towards the University Bridge
In response to these suggestions, we have:
- Preserved and increased the number of planted medians on Eastlake Ave E, adding more trees to these wherever possible
- Identified loading zones for businesses, both on Eastlake Ave E nearest to businesses and on adjacent streets
- Worked with the community through various parking mitigation measures, including an RPZ study
- Updated plans to plant 190 trees to mitigate the loss of treesremoved to widen sidewalks. There will be a net gainof 98 trees upon project completion
- Added additional bike lane protection south of the University Bridge
Map showing an example of how community feedback was incorporated into design preserving areas for vehicles near businesses on Eastlake Ave E. Other maps are available at the bottom of this webpage in the materials section.
The RapidRide J Line project will bring many improvements to the neighborhoods served by the upgraded bus route. These improvements include:
- 15,130 feet of repaired sidewalks
- 2 miles of repaved roadway
- 3.7 lane-miles of protected bike facilities
- 2 miles of bus priority lanes
- 177 improved crosswalks
- 33 intersections with traffic signal improvements, including 253 new traffic signal devices
- 190 newly planted trees
- 8,900 feet of watermain replacement, in partnership with Seattle Public Utilities
Check out the videos below, highlighting some of the changes you will see to the roadway along the route:
- Eastlake Ave E southbound
- Fairview Ave N southbound
- Fairview Ave N northbound
- Eastlake Ave E northbound
We plan to upgrade from the existing Route 70 to the RapidRide service in 2027.
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Project Overview
We're partnering with King County Metro (KCM) to enhance transit connections and upgrade existing bus routes to Metro RapidRide service. The project upgrades the current Route 70 to a RapidRide level of service, improving transit connections to Downtown, Belltown, South Lake Union, Eastlake, and the University District neighborhoods. In addition to improving bus reliability with all day transit service, the project will install new bus stations, repave streets, add new protected bike lanes, and improve pedestrian accessibility.
The RapidRide J Line project also addresses current and future mobility needs for travelers, transit capacity constraints along the route, and provides equitable transportation access to major institutions, employers, and neighborhoods.
The RapidRideJ Line project will:
- Improve transit travel time and reliability throughout the route by adding transit lanes and transit signal priority
- Provide a high-quality rider experience with stations that include shelters, lighting, real-time arrival information, and all-door boarding
- Improve access to transit through upgraded curb ramps, sidewalks, and signals
- Improve connections to Link light rail, other bus lines, and Seattle Streetcar
- Install protected bike lanes to improve safety of all travelers
- Reduce greenhouse gas emissions with more transit options and fewer cars on the road
- Pave Eastlake Ave E from E from Fuhrman Ave E to Fairview Ave E with at least 12 inches of concrete, creating a roadway that will last more than 50 years
- Partner with Seattle Public Utilities to replace the existing watermain on Eastlake Ave E
Tree Mitigation Plan
Trees are fundamental to the character of Seattle and to our quality of life. In our rapidly changing climate, Seattle's urban forest is an increasingly important asset, playing a critical role in mitigating climate change impacts, including heat island effects, as well as supporting Seattle's public health, providing habitat for wildlife, creating spaces for exploration and enjoyment, cleaning our air and water, and reducing the quantity of stormwater runoff, further helping water quality.
The RapidRide J Line project will remove 92 trees in areas where we will widen sidewalks and install new bus shelters. As part of the tree mitigation plan, we will plant approximately 190 new trees, which have been chosen based upon their suitability for an urban environment. Once the project is complete, there will be a net gain of 98 trees.
The map below identifies where trees are being retained and removed, as well as where new trees will be planted.
Click this link to download a larger version of the tree map above.
Station Amenities
The following amenities will be included at RapidRide J Line stations:
- A 12-ft bus shelter canopy
- Real-time arrival information
- All-door boarding
- Benches
- Pedestrian-level lighting
- Signature signposts and route information maps
- Next Generation TSP (ngTSP)
Project Map
Click this link to download a higher resolution map
Public Art
The Rapid Ride J Line project area includes nine existing permanent artworks from the City of Seattle’s Public Art Collection. The Office of Arts & Culture is working closely with Seattle Department of Transportation to protect the artworks during construction. The three artworks that will be impacted include:
“Dreamboats” by Linda Beaumont will stay in place and be protected as needed during construction- “Lost in Thought” by Ellen Sollod will have one of three ground mosaics removed and reinstalled during construction
- “Cornerstones” by Stacy Levy will see all thirty-two concrete and glass inlay artworks deinstalled and reinstalled during construction. As part of the deinstallation and reinstallation, ARTS will work with the artist to repair, remake, and restore the damaged and missing artwork prior to reinstallation.
For more information about the Public Art program, visit the webpage or email the Office of Arts & Culture at arts.culture@seattle.gov.
Schedule
- Planning (2014-2017): We collected traffic data, reviewed plans, and gathered community experiences to define options.
- Design (2017-2023): We are collaborating with the community, working to secure regulatory approval (e.g., Environmental Assessment), and developing a more detailed final design.
- Construction (as soon as 2024): We will construct the project and keep the community informed on the latest construction updates, schedule, and expected impacts.
- Service launch (planned for 2027)
Funding
RapidRide J Line is partially funded by the 9-year Levy to Move Seattle, approved by voters in 2015. Additional funding is being sought through a Federal Transit Administration Small Starts Grant.
How can I get involved?
We're always interested in meeting with community and neighborhood groups that want to learn more about the project and make their voices heard. You can request a briefing by emailing RapidRide@seattle.gov or calling (206) 257-2202.
