Route 44 - Transit-Plus Multimodal Corridor

Updated: September 25, 2023

Improving transit reliability, access, and safety

Work on the Route 44 Transit Plus Multimodal Corridor project reached substantial completion on September 25, 2023.

This project has:

  • Improved safety and access to transportation, by building or replacing 78 curb ramps, adding new bus bulbs, repairing 3,970 linear feet of sidewalk, repairing or replacing 27 crosswalks, adding pedestrian lighting, and adding 3 pedestrian signals.
  • Improved transit reliability and reduce transit travel times by adding 0.8 miles of lanes dedicated to buses and business access, and by updating signals and reorganizing road layouts to improve the flow of traffic.

Check out the video below highlighting some of the improvements built as part of this project.

Project overview

In partnership with King County Metro, we improved transit reliability, reduced transit travel times, and enhanced pedestrian safety and access along the Route 44 corridor. In 2019 we worked to identify the improvement projects that ultimately moved forward into design. We began by studying a variety of possible improvements, and we held neighborhood drop-in sessions in fall 2019 to better understand community priorities along the corridor. We also received more than 800 responses to our community survey. (See our Fall 2019 Outreach Summary for more information.) In September 2020, we conducted a survey and hosted an online presentation to get feedback on the design of these improvement concepts at the 30% design milestone. (See our 30% Design Outreach Report for more information.) In 2022 we began construction throughout the project area. Construction has concluded as of September 2023. 

Improvements made as part of the Transit-Plus Multimodal Corridor project will include:

  • Dedicated bus lanes: Business Access and Transit (BAT) lanes that separate buses from traffic and improve transit travel times and reliability while maintaining access to businesses
  • Signal upgrades or optimization: Transit signal priority extends or activates green lights to reduce waiting times for buses at signals 
  • Channelization changes or turn restrictions:Changes to roadway channelization and limiting certain turns that can allow buses to move faster, avoid conflicts, and improve safety
  • Safety improvements: Improvements to crossings and transit connections to help people get to bus stops more easily and safely
  • Sidewalk upgrades: Repaved sidewalks and upgraded ADA-accessible curb ramps in key locations

Route 44 background

Route 44 is one of the highest-ridership routes in Seattle, serving over 9,300 daily weekday riders. It is a 10.7 mile east-west trolley route in North Seattle that serves the Ballard, Fremont, Wallingford, and University District neighborhoods, including the University of Washington and University of Washington Medical Center. It also provides important connections to several current and future major north-south transit routes. Over 35,000 people live within a quarter mile of the corridor and over 32,000 people work within a quarter mile of the corridor.

While Route 44 is scheduled to arrive every 10 minutes or better, buses on this route can be slow and unreliable. This project has identified and implemented improvements that have provided faster, more reliable transit service for Route 44.

Key transit connections

Route 44 connects with two RapidRide routes: the E Line at Aurora Ave/SR 99 and N 46th St and the D Line at 15th Ave NW and NW Market St. These RapidRide routes are the top 2 King County Metro routes by ridership. Additionally, Route 44 connects to the current terminus of the Sound Transit's University of Washington Station serving Link light rail. Now that the Link light rail extension is completed, Route 44 also connects with the U District Station. 

See more on the RapidRide program update.

See more on the comprehensive assessment of the Levy to Move Seattle.

Project map

Project Map

Sidewalk work 

As a part of this project, we repaired more than 3,970 linear feet of sidewalk near bus stops and upgraded more than 78 curb ramps to meet current ADA standards to improve access and mobility along the transit corridor. The sections of the corridor where we made these sidewalk upgrades are shown on the map above.

Project materials

To view a PDF of project-related materials, please click on the links provided below. 

Project Completion

Construction Phase

Design Phase

 Planning Phase

Funding

This project is being funded by a combination of Local and State funds.  The source of the local funding is  the 9-year Levy to Move Seattle, approved by voters in 2015, and the source of the state funding is a Washington State Regional Mobility Grant.

Translation

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Transportation

Greg Spotts, Director
Address: 700 5th Ave, Suite 3800, Seattle, WA, 98104
Mailing Address: PO Box 34996, Seattle, WA, 98124-4996
Phone: (206) 684-7623
684-Road@seattle.gov

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The Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) is on a mission to deliver a transportation system that provides safe and affordable access to places and opportunities for everyone as we work to achieve our vision of Seattle as a thriving, equitable community powered by dependable transportation.