Route 48 - Transit-Plus Multimodal Corridor

December 2, 2024

Major work is complete on the Route 48 Transit-Plus Multimodal Corridor Project.

Project Overview

The 23rd Ave/24th Ave corridor is one of the main north-south transit routes in the heart of Seattle serving and connecting communities in Mt Baker, Beacon Hill, Judkins Park, Central District, Montlake, and University District. King County Metro Route 48 provides an important connection between these neighborhoods and to the Mt Baker, Husky Stadium, and University District Link light rail stations.

Consistent with the goals of the Transit-Plus Multimodal Corridor (TPMC) program, the objectives of the Route 48 TPMC project are to reduce transit travel times and improve service reliability. To optimize this busy corridor, we are making these multimodal improvements:

• Signal upgrades for buses: New “smart signals” at 14 intersections that activate or extend green lights for buses traveling through the corridor (signals activated on a rolling basis through early 2025).
• Bus travel improvements: Southbound bus-only lane between S Massachusetts St and S Grand St and a bus-only left turn lane from southbound 23rd Ave S to Rainier Ave S to improve bus reliability.
• Boyer Ave E walking and biking improvements: New ADA-accessible curb ramps, upgraded crossing signals with better visibility that give people a head start, and improved walking and biking connections to the Central Area Neighborhood Greenway, the Arboretum, and the Montlake Neighborhood

Project Map

The Route 48 TPMC project focuses on improvements on 23rd Ave/24th Ave between the Montlake and Mt Baker neighborhoods. 

Project Background

This project advances SDOT's Transit-Plus Multimodal Corridor program objectives for high quality transit service and facilities to support residential and employment growth in the urban villages connected by the Route 48, including University Community Urban Center, the First Hill/Capitol Hill Urban Center, Madison-Miller Urban Village, 23rd & Union-Jackson Urban Village, and Mt Baker Hub Urban Village. Key connections include the University District Link Station, UW Stadium Link Station, G Line RapidRide, Judkins Park Link Station, future R Line RapidRide, and the Mt Baker Link Station.

Funding

This project was funded in part by the 9-year Levy to Move Seattle, approved by voters in 2015 and a construction grant from the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) Improvement Program. 

Project Schedule

Project Materials

• Pre-construction mailer (December 2023)
• Factsheet (July 2022)
  • English
  • Español/Spanish
  • 繁体字/Chinese (Traditional)
  • 简化字 /Chinese (Simplified)
• Pedestrian Accessibility Advisory Council Briefing (May 2022)
• School Traffic Safety Committee Briefing (May 2022)
• Seattle Pedestrian Advisory Board Briefing (April 2022)

Other Nearby Projects

• 23rd Ave E Vision Zero 
• Madison St BRT - RapidRide G Line
• Route 48 Electrification (King County Metro)
• Route 7 Transit-Plus Multimodal Corridor
• Route 44 Transit-Plus Multimodal Corridor