RapidRide J Line

Our RapidRide J Line project will make it easier and more convenient for you to get around the University District, Eastlake, South Lake Union, and Belltown. Whether you’re commuting to work, heading to class at the University of Washington, visiting the doctor, or shopping at local businesses, these upgrades will help you travel faster and more reliably.

As part of the project, we’ll upgrade streets, sidewalks, pedestrian ramps, streetlights, and traffic signals. We’ll also add protected bike lanes and replace the water main on Eastlake Ave E. These upgrades will support our local businesses, make it easier for you to get to housing, and help create safer, more connected neighborhoods for everyone.

Updated: September 5, 2025

What's happening now


We will be shutting off water between E Shelby St and E Roanoke St on the nights of September 15 and 16. Please visit the water shut off section below for more details. 


University District Work

We are working on several activities in the area, including:

  • Paving on the east side of Roosevelt Way NE at NE 43rd St. We will keep one southbound traffic lane open during our work. People biking will need to use the sidewalks.
  • Building pole foundations on 11th Ave NE from NE 41st St to NE 43rd St. This work requires us to temporarily remove parking along 11th Ave NE and close sidewalks where we are working.
  • Pouring road panels and on NE 43rd St between Roosevelt Way NE and 11th Ave NE. One side of the sidewalks will be open at a time during this work. We will also move the northbound University of Washington shuttle bus stop to a temporary position just south of NE 43rd St.
  • Paving the east side of Eastlake Ave NE between NE Campus Pkwy and NE 41st St  One northbound lane will remain open during this work. We will also pave the west side of 11th Ave NE north of NE 41st St, which will require us to fully close 11th AVE NE between NE 41st St and Eastlake Ave NE. Please see the map below for more details.

Map shows areas of work just north of the University BridgeWork area on the west side of Eastlake Ave NE. 

  • Keeping NE 43rd St between Roosevelt Way NE and 11th Ave NE closed for paving the street and upgrading sidewalks. We expect this work to take two weeks to complete. During this time, we have moved the northbound University of Washington shuttle bus stop to a temporary position just south of NE 43 rd St . 

Construction work along Eastlake Ave E

Map showing work areas in EastlakeThe map above shows where we are currently working in the Eastlake neighborhood. Click here to download a larger PDF of this map.

We are working in various areas at the same time. Our work will involve heavy machinery, loud noises, vibrations, and dust. Crews may also work on the weekend, at night, and early in the morning.

Image shows we are reopening Harvard Ave EAs early as September 16, we are closing part of E Allison St and opening Harvard Ave E.

We are opening the west side of Fuhrman Ave E at the intersection of Eastlake Ave E as early as Saturday, September 13. Thank you for your patience as we addressed several underground utility conflicts.

As soon as Tuesday, September 16, we will reopen Harvard Ave E between Eastlake Ave E and E Allison St to all traffic. At the same time, we will close E Allison St between Harvard Ave E and Eastlake Ave E. We are returning to E Allison St to pave the road after installing the new water main several months ago.

Electrical work on Eastlake Ave E at Harvard Ave E and E Allison St 

We are continuing to install new electrical lines at the intersections of Eastlake Ave E with Harvard Ave E and E Allison St. We will need to dig trenches across the intersections.  

Paving work along Eastlake Ave E between E Allison St and E Shelby St 

We are paving the east side of Eastlake Ave E between E Allison St and E Shelby St. Crews will demolish the existing concrete and pour new concrete. This work is expected to last about four weeks. You can expect lane shifts, vibrations, dust, and loud noises during this time. Working hours are typically from 7 AM to 5 PM, but we may begin as early as 4 AM to allow enough time for the new concrete to cure and to minimize heat-related impacts. 

Water main replacement on Eastlake Ave E

We continue to install a new water main along Eastlake Ave E between E Hamlin St and E Roanoke St. To the south, we are also installing the new water main between E Newton St and E Lynn St. We will work on the east side of the road and shift traffic around the construction. Our team will inform residents and nearby businesses about any impacts to driveway access and water outages. Please see our water main section below for more details.

Concrete work on Eastlake Ave E between E Garfield St and E Howe St 

We have started pouring concrete on the east side of Eastlake Ave E, between E Garfield St and E Howe St. Typical work hours are from 7 AM to 5 PM, but crews may begin as early as 4 AM. We start this work early to avoid heat-related issues and to work on the concrete as it dries during the day. This way, we won’t need to work on the concrete at night. You can expect crews to continue working over the next few weeks, and we will return later to pave driveways over a weekend. Our project team will coordinate with businesses and residences to find the best weekend for them.

Road demolition on Eastlake Ave E between E Galer St and E Garfield St

We are almost done paving the east side of Eastlake Ave E between E Garfield St and E Galer St/Fairview Ave E! On Friday, September 5, crews will start demolishing road panels in front of driveways in this area, with new concrete poured and set over the weekend. During this time, residents and businesses will not have driveway access. Our team has reached out to any affected properties. We will reopen access to the driveways early Monday morning so businesses can operate normally. Once this work is finished, paving will be complete on the east side of this stretch.

Starting as early as September 18, crews will move to the west side of Eastlake Ave E between E Garfield St and E Galer St/Fairview Ave E. They will repeat the process of demolishing the old road and pouring new concrete. You can expect roadwork to continue for at least another month in this area.

Parking on Eastlake Ave E 

As our work moves toward the center of Eastlake Ave E, most street parking will be removed. Several load zones are available on nearby side streets for business use. Please follow all no-parking signs and be careful to note the dates and times listed on those signs. If your vehicle is towed from a public street, information is available on the City’s website. Thank you for your patience and understanding as we continue this work! 

For more information on bus stop relocations during this closure, please visit King County Metro’s website. 

Fairview Ave N Construction 

Frontage road closure near Fairview Ave N and Aloha St 

We are installing utilities beneath the road parallel to Fairview Ave N on the west side, between Valley St and Yale Ave N. Crews have moved work to Aloha St and will progress towards the south. The frontage road will be closed between Aloha St and Fairview Pl N, but Aloha St will remain open. These closures will only occur during daytime work hours – the frontage road will reopen at the end of each workday. Access to businesses will be maintained throughout this work.

Work on the east side of Fairview Ave N between Aloha St and Yale Ave N 

We are continuing to install new electrical lines, light pole foundations, and sidewalks on the east side of Fairview Ave N between Aloha St and Yale Ave N. This work will require us to relocate the bus stop and close lanes. We will also detour pedestrians around the work, which is expected to take up to four weeks to complete.  

On the night of Friday, September 5, crews will begin demolishing the pavement in front of Aloha St. Please expect loud noise during this time. We will work during the daytime and overnight on the weekend to pour and set new concrete. Crews will keep a single lane at Aloha St for as long as possible, before closing access to the street from Fairview Ave N on Friday night.  

Yale Ave N will stay open while Aloha St is closed. We will maintain at least one lane of traffic in both directions along Fairview Ave N, but please follow all detours and directions from flaggers. If you are walking, you will need to detour around the work zone using the west side of Fairview Ave N.  

For more information on bus stop relocations during our road work, please visit King County Metro’s website. 

Weekly Online Open House

We encourage you to meet with members of the project team during our weekly online open house every Thursday between 2 and 3 p.m. Feel free to join our discussion anytime during the hour-long session to ask your questions in the way that makes you most comfortable. You can leave your camera off, type your questions in the chat, or simply listen as others share theirs.  

We want to ensure that those participating understand how to use Teams to engage with the project team. Please view this tutorial from Microsoft if you need assistance prior to our online drop-in sessions. There is information available about how to use your camera, mute and unmute yourself, and chat with other meeting participants. We are also available to offer technical support during our drop-in session if you encounter any issues as well. We look forward to connecting with you! 

You can access the online meetings with the details below:
Meeting link 
Meeting ID: 237 305 138 093 
Passcode: mBSfNf

You can download a PDF that shows the upgrades this project will make by clicking this link.

We plan to upgrade from the existing Route 70 to the RapidRide service in 2027.

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Water Main Construction Information

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About the Work

How to Prepare

Upcoming Shutoffs

When the city builds large projects, we find ways to reduce our impacts to community members by working together across agencies to updates vital services. An example of this is installing a new water main on Eastlake Ave E ahead of laying the new concrete road surface. This work brings the existing 100-year-old water main up to a modern earthquake resistant standard. 
 
To complete this work, our contractor works with Seattle Public Utilities (SPU) to schedule the various steps needed to remove the existing water main and install the new one. The work is divided into zones allowing the teams to close off water supply and minimalize disruptions to businesses owners and people living in the area. Outreach is conducted to determine the various times when water shut offs have the least impact to your community as a whole.  

There are various steps taken to replace a water main that require shutting off the water supply for different lengths of time. These steps include, testing valves to make sure they turn off the water, capping off the existence service, creating a temporary water main, switching the water to the temporary line, building the new line, testing the new water main, and finally switching the water supply to the new line.  
 
To keep you informed, we will develop maps, send emails, contact businesses directly, and share information with community groups and property owners. SPU will conduct direct outreach and place notifications onto buildings typically five days ahead of a planned outage. You can always check the status of water outages through SPU’s Water Outage Map. 

A map that shows watermain work locations along Eastlake Avenue. Fuhrman Ave E Zone, E Allison St. Zone, E Edgar St. Zone, E Louisa St Zone, E Lynn St Zone, E Newton St Zone, E Garfield St. Zone

Water main zone map

The map shows key water main work zones during this project.  However, the areas impacted can be much further out from these zones, as these are determined by the position of shut-off valves.  Please review the "Upcoming Shut Off" tabs for more information about specific impacts. 

How to prepare for a water outage

You can learn how best to prepare for water main work by visiting  SPU's webpage for tips on preparing for a water outage.  

If you operate an apartment, hotel, or business

When managing a project of this size, we collaborate with SPU to inform properties affected by major water shutoffs. These notifications are sent before the work and include specific time frames. However, we may need to contact you immediately for smaller shutoffs, connections, or emergencies.

Please email RapidRide@seattle.gov with the best contact person for your property, along with their contact information. This will allow us to keep you informed. 

Water Shut Offs


Water outages on Eastlake Ave E between E Shelby St and E Roanoke St 

As part of the new water main construction, Seattle Public Utilities (SPU) crews will connect properties to a temporary water main on September 15 and 16.  Residents between E Shelby St and E Hamlin St can expect a water outage on the night of September 15 between 10:30 PM and 6:30 AM. The following night, on September 16, properties between E Hamlin St and E Roanoke St will experience a water outage between 8 PM and 5 AM. During these nights, you may hear increased noise from crews and work activities. Please see the maps below for more details on affected properties.

Map shows building that will experience water outages On Eastlake Ave E near E Hamlin StThe properties highlighted in yellow will experience water outages on the night of September 15. 

Map shows areas along Eastlake Ave E that will be impacted by water outages near E Hamlin StThe properties highlighted in yellow will experience water outages on the night of September 16. 

Please be aware that planned water outages may be changed or canceled. 

All our nighttime activities will follow the City of Seattle’s noise variance requirements. For more information about the City’s noise code, please visit their website.   

Please visit SPU's webpage for tips on preparing for a water outage. Please visit SPU's Water Outages map for more information on affected properties. Our project website also has answers to frequently asked questions about water outages. 

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 RapidRide J 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 

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 

The links below connect to videos highlighting some of the changes that will be in place once the work is complete:  

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

Graphic showing components of a typical RapidRide bus station.

Project Map

You can see the changes this project will make along the entire route by downloading the final design plans.  

Map showing length of project from downtown up to the U DIstrict

 Click this link to download a higher resolution map

A chart showing different project phases including planning, design and construction. An arrow says 'we are here' on 'during construction'

  • 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 (2024): We are constructing the project and will 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.

Contact Information

We're always interested in meeting with community and neighborhood groups that want to learn more about the project.You can request a briefing by emailing RapidRide@seattle.gov or calling (206) 257-2202.

Construction Outreach Materials

As construction continues, we will house all construction related outreach materials within this section. 

November 2024

September 2024

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. 

Image shows map of where trees will be remove or planted throughout the projectClick this link to download a larger version of the tree map above.

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 Office of Arts & Culture’s Public Art webpage or email the Office of Arts & Culture at arts.culture@seattle.gov.

RapidRide J Line outreach conducted to date

 From 2015-2023 the project has engaged the public with: 

  • 115 community meetings and briefings
  • More than 1,685 community members engaged
  • Emails and mailers to more than 40,000 neighborhood residents and businesses 

Date Event
Phase 1 - Mode Analysis and Existing Conditions
February 2015                              Presented to Eastlake District Council meeting
Phase 2 - Characteristics of BRT and Multimodal Components
March-April 2015 Key stakeholder group outreach, including phone calls to develop an outreach list
May 2015 Open houses (2) to discuss mode analysis and existing conditions
July 2015 Joined Cascade Bicycle Club for walking audit of Eastlake Ave E
August 2015 Presentation to South Lake Union Chamber of Commerce
September 2015 Forum meeting in South Lake Union to discuss mode options
September 2015 Forum meeting in South Lake Union to discuss mode options
October 2015 Presented to Eastlake District Council meeting
November 2015 Forum meeting in South Lake Union to discuss BRT in-depth
November 2015 Presented to Roosevelt Neighborhood Association
December 2015 Open houses (2) to discuss BRT and multi-modal options
January 2016 Presented to Maple Leaf Community Council
January 2016 Presented to University Transportation Committee
January 2016 Presented to Eastlake Community Council
March 2016 Presented to U-District Partnership
March 2016 Project staff conducted business access survey
Phase 3 - Recommended Corridor Concept
May 2016 Forum meeting to review recommended corridor concept
June 2016 Presentation to Seattle Transit Advisory Board
June 2016 Presented to Fred Hutchinson staff
June 2016 Open houses (2) to review recommended corridor concept
July 2016 Reviewed recommended corridor concept with Vulcan staff
September 2016 Presentation to Seattle Bicycle Advisory Board
July 2017 Submitted Locally Preferred Alternative to Seattle City Council (approved July 2017)
November 2017 Notifications for public scoping meeting: • Email update • Mailed notice
December 2017 Public scoping open house to inform project Environmental Assessment
March 2018 Attended Eastlake Community Council meeting
April 2018 Attended Eastlake Community Council meeting
August 2018 Project email update
September 2018 Presentation to Seattle Bicycle Advisory Board
October 2018 Notifications for Eastlake neighborhood question and answer meeting: • Email update • Mailed notice
October 2018 Hosted Eastlake neighborhood question and answer session to review bicycle alternatives analysis and parking analysis
December 2018 Email invitations sent for Eastlake community parking workshop
January 2019 Hosted Eastlake community parking workshop to discuss opportunities for RPZ updates, transportation options, shared parking, and load zone relocations
April 2019 Attended Eastlake Community Council meeting
April to June 2019 Project outreach staff conducted door-to-door access surveys for Eastlake businesses
May 2019 Attended WSDOT/SDOT community parking briefing to review parking effects from the SR 520 project
July 2019 Briefing with Friends of Seattle's Olmsted Parks to review the Ravenna Boulevard park
July 2019 Briefing with members of Eastlake Community Council and SAFE Eastlake
July 2019 Notifications for Eastlake business parking workshops: • Mailed notice • Emailed notice • Door-to-door flyers
July 2019 Hosted Eastlake business parking workshops to discuss opportunities for load zone relocations, transportation options, shared parking, and RPZ updates
October 2019 Hosted U-District and Roosevelt Open House and Question & Answer Session
October 2019 Hosted Eastlake, South Lake Union and Downtown Open House and Question & Answer Session
October 2019 Captured community feedback through online open house
October 2019 Presentation to Seattle Transit Advisory Board
October 2019 Briefings with:
  • Eastlake Coffee
  • Patrick's Fly Shop
November 2019 Briefings with:
  • Seattle Public Library
  • Eastlake Fitness and DJ's Apartments
  • Seattle Children's Hospital
January 2020

Notifications for Environmental Assessment and Section 4(f) comment period:

  • Mailed notice
  • Emailed notice
  • Notice at Seattle public libraries
  • Notice of availability
January 2020 Hosted U District, Roosevelt, Eastlake, and Downtown Drop-in Sessions for Environmental Assessment and Section 4(f) comment period.
January 2020 Briefing with the Eastlake Community Council Board.
February 2020 Briefing with the University of Washington.
December 2020 Route Update Public Meeting(virtual).
December 2020 (Add new line) Attended North Link Connections Mobility Board meeting
January 2021 Briefing with Councilmember Alex Pedersen
March 2021 Briefings with:
  • U District Partnership
  • Belltown United
March 2021 Attended Roosevelt Neighborhood Association meeting
March 2021 Attended North Link Connections Mobility Board meeting
May 2021 Attended Northeast District Council meeting
June 2021 Briefings with: 
  • Councilmember Girmay Zahilay
  • Council staff
  • SpotHero
  • Interbranch Transit
June 2021 Attended Mercer Corridor Stakeholder Committee meeting
July 2021 SpotHero demo at Eastlake Community Council Board meeting
August 2021 Briefings with:
  • Prime Parking
  • UW Student Life
October 2021 U District Link light rail station grand opening tabling
October 2021 Email update to community-based organizations to take Supplemental EA Survey
October 2021 Presentation to the Seattle Bicycle Advisory Board
November 2021 Received community feedback through Supplemental EA Survey
December 2021 Briefing with:
  • Vulcan
  • Eastlake Community Council Board
  • Property owners on Eastlake Ave
January 2022 Project team responded to email inquiries about shortened route
February 2022 Project communications with:
  • Seattle Neighborhood Greenways
  • Cascade Bicycle Club
February 2022 Project outreach staff conducted door to door notification of geotechnical boring work
March 2022 Briefing with:
  • Eastlake Fitness
  • Property owners on Eastlake Ave
April 2022 Briefing with Eastlake Community Council
May 2022 Project email update about FONSI
May 2022 Briefing with Seattle Police Department
July 2022 Briefing with Vulcan
August 2022 Project outreach staff conducted door to door notification of geotechnical boring work
August 2022 Project email update for geotechnical boring work
August 2022 Presentation to Eastlake Community Council
September 2022 Captured community feedback through Community Design Survey
September 2022 Notifications for virtual Multimodal Engagement Sessions
  • Sent mailer
  • Sent invitation through project email update
September 2022 Hosted virtual Multimodal Engagement Sessions
September 2022 Project email update with follow up from Multimodal Engagement Sessions
September 2022 Briefings with:
  • Seattle Neighborhood Greenways
  • Eastlake Community Council
  • U District Partnership
October 2022 Briefings with:
  • University of Washington Transportation Services
  • Seattle Pedestrian Advisory Board
November 2022 SDOT Director Greg Spotts Walking and Listening Tour along Eastlake Ave
February 2023 Briefings with:
  • Seattle Police Department
  • General Services Administration
March 2023 Briefings with:
  • Fred Hutch
  • Seattle Police Department
March 2023 Briefings with Escala Condominiums
April 2023 Briefings with Eastlake Community Council
May 2023 Briefings with:
  • U District Partnership
  • Spruce Street School
June 2023 Briefings with Vulcan
July 2023 Briefings with:
  • Commute Seattle
  • MKA, Aedas, and Seattle Children’s Hospita
August 2023 Briefings with:
  • Eastlake Community Council
  • G3 and Associates
  • Seattle Police Department
September 2023 Briefings with:
  • Harvard Avenue Parking
  • TOPS K-8 School
October 2023 Briefings with:
  • Pembroke
  • UW Transit
November 2023 Briefings with:
  • Escala Condominiums
  • Mercer Corridor Group
December 2023 Briefings with Pembroke
January 2024 Briefings with South Lake Union Community Council

Project Materials

September 2024

March 2024

Updated project maps (January 2024)

Videos highlighting changes along the route (Oct 2023)

Project Maps (June2023)

March 2023

December 2022

September 2022

May 2022

Previous National Environmental Policy Act Materials 

October 2021

Supplemental Environmental Assessment Appendices

Scroll down to view the January 2020 Environmental Assessment

April 2021

February 2021

January 2021

December 2020

January 2020
 Environmental Assessment Appendices

October 2019

July 2019

April 2019

January 2019

October 2018

September 2018

December 2017 - Environmental Scoping

July 2017

June 2017

June 2016 Open Houses

December 2015 Open Houses

May 2015 Open Houses

Reference Documents

Transportation

Adiam Emery, Interim 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.