Traffic patterns have changed on Denny Way as part of Route 8 project
Aug 11, 2026, 5:00 AM
Cars drive along Denny Way in Seattle. (Photo courtesy of KIRO 7)
(Photo courtesy of KIRO 7)
One of Seattle’s busiest corridors has entered the final phase of a project designed to bring a new bus-only lane to Denny Way.
Crews are preparing to install the designated bus-only lane along the corridor, which means traffic patterns have already switched for drivers and transit riders.
People traveling from eastbound Denny Way to southbound I-5 are no longer able to use Yale Avenue, but instead are being directed to turn right on Boren Avenue and left on Howell Street.
Officials say the changes are intended to improve traffic flow and make bus service more reliable.
Project aims to improve traffic flow
Denny Way is known for heavy congestion, particularly where buses and cars merge as they head toward the freeway.
Alex Hudson, a senior policy advisor with Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson’s Office, said previous research showed that separating buses and cars can actually reduce travel times.
“What we saw was, contrary to what you might think. Travel times for riders and drivers decreased by 15 percent, so that’s shaving a lot of minutes off your drive time,” Hudson said.
The project itself is aimed at addressing reliability problems with Route 8, one of the city’s highest-ridership bus routes.
Hudson said creating separate lanes for drivers and transit riders will help improve the route, which has been among the city’s least reliable bus services.
Riders have been waiting for improvement
Jason Li, co-lead of the grassroots group Fix the L8, said bus delays along the corridor have become a significant problem.
“It’s pretty unacceptable for the buses to be that late,” Li said, noting that delays can range from 10 or 15 minutes to as much as 30 or even 60 minutes.
Under the Seattle transit measure, King County Metro will also add more trips to Route 8.
Some drivers remain concerned
Not everyone is convinced the changes will improve congestion.
Feedback about the new traffic patterns has been mixed, with some people concerned that the changes could make traffic worse.
Li acknowledged those concerns, including the possibility that some drivers may use the bus-only lane.
Still, he said he expects the dedicated lane to improve bus travel times even if some drivers do not follow the restrictions.
The next major step will take place in a few weekends, when crews will install the red paint marking the bus-only lane.
