The Brief
- Traffic jams on Westlake Avenue are frustrating commuters and businesses, with newly added bus-only BAT lanes partly blamed for extended rush hours.
- The BAT lanes are part of the Route 40 project, aiming to improve transit reliability; more lanes will be added in Crown Hill, Ballard, and Fremont, affecting parking and access.
- SDOT reports increased ridership and expects reduced travel times, while the Fix Route 40 coalition calls for traffic studies and project changes.
SEATTLE – Commuters and businesses are growing frustrated with traffic jams along Westlake Avenue and some believe newly added bus-only lanes are partly to blame.
The bus-only lanes are officially called Business Access and Transit (BAT) lanes, and they are part of the Route 40 Transit-Plus Multimodal Corridor Project.
“The project is designed to improve reliability, reduce delays, make the corridor safer and more accessible for everyone,” said Chris Saleeba, Transit Corridors Program Manager for the Seattle Department of Transportation.…