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We’ve made taking transit safer and more reliable from Ballard to the U District along the Route 44 corridor | LEVY DOLLARS AT WORK 

Title: Route 44 Transit Plus Multimodal Corridor Project
Logos: Levy to Move Seattle, SDOT
Text: 
•	Built (or replaced) 78 curb ramps to improve access to transportation and improve safety for people of all abilities 
•	Added 0.8 miles of bus-only lanes to improve transit reliability and reduce transit travel times 
•	Repaired 3,970 linear feet of sidewalk to improve access to transportation  
•	Repaired and replaced 27 crosswalks to improve access to buses and safety for people crossing roads 
•	Installed 3 new pedestrian signals

At-a-glance 

Watch this video to learn more about the Route 44 improvements!
  • Thank you, Seattle! The Route 44 Transit-Plus Multimodal Corridor project is one of seven transit corridors that we are improving thanks to the Levy to Move Seattle. 
  • During the past nearly 2 years we’ve partnered with King County Metro to improve transit reliability, reduce transit travel times, and enhance pedestrian safety and access along the Route 44 corridor in Ballard, Phinney Ridge, Wallingford, and the U District. 
  • As you’re traveling from Ballard to the U District along Route 44, you will see many improvements, including: 
    • Dedicated bus lanes, signal upgrades, and changes in roadway design to allow buses to move more reliably, avoid conflicts, and improve safety. 
    • Safety improvements and sidewalk upgrades for safer walking and rolling to transit stops 
    • Improved connections to two RapidRide routes (E and D Lines) and Sound Transit’s U District and University of Washington light rail stations 
  • Thank you to the Ballard, Phinney Ridge, Wallingford, and U District neighbors for your patience as crews worked to construct these improvements for people walking, biking, and riding the bus.    

Thank you, Seattle! The Route 44 Transit-Plus Multimodal Corridor project is one of seven transit corridors that we are improving thanks to the Levy to Move Seattle. 

During the past nearly 2 years we’ve partnered with King County Metro to improve transit reliability , reduce transit travel times, and enhance pedestrian safety and access along the Route 44 corridor in Ballard, Phinney Ridge, Wallingford, and the U-District. 

Some of the major intersections we’ve improved are: 

  • NW Market St and 11th and 14th Ave NW 
  • N 46th and Aurora Ave N  
  • Green Lake Way N 
  • NE 45th St between Brooklyn Ave NE and University Way NE 
  • NE 45th St and 8th Ave NE  
  • NE Pacific St and 15th Ave NE 
This project map shows the Route 44 bus corridor (orange) and transfer points for people transferring to other bus routes (T) between 32nd Ave NW and Montlake Blvd NE. The map also shows the locations of bus route improvements (purple) and sidewalk improvements (green). Link light rail stations are show using a train icon. The bulk of construction occurred between 11th Ave NE and NW Market St and NE Pacific St near the UW Hospital.   
This project map shows the Route 44 bus corridor (orange) and transfer points for people transferring to other bus routes (T) between 32nd Ave NW and Montlake Blvd NE. The map also shows the locations of bus route improvements (purple) and sidewalk improvements (green). Link light rail stations are shown using a train icon. The bulk of construction occurred between 11th Ave NE and NW Market St and NE Pacific St near the UW Hospital.   

As you’re traveling from Ballard to the U District along Route 44, you will see many improvements, including: 


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. 

Bus lane on 15th Ave NE

Signal upgrades or optimization: Transit signal priority extends or activates green lights to reduce waiting times for buses at signals.  

Changes in roadway design: Changes to roadway design and limiting certain turns that can allow buses to move more reliably, avoid conflicts, and improve safety. 

Roadway design changes at N 46th St and Fremont Ave N. 
Safety improvements and roadway design changes at N 46th St and Green Lake Way N. 

Safety improvements: Improvements to crossings and transit connections to help people get to bus stops more easily and safely. 

Safety improvements at 11th Ave NW and NW Market St 
Safety improvements at NE 45th St and 8th Ave NE. 

Sidewalk upgrades: Repaved sidewalks and upgraded ADA-accessible curb ramps.   

Curb ramps and sidewalk upgrades at N 46th St and Aurora Ave N. 

Key transit connections: Improved connections to two RapidRide routes (E and D Lines) and Sound Transit’s U District and University of Washington Link light rail stations. 


Thank you to the Ballard, Phinney Ridge, Wallingford, and U-District neighbors for your patience as we constructed these improvements for people walking, biking, and riding the bus.  

Read more about the improvements made at each segment of the project: 

For more information, please visit the project website

This project was funded by the Levy to Move Seattle and a Washington State Regional Mobility Grant.