People biking celebrate summer at a community event in Beacon Hill in 2025. Photo: SDOT Blog stats: 1,400 words | 7-minute read
As the summer season draws to a close, now is the perfect time to enjoy a major league sports game, concert, or neighborhood festival in Seattle. This blog will help you get to your next event with a mix of easy-to-use transit options. You’ll also learn about construction activities taking place on city streets, so you can travel with confidence.
What’s new, you ask? Bus riders can now enjoy the extended bus lanes on Denny Way, making Route 8 a faster, more reliable ride between Seattle Center, South Lake Union, and Capitol Hill. And King County Metro’s service change takes effect this Saturday, Aug. 29, bringing more bus trips to Route 8 and supporting more frequent bus service in north Seattle.
This is our last ‘travel tips’ roundup post of the summer. But rest assured, you can stay up to date by following us on social media or find real-time traffic information on our Travelers Map and @SDOTtraffic account on X. Before you head out the door, visit FlipYourTrip.org for more travel resources like short “how to” videos covering transit essentials and much more.
Jump to:
- SDOT construction work
- Major league home games
- Community celebrations and events
- Good to know this summer
- Stay connected
SDOT construction work
Note: this is not a comprehensive list of all work taking place in the city. You can visit our Current Projects web page to find many SDOT projects currently in planning, design, and construction and sign up for email updates to stay informed.
RapidRide J Line (University District)
- Beginning 7 AM on Saturday, August 29, we will close Roosevelt Way NE between the west leg of NE 42nd St and NE Campus Pkwy to complete sewer repairs. We expect the closure to begin at 7 AM on Saturday, August 29, and continue through the morning of Monday, August 31.
- Learn more on the project web page.
NE 130th St & NE 125th St Mobility and Safety Project (Lake City)
- Beginning as soon as Wednesday, September 2 and lasting approximately 2 weeks, we will close the westbound lane of NE 125th St at 30th Ave NE and shift westbound traffic into the center turn lane.
- During this work, northbound turns onto 30th Ave NE from NE 125th St and southbound access to NE 125th St from 30th Ave NE is restricted. Left turns onto Lake City Way for eastbound travelers are also restricted.
- Learn more on the project web page.
Major league home games
Whether you’re cheering on the Mariners, Storm, Sounders, Reign, Seahawks, or Kraken, transit can help you get to the stadium in time for the first pitch, tip-off, kick-off, or face-off.
Check out our blog post: Getting to games in Seattle: Skip traffic, parking with these transit tips. It includes connections to the stadiums from King Street Station, which is where Sounder and Amtrak trains stop in Seattle, plus access via Link light rail, Seattle Streetcar, buses, and the free seasonal Waterfront Shuttle.
Seattle Storm
Upcoming games at Climate Pledge Arena:
- Sunday, Aug. 30 vs. Los Angeles Sparks @ 2:00 PM
- Thursday, Sept. 17 vs. Las Vegas Aces @ 7:00 PM
- Wednesday, Sept. 23 vs. Dallas Wings @ 7:00 PM
More at storm.wnba.com.
Seattle Mariners
Upcoming games at T-Mobile Park:
- Thursday, Sept. 3 vs. Athletics @ 6:40 PM
- Friday, Sept. 4 vs. Athletics @ 7:10 PM
- Saturday, Sept. 5 vs. Athletics @ 6:40 PM
- Sunday, Sept. 6 vs. Athletics @ 1:10 PM
- Tuesday, Sept. 8 vs. Rangers @ 6:40 PM
- Wednesday, Sept. 9 vs Rangers @ 1:10 PM
- Thursday, Sept. 10 vs Rangers @ 1:10 PM
More at mlb.com/mariners.
Seattle Sounders FC
Upcoming matches at Lumen Field:
- Saturday, Aug. 29 vs. Chicago Fire @ 1:30 PM
- Saturday, Sept. 5 vs. New York Red Bulls @ 5:30 PM
- Wednesday, Sept. 23 vs. Salt Lake @ 6:30 PM
- Saturday, Sept. 26 vs. Minnesota @ 5:30 PM
More at soundersfc.com.
Seattle Reign FC
Upcoming games at Lumen Field:
- Sunday, Aug. 30 vs. Houston Dash @ 4:00 PM
- Sunday, Sept. 6 vs San Diego Wave FC @ 6:00 PM
- Saturday, Sept. 12 vs. Bay FC @ 5:00 PM
More at reignfc.com.
Seattle Seahawks
Upcoming games at Lumen Field:
- Wednesday, Sept. 9 vs. Patriots @ 5:20 PM (season home opener)
More at seahawks.com.
Community celebrations and events
Please note: We’ve highlighted several upcoming events that you might be interested in – but this is not intended as a comprehensive list of every event in the city.
Events:
- Saturday, Aug. 29: 35th Anniversary of Ukraine’s Independence
- Thursday, Sept. 3: First Thursday: Free Zines & Mobile Book Fair
- Thursday, Sept. 3: First Thursday: Burke Museum Free Admission
- Saturday, Sept. 5: Special Event: Back to School Clothing Swap
- Saturday, Sept. 5-6: Bumbershoot Music Festival
- Friday, Sept. 11: Center City Cinema – The Fifth Element
- Saturday, Sept. 12: SIGNAL: Modular on the Spot
- Sunday, Sept. 13: Festal: Live Aloha Hawaiian Cultural Festival
Good to know this summer
Golden Gardens Direct (NOTE: operates through Sunday, Aug. 30)
During peak beach season, King County Metro and the City of Seattle are offering Golden Gardens Direct, a new summer transit service providing a direct connection between downtown Ballard and Golden Gardens Park.
- Buses run every 30 minutes from 10 AM to 9 PM daily
- Golden Gardens Direct shares bus stops with Route 44 along Market Street and serves new stops on Seaview Avenue and at Golden Gardens Park.
- Map of Golden Gardens Direct Route
- The cost to ride is the same as a regular Metro bus ride, $3, and rides are free for youth 18 and under.
- RELATED: Ride to Seattle’s Golden Gardens on new summer transit service
Free Waterfront Shuttle (NOTE: operates through Monday, Sept. 7)
This summer, you can catch a free waterfront shuttle that stops at some of Seattle’s most popular destinations. Service is provided by King County Metro. Check their website for schedule changes and updates. VIEW A WATERFRONT SHUTTLE MAP. The Waterfront Shuttle connects to:
- Seattle Center and the Space Needle
- Olympic Sculpture Park
- Pike Place Market and Overlook Walk
- Waterfront Park and the Seattle Great Wheel
- Pioneer Square
- Seattle Stadium4
- Chinatown-International District
- Seattle Ferry Terminal and Pier 50
Trailhead Direct (NOTE: Operates through Sunday, Aug. 30)
Trailhead Direct is operatedby King County Metro in partnership with King County Parks and SDOT, with promotional support from Amazon. Read more on King County Metro’s blog.
- Take transit to Issaquah Alps and Mount Si trails, connecting Seattle to five popular hiking destinations along the I-90 corridor.
- SDOT funds 50% of Trailhead Direct’s 2026 operating costs through the 2020 Seattle Transit Measure (STM).
Free adaptive cycling this summer with Outdoors for All (NOTE: operates through October 18)
Come experience the joy of cycling this summer with the Outdoors for All Foundation!
A fleet of over 200 adaptive cycles is available for everyone in the community to use for free, with a focus on serving people with disabilities of all ages.
- SDOT funding helps make this program possible, using vendor permitting fees from our bike and scooter share program.
- How to participate:
- Dates: Daily from May 1 through October 18 (closed on Memorial Day, 4th of July, & Labor Day)
- Hours: 10 AM to 6 PM (all riders must be back by 6 PM)
- Location: Magnuson Park in northeast Seattle
- Address: 6344 NE 74th St, Seattle, WA 98115 (Building 406)
- Know before you go:
- Bike availability is first-come, first-served
- Helmets are required for all riders, and provided if needed
- Program serves people ages 7 and up
- To learn more, please visit the Outdoors for All website
- Click on “Cycling/Biking” for helpful information about the rental program.
- If you have any questions, you can reach Outdoors for All at (206) 838-6030 or rentals@outdoorsforall.org.
Stay connected
We regularly share updates, tips, and travel information across SDOT channels so you can stay informed and plan your travel. Here are quick links to keep up to date on everything transportation in Seattle. Thank you!
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