A route 8 bus travels east on Denny Way in the afternoon. Photo: SDOT Blog stats: 500 words | 3-minute read
When King County Metro’s service change takes effect this Saturday, Aug. 29, Seattle bus riders can expect more frequent, reliable service in several key parts of the city.
Increased bus service in Seattle is funded by the 2020 Seattle Transit Measure, which currently funds 180,000 bus trips per year in the city, including 400+ more weekly trips as part of the Aug. 29 service change.
Route 8 & Denny Way
Along Denny Way, the Route 8 bus is now cruising past traffic all day, providing more than 7,000 daily riders a more dependable trip between Seattle Center, South Lake Union, and Capitol Hill. We installed the final segment of new red bus lanes on Denny Way last weekend, with funding support from the 2024 Seattle Transportation Levy.
Route 8’s frequency has increased on weekdays. With this service change, the 2020 Seattle Transit Measure is providing funding for 50 new weekly Route 8 bus trips, in addition to the 78 weekly trips it already funds. This helps improve bus frequencies on weekdays, particularly in the mid-day hours.
Whether you’re headed home from work, grabbing groceries, or enjoying a quick visit to Denny Park or the Center for Wooden Boats, you can count on the bus to get you there now more than ever.
North Seattle bus service
In north Seattle, the service change adds bus trips for more reliable connections in neighborhoods like the U District, Laurelhurst, Roosevelt, Lake City, Pinehurst, and Bitter Lake.
Riders will have greater access to the regional Link light rail system, including the existing U District and Roosevelt stations and the future Pinehurst Station. The Aug. 29 service change adds trips to Route 75 and creates two new bus routes: 72 and 77.
The 2020 Seattle Transit Measure funds frequent bus service on all three routes (72, 75, and 77). This improves mid-day service on weekdays, matching the frequent service available during morning and afternoon peak commute hours. The combined investment totals 360 weekly bus trips, meaning buses are scheduled to arrive every 10 minutes on Route 72 and every 15 minutes on Routes 75 and 77. This creates more consistent bus schedules from 6 AM to 7 PM, making buses a more dependable way to get around north Seattle and connect to light rail.
Our SDOT projects in these north Seattle communities are paving the way for better bus trips by rebuilding our city streets to prioritize transit access and create safer, more comfortable connections for people walking, biking, and rolling.
We’ve been in construction around the NE 125th St and NE 130th St area with a series of projects to expand sidewalks, add bike lanes, calm traffic speeds, and prepare for increased bus travel to the new Pinehurst light rail station. You can read more about these projects on our website or see the map graphic below.
The end result is an easier time for you and your neighbors to enjoy local businesses, community gathering places like Northacres Park, and other essential services.
We hope you found this post informative as we continue to invest in Seattle’s transit system and support your everyday travel. Thank you!
Editor’s Note – September 3, 2026: We updated this blog post to add more details about service investments.