Seattle, WA – October 26, 2025 – Seattle City Councilmember Alexis Mercedes Rinck announced the “Better Bus Lanes” Campaign today on Capitol Hill, joining transportation advocates to advance safety improvements and reliable transit across the city’s busiest corridors. The campaign comes in response to public concerns over a proposed bus lane removal on East Union Street, which SDOT reversed following community feedback.
Councilmember Rinck unveiled the initiative alongside Transportation Choices Coalition, Amalgamated Transit Union 587, Transit Riders Union, Aurora Reimagined Coalition, Fix the L8, and Central Seattle Greenways. The coalition seeks faster, safer, and more reliable buses on Denny Way, Aurora Avenue, and Rainier Avenue, some of Seattle’s highest-ridership routes.
Key Improvements Proposed
The Better Bus Lanes campaign prioritizes near-term safety and transit reliability upgrades:
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Denny Way: Implement two-way bus lanes from Queen Anne Avenue to Stewart Street to improve Route 8 reliability.
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Aurora Avenue: Make 24/7 bus lanes permanent, expand safe crossings, and support Vision Zero goals for pedestrian safety.
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Rainier Avenue: Enhance bus reliability in preparation for RapidRide R around Mount Baker Station, while promoting safety for all travelers.
“For too long our city has missed the moment to ensure frequent and reliable bus service on some of our most used corridors,” said Councilmember Rinck. “Now is the time to fix these longstanding issues head-on.”
Background and Impact
Seattle’s E Line, Route 7, and Route 8 serve some of the busiest bus routes in Washington state. By investing in dedicated bus lanes, the city aims to provide faster transit, safer streets, and improved reliability, particularly ahead of major events like the World Cup and ongoing Revive I-5 projects.
Transportation leaders emphasize the importance of bus lanes as a cost-effective, proven solution for reliable transit:
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Kirk Hovenkotter, Transportation Choices Coalition: “Seattle’s busiest streets deserve the red carpet treatment. Aurora, Rainier, and Denny need bus lanes ASAP.”
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Greg Woodfill, ATU 587: “Bus-only lanes are critical for public transportation to function and remain a viable option.”
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Noah Williams, Seattle Transit Riders Union: “Bus lanes are cheap, proven, and effective—let’s paint the lanes on Denny, Aurora, and Rainier and get people moving.”
Next Steps
Councilmember Rinck plans to collaborate with SDOT on budgetary options, code changes, and partnership strategies to implement these improvements through a Statement of Legislative Intent (SLI) during the city budget process.
Seattle residents, commuters, and transit advocates are encouraged to support the Better Bus Lanes campaign as the city works toward safer, faster, and more reliable public transportation.