Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson has ignited controversy among motorists after she eliminated a lane on a notoriously congested road to accommodate a bus lane. Wilson proudly unveiled the Denny Way Bus Reliability Project during a press conference on Wednesday, where she boasted that she has never owned a car and regularly uses public transit.
Mayor's Personal Connection to Transit
'This is also personal for me as a transit rider. I am one of the 20 percent and growing proportion of Seattle households that do not own a car. I've never owned a car,' Wilson confessed, drawing a resounding wave of applause. 'And the Route 8, as someone who lives on Capitol Hill, is one of my favorite buses, and one of my buses,' she continued. 'I've taken that bus with my daughter to explore the tide pools. I've taken that bus to Seattle Center to watch Shakespeare plays. I've taken that bus to take my daughter to daycare.'
Wilson described the bus as a 'workhorse route' with one of the highest ridership counts, but it has long faced reliability issues. The city reports that around 8,000 people ride the route daily, and it serves as a key east-west connection linking Downtown, South Lake Union, and Capitol Hill.
Motorists Express Anger
The initiative has angered motorists who argue that eliminating a lane for drivers will worsen traffic and allege that Wilson conveniently chose the route she uses. Seattle's Department of Transportation faced a barrage of negative comments on its recent announcement. One comment read: 'Definitely don’t ask for public opinion on these proposed changes. People are apparently getting really tired of SDOT intentionally making traffic worse everywhere they go.' Another added: 'No Kings or Queens. Mayor Wilson should not be unilaterally taking over public streets for those privileged enough to not have to own a car and who have an extra 2 hours a day to take a bus.' A third wrote: 'She is penalizing people who need to drive by closing roads throughout the city, and limiting our driving routes, backing up traffic, with no backup plan.'
Project Details and Phases
The city maintains that the project will 'eliminate choke points' and provide faster, more reliable trips for transit riders. The first phase is set to begin in May, involving three blocks of lanes from Queen Anne Ave North down to Second Avenue, a two-mile stretch. An existing southbound lane on Queen Anne Ave to Denny Way will also be extended, and a bus queue will be installed to help riders move ahead of traffic at a major intersection. The second phase, scheduled for August, includes an extension of the eastbound bus lane, nine blocks of a new bus lane, and the reconfiguration of an intersection to enhance pedestrian safety.
The Department of Transportation warned that intermittent lane closures and slower speeds may be expected during working hours, along with noise, dust, and vibrations when workers are on site from 8am to 7pm.
Mixed Reactions from Residents
Seattle residents expressed mixed reactions to the proposal. Speaking to local ABC affiliate KOMO, some acknowledged that Route 8 is consistently delayed but voiced concerns about the impact of losing a general-purpose lane.
Mayor's Background
Wilson has a background in transit policy, having previously served as the Transit Riders Union General Secretary before running for mayor. She was elected as Seattle's first democratic socialist mayor in November, echoing the recent victory of Zohran Mamdani in New York City's mayoral contest. Referred to as 'the white Mamdani,' she campaigned on promises to increase affordability and address Seattle's homelessness crisis, one of the worst in the country. The Daily Mail has reached out to Wilson's office and the Department of Transportation for comment on the backlash.
