King County Metro Transit expects to begin work on expanded transit facilities in downtown Ballard during the week of May 20. Construction will last through July, and some passengers will need to board their bus at new temporary stops during that time.

Working with the city of Seattle, Metro is upgrading bus stops, adding passenger shelters, and improving safety features such as sidewalks and crosswalks at targeted intersections along Northwest Market Street in Ballard. More than 1,400 passengers board Metro buses each weekday at these locations.

The project includes work along Northwest Market Street at:

Ballard Avenue Northwest – On the southeast corner, the sidewalk will be extended eastward to provide a longer bus zone. Additional lighting and two passenger shelters with art murals designed by local artist Steve Gardner will be installed. On the north side of the street, two passenger shelters with art murals will also be installed;

20th Avenue Northwest – On the northwest corner, the sidewalk will be lengthened to provide more space for transit passengers and pedestrians. The bus stop will be relocated slightly to the west, allowing buses to clear the crosswalk when making stops;

Tallman Avenue Northwest – On the southeast corner, a shelter with a mural will be installed.

In addition, the city has an improvement project at the intersection of Market, Leary Avenue and 22nd Avenue Northwest.

During construction, the main bus stops on NW Market Street at Ballard Avenue will be closed. The eastbound stops just east of Leary Avenue NW and Tallman Avenue NW and the westbound stop just west of 20th Avenue NW will also be closed. Metro is placing temporary transit stops during construction on both sides of Market Street, between 24th Avenue Northwest and Ballard Avenue Northwest.

For detailed information on how bus routes will be affected, visit the Metro Online Web site.