An update on another Delridge Way road project – this time, transit-related work including the rechannelization of the north end, from Oregon to Andover, to add a bus lane. We first reported on this project back in April (there have been some changes since then – which we’ve added to the end of this story). Metro has just sent word that this work is scheduled to start soon:

A new bus lane will soon be under construction on Delridge Way Southwest to improve bus speed and reliability for Route 120 ­– one of Metro Transit’s Top 10 busiest routes.

During construction and restriping work, crews will maintain two open lanes of traffic by shifting lanes on Delridge Way Southwest. When weather-dependent construction starts later this month, work is planned during daytime hours outside of commute times, Tuesday through Saturday.

When complete, the half-mile-long northbound bus lane along a key stretch of Delridge Way Southwest will improve travel times approaching the West Seattle Bridge during the morning commute.

The bus lane will operate 6-9 a.m. weekdays from Southwest Oregon Street to Southwest Andover Street and help reduce signal and traffic delays for Metro bus routes 120 and 125, benefitting more than 900 riders during the morning commute.

The roughly $170,000 bus lane improvements – striping, signs and pavement repair – are part of a larger $2.8 million Route 120 Transit Improvement Project funded by a State Regional Mobility Grant and King County matching funds. It is led by King County Metro Transit and coordinated with the City of Seattle.

Improvements include:

Reducing the number of closely spaced bus stops to help buses move faster and operate on a more reliable schedule.
Improving features at bus stops.
Adding a northbound bus lane and bike lanes on Delridge Way Southwest
Installing a bus bulb – a sidewalk extension allowing buses to serve passengers without pulling out of traffic – later this fall at 26th Avenue Southwest and Southwest Barton Street.
Installing transit signal priority at key signals between the Burien Transit Center and the West Seattle Bridge.

Striping and sign installation is expected to be complete by the end of the month, followed by pavement repair work. All project work is expected to be completed by June 2013. Project details are online at metro.kingcounty.gov/have-a-say/projects/route120/.

Click the links on that page for all sorts of maps and diagrams – plus detailed answers to questions you might have. One is, what changed since public input in April? Here’s exactly what it says:

Metro solicited comments on these changes in April of 2012 via an online survey, a presentation to the Delridge District Council, and an open house. This feedback resulted in changes to the bus stop closure plan as well as the rechannelization design for Delridge Way SW (see details below). We’d like to thank everyone who participated; your feedback is much appreciated.

Stop closures: As a result of public input, the northbound stops at Delridge Way SW and SW Oregon Street and Delridge Way SW and SW Edmunds Street will remain open. The northbound stop at Ambaum Boulevard S and SW 122nd Street will also remain open, and the southbound stop at Ambaum Boulevard S and SW 124th Street will be moved farther south instead of being closed.

Rechannelization: Metro modified its rechannelization plan for Delridge Way SW after meeting with several community members who expressed safety concerns about where the bus lane and bike lanes ended at the north end of the project area. In the revised design, the bus and bike lanes extend farther north past Andover Street. Some community members expressed concern about drivers trying to get around stopped southbound buses on Delridge Way SW at SW Andover Street. To address this concern, the right lane will be restriped to indicate that it is a right-turn-only lane for all vehicles except buses.