Bus Tunnel Closure

I'm a driver for Metro, and I see that a surprisingly large number of my customers are unaware of the upcoming tunnel closure. Clearly, Metro's marketing department (or whatever they call it) isn't doing their job. And even if they were, they would be doing it in some "politically correct" manner that would hide all the facts you need to know.

So, I'll shout out a few things I know about the closure and, perhaps more importantly, the impacts that closure will have on you and even on people who don't ride the bus.

If any of these things are a surprise to you, call Metro at (206) 553-3000 and ask them why they haven't told you this stuff yet.

Metro makes service changes three times per year. The next service change will be Saturday, September 24, 2005. At this time the bus tunnel will be closed for retrofit in a (perhaps vain) attempt to let trains and buses use the tunnel at the same time. The tunnel will be closed "about two years". You do the math.

Here are some things to remember:

1. 21 additional bus routes will now have to run on surface streets. Most routes will be moved to 3rd Avenue. How do we make room for all these extra buses? We close 3rd Avenue! Well, strictly speaking you will be permitted to drive on 3rd but you will be forced to turn right at the first opportunity. You will not be permitted to turn left. The restriction will only be in effect during the commute times because the City of Seattle demanded a "minimum impact" plan. It's my guess that things will be screwed up enough that there will be further restrictions later on. Anyway, remember this little ditty:

South on Second
North on Fourth

(Yes, I made that up myself.) Only crazy people drive on 3rd anyway. I mean, look at me!

2. Everything you know about the buses downtown will probably be wrong. Metro is using the upcoming chaos to do some important route streamlining downtown. Look for a lot of in-city routes (Fremont, Ballard, Magnolia) to move from 4th avenue to 3rd avenue. Look for the 194 to move to 2nd avenue to join its big brother the 174.

3. Because of all these routes moving to 3rd avenue, buses will only serve every other stop. There will be "blue" stops and "gold" stops, and you need to be aware of which stop you're at. And you need to expect to walk a couple of extra blocks to the bus. Double check the signage to make sure your bus stops there. (Regular users of buses on 2nd and 4th avenues are familiar with the skip stop system. The same concept will now apply to 3rd.

4. If you live on the Eastside and take one of the 520 bridge routes, you'll probably be dropped off on 5th ave instead of 2nd.

5. Please think twice about taking your car downtown. Metro and the downtown business community will no doubt gut me like a fish for telling you this. You should seriously consider making this Christmas an Internet Christmas. Seriously, if you can somehow manage to combine some errands and just drive one fewer day per week, even that helps. (Consider taking the bus on Thursday which seems to be the biggest driving day of the week.)

6. Now, I don't mean to lecture (much) but the jaywalking downtown is just getting terrible. Remember all those cars being forced to turn right to get off 3rd avenue? Please give them a chance to get through. You don't have to do it for them, but please think of the bus stuck behind them trying to get through the intersection. All I ask is that you follow the rules. Cross only when the walk light lights. If it's blinking don't walk, please, *please* stay on the corner. Please. [Insert picture of me on my knees with dry rice all over the floor] And don't cross in the middle of the block. How do you know I won't hit you with all this other stuff going on?

7. Be patient and considerate. Don't stand on your "rights". Let one other person go first. Make a little bit of room. It's going to be a zoo downtown, no two ways about it. Try and remember the next person is as frustrated as you.

8. Help us keep things moving. Be at the bus stop before I get there, have your fare ready when it's time to pay. Please don't run for the bus. We have lots of buses, but you have only one life.

I know some of the details are vague. You're all now worried about where your bus stop is moving to, and I'm sorry I don't have more details. The fact is that some of those details don't exist yet and the ones that do will probably change. Check the website http://transit.metrokc.gov/ frequently and watch for some informative flyers to come out in the second week of September. And I'll check here frequently and try to answer questions. Just remember that us drivers are the last to know anything :-)