Seattle Bus Route: Third works well

SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER EDITORIAL BOARD

With the upcoming opening of the bus tunnel, we were dreading the traffic
snarl that would take over the downtown chunk of Third Avenue between Yesler and
Stewart again. Closed to cars during peak hours for the past two years, Third
Avenue has served well as a bus corridor, so we were happy to hear the city's
plans to keep it so, even after the tunnel reopens once its retrofitting is
complete Sept. 24.

Eighteen routes currently above ground will move to the tunnel, and 22 others
will move to Third Avenue from First, Second and Fourth avenues. While this will
produce slightly more bus traffic along Third, it'll alleviate some of the
congestion elsewhere, which, especially during evening peak hours, can turn into
a hot, crawling mess. While the mayor's at it, we recommend banning cars from
Pike Place, the perpetually gummed up cobblestone street running in front of
Pike Place Market, making an exception for delivery trucks.

The city, for its part, needs to address concerns of downtown commuters,
residents and business owners with better signage and an information campaign
informing transit users of where their bus stops have been moved. If trash and
crime are a problem, they need to be taken care of with increased pickup and
better security, especially in the early evening hours.

At the very least, the decision shows now and again that transportation
planning gives priority to moving people, not cars through the city. Let's keep
on truckin' -- umm, we mean busing.