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.