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The tunnel closure is tied to Sound Transit's project to build Link light rail between Tukwila and downtown Seattle. That project includes upgrading and retrofitting the tunnel so both buses and light rail can use it. The tunnel needs to be closed for up to two years to complete this work.

There are currently 21 bus routes using the tunnel, and all will be moving to surface streets on Sept. 24.  That means during the peak morning and afternoon commute times, there will be an additional 130 bus trips per hour on downtown streets.

Sound Transit, King County Metro Transit, the City of Seattle, and Community Transit are implementing bus service changes and a $16 million package of mitigation projects in downtown Seattle to support transit operations and keep traffic moving during the closure.

“The ultimate objective of the partner agencies is to provide the best possible services for transit passengers, and to help maintain the economic and social vitality of downtown Seattle,” said Metro General Manager Kevin Desmond.

Metro is working on several projects in advance of the tunnel closure to ensure transit service continues with as little disruption as possible. While Metro concentrates on scheduling, service, and bus stop improvements, the Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) is making surface street modifications in north, central and south downtown to better accommodate transit loading and movement and to reduce congestion. Sound Transit is in charge of the overall tunnel retrofit.

The majority of people riding the bus in downtown Seattle will probably see some change to their travel routine during the two-year tunnel closure, and a few of those changes will occur earlier - starting this June.

Beginning in June, the tunnel will be closed on weekends - both Saturday and Sunday;

Also in June, some of the routes traveling from the Eastside to Seattle in the morning via State Route 520 will travel southbound on Fifth Avenue, rather than Second Avenue once they enter the city;

When the tunnel closes on Sept. 24, Metro and Sound Transit plan to relocate bus routes that use the tunnel to the following downtown surface streets:

• Third Avenue both northbound and southbound - Routes 41, 71, 72, 73, 101, 106, 150 and 301;
• Northbound Fourth Avenue and southbound Second Avenue - Routes 177, 190, 194, 196, 212, 225, 229, and 550;
• Northbound Fourth Avenue and southbound Fifth Avenue - Routes 255, 256, and 266;
• Northbound Third Avenue and southbound Second Avenue - Routes 306 and 312.

When Metro’s service planners began looking at how to integrate the tunnel and surface routes, they focused on balancing bus and passenger volumes on the streets and at bus stops. They want to avoid bottlenecks and reduce bus volumes at key intersections. And, they wanted to group routes with common destinations on the same streets at the same bus stops.

Both the relocated tunnel routes and the ones already on the surface streets will benefit from the projects designed to move transit more quickly and reliably through downtown. That includes changes in street configuration, traffic management, bus stop placement, and route operation.

One of the most noticeable changes for both buses and cars will be converting Third Avenue (between Stewart and Yesler streets) into a transit-priority corridor during the morning and afternoon commute periods. Starting in September, general-purpose traffic will be allowed to travel on Third Avenue for just one block to make right turns. Additional police officers will be on duty to keep traffic moving and enforce these new rules.

There may still be 214 days to go until the tunnel closes, but it’s not too early to learn more [external link] about the project and think ahead about how it will affect your commute and your visits to Seattle.
 

Updated:  February 23, 2005

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