Dear DSA Member:

The Downtown Seattle Transit Tunnel is scheduled to reopen for weekday bus service on Monday, September 24, 2007. For the past two years, the tunnel has been closed so that it can be retrofitted for use by both buses and light rail trains in 2009.

Prior to the tunnel closure, more than $16 million in transit and road work was completed to mitigate construction disruption. Some of those changes will remain in place when the tunnel reopens. This includes maintaining Third Avenue as a transit-priority corridor during peak commute times.

DSA is supportive of transit improvements that allow for better access to, through and from Downtown, but we also want to ensure healthy streets to support businesses and a high quality pedestrian environment.

For that reason, DSA’s support of Third Avenue restrictions is contingent upon negotiating a memorandum of understanding with the city and county specifying improvements in public safety, maintenance and signage along Third Avenue and other affected downtown corridors.

We will continue to monitor conditions along Third Avenue and other major Downtown bus routes, and keep you informed of any new developments as we near the tunnel re-opening.

For general questions related to light rail construction and the transit tunnel please visit www.seattletunnel.org.

Sincerely,


Kate Joncas
President
Downtown Seattle Association