Something's Missing in the Bus Tunnel

@7: "We're waiting for Seattlest to put research before ranting."

Settle in, it's gonna be a long wait! :P

I'm a 20-something young professional who is

trying to find her footing in the working world

after college. I regularly take the bus, as my

company offers subsidized parking passes, but

drive to work a few times a month when I go to my

early morning yoga class. Even after City of

Seattle Ordinance #122192 passed in January

hiking up parking rates another 5%, I was still

convinced it was worth it to drive. But what

happened to me last week makes me LOVE Metro -

even when they're working out the kinks in the

Bunnel (Bus Tunnel).

I parked in the "Third & Stewart Garage,"

otherwise known as the Bon/Macy's parking

monstrosity which will eventually be turned into

the chick "Hotel 1." I arrived at 6:35 a.m. in

time to participate in the advertised $10 "Early

Bird Special." I followed the instructions to

park on the roof and validate my ticket in the

little box on the roof and proceeded to my gym,

Epicenter Fitness, where I validated my ticket

(they offer three free hours).

Much to my dismay, when I returned later that

night, I was charged the maximum price: $24

because I did not pay before 10:30 a.m.

Apparently the $10 "Early Bird" is only available

for those "special" enough to remember the

laundry list of parking requirements at the crack

of dawn. The attendant directed me to my new

nemesis, Patrick, to resolve the issue. Needless

to say it was NOT resolved.

Where do parking garage managers/attendants think

they can get off charging nearly a quarter of a

hundred dollars to park in their piss-smelling

car receptacles? Much less, laugh at you for not

reading the "three foot sign" which, by the way,

is only visible when it's actually light out. Bus

drivers will never laugh at you for missing your

stop. Nor will they discourage first time riders

by asking them to remember a ridiculous riding

regimen. If riders had to sit in the back of the

bus, pay mid-way through the ride, and be

penalized for getting validation, Metro would not

be such a success. From now on, I'm riding the

bus all the time and doing my part for CTR

(commute trip reduction). Thanks to Patrick and

his lovely garage for the inspiration.

- Friend of Metro, Foe of "Third & Stewart Parking Garage."

We're waiting for Seattlest to put research before ranting:

http://transit.metrokc.gov/am/vehicles/hy-diesel.html

These diesel-electric hybrids have been in use since 2004, and we saw them in the tunnel before it closed, so your memory might be a little off. They have a special "tunnel mode," so the driver actually does control whether they're relying more on electric v. diesel.

Also, it's the particulates, CO, hydrocarbons, carbon dioxide, and nitrogen oxide that are dangerous in diesel emissions (and significantly reduced in these hybrids), not the sulfur that you smell, so no need to worry about "exhaust odor" harming you.

@3, I'm having trouble locating anything about natural gas buses on Metro's website. This page, for example, describes the hybrids as diesel/electric.

@5, I noticed the brand spanking new powerlines myself. Took a picture, actually. It didn't occur to me that they were for light rail, although that makes sense. Also, I didn't notice an exhaust odor so much as the noise.

I don't think it's your imagination. The tunnel used to have a pair of overhead power lines (same as you see above surface streets). They've been replaced with a different style of overhead power, presumably for the light rail. It sure doesn't look like they could run existing electric buses on the new power lines.

I definitely noticed a strong exhaust odor in the tunnel yesterday.

you're right, I let Seattlest mislead me. It is hybrid buses that are being switched to, NOT DIESEL. Nevertheless, the driver doesn't have much control over whether or not the engine runs in a hybrid, the computer determines the amount of charge that's needed and runs the engine accordingly. Regardless, I'd rather have a little noise and a cleaner world for the children.

I’m quite sure all buses running in the tunnel operate on a hybrid compressed natural gas and electric power. While they still make sound while the engine is running, ive noticed that the drivers actually turn off the engine when stopping. At the I90 end of the tunnel there is a big sign that reads "absolutely no gas or diesel powered vehicles allowed in tunnel." i didnt notice any diesel fumes either...

Aren't they "low-emission" buses running on some sort of hybrid battery-assist?

AFAIK it's going to be diesel permanently in the tunnel. Diesel is (currently) much more efficient (as Europe has long known) than electric, gasoline, or ethanol. I expected they would have a powerful ventilation system and maybe some sound-absorbing materials in use, but I could be wrong! The buses are all slowly switching permanently to diesel, which is one of the reasons the tunnel had to be remodeled.