The Metro Bus Tunnel, more accurately referred to as the Downtown Seattle Transit Tunnel, is a 1.3-mile (2.1 km) public transit tunnel that runs the length of downtown Seattle, from 9th Avenue and Pike Street to 5th Avenue S. and S. Jackson Street. Approved by Metro Transit in 1983, construction began in 1987. It was completed and service began in 1990, at a total cost of $444 million.The tunnel was closed on 2005-09-24 for modification to accommodate both buses and Sound Transit's Central Link Light Rail trains. Prior to closure, around two dozen bus routes ran through the tunnel. The buses were dual-powered, using electricity in the tunnel from an above wire connection and diesel on city streets. It reopened on Monday, 2007-09-24. The two-year closure included retrofits for light rail as well as other operating system upgrades. Due to the conversion to light rail, the dual-mode buses that are powered by the above electric connection can no longer operate in the tunnel. Those buses...