Today is day one without a bus tunnel in downtown Seattle

The Route 41 bus from Northgate pulled off the Interstate 5 express lanes into Convention Place Station in downtown Seattle this morning, just as it had last week. Only this time, instead of proceeding straight ahead into the tunnel under downtown, the bus turned right, uphill onto Ninth Avenue.

"This is just as strange for me as it is for all of you," the driver announced to the standing-room-only bus.

Passengers laughed.

Today was Day One of life without the downtown bus tunnel, closed for up to two years to be retrofitted for light rail. The shutdown forced hundreds of rush-hour buses onto surface streets, affecting close to 100,000 weekday riders.

More passengers ride the 41 than any other former tunnel route. As of today, it follows Ninth Avenue, Stewart Street and Third Avenue south through downtown.

Those aboard the 41 bus that left the Northgate Transit Center at 7:27 a.m. said they weren't surprised by the change, and seemed to take it in stride.

That doesn't mean they liked it.

"I haven't been looking forward to this," said Steve Lynch, a technical and legal editor who lives near Northgate and works near Pioneer Square. "I know it's going to take longer."

He was right. King County Metro's new schedule anticipated some delay without the tunnel- up to six more minutes to the north end of downtown and up to 10 more minutes to the route's terminus in the International District from Northgate.

At 7:27 this morning, the bus took even longer than that . It was supposed to reach Third Avenue and Pike Street in 19 minutes, Fifth Avenue South and South Jackson Street in 27. Instead, the trips took 22 and 33 minutes, respectively.

That didn't bother Tony Tideman of Shoreline, who copies, files and shreds documents for King County Public Health. He didn't have to be at work until 8:30.

"It'll be interesting," he said of the switch to the surface. "I think it'll be all right."

Alison Madsen looked puzzled as she stepped off the 41 at Third Avenue and Pike Street. "I don't know where I am," she said.

Another rider said it just means she'll have to get up earlier.

On Third Avenue, almost every vehicle was a green and yellow Metro bus. While the tunnel is shut down, the street is closed to all through traffic except buses during peak periods; cars must turn right at the first available opportunity.

Police motorcycles swarmed the street, directing traffic, ticketing motorists, many motorists. And even jaywalkers.

Jeronimo Martinez-Santillano was issued a $46 ticket after he jaywalked across Third Avenue and Pike Street. "I don't know what's happening," he said, peering at his ticket. "I don't understand."

Before he turned onto the restricted avenue, the 41 bus driver announced where he would be stopping — Pike, Seneca and Columbia streets — so passengers could plan where to get off. Rather than stopping at each bus stop as it had in the past, Metro has consolidated stops on Third Avenue to get buses through downtown faster.

That helps, Lynch said, but the bus still had to stop for red lights. There weren't any in the tunnel, he noted.

Despite the longer trip, Lynch said he never considered abandoning the bus and driving to work when the tunnel closed.

"Heavens no!" he said. "Half my paycheck would go for parking if I did that."

Metro officials said there were few problems this morning, although they acknowledged that many riders were confused. The afternoon return commute will be the real test, they said.

Seattle Times staff reporter Susan Gilmore contributed to this report.

Eric Pryne: 206-464-2231 or epryne@seattletimes.com