The Seattle Department of Transportation is considering designating the right-hand lanes on Market Street at the intersection of 24th Avenue Northwest as turn-only lanes as part of a series of transit improvements to Market Street.

The department is proposing a time-limited demonstration period for the turn-only lanes at 24th Avenue for sometime this summer, said department spokesperson Bill Bryant.

He said the department will be discussing the demonstration period with neighborhood groups in the coming weeks before deciding whether to move forward with it.

Bryant said the turn-only lanes would make a noticeable improvement in reliability and trip speed for Metro routes 44, 17, 18, 75 and 46. Buses would be allowed to go straight through the intersection in the turn-only lanes.

If the demonstration period occurs and is a success, the turn-only lanes would be permanently incorporated into the Market Street/45th Street transit project, he said.

The Market Street portion of the transit project includes building bus bulbs like the ones on Market Street between 22nd Avenue and 24th Avenue at the Ballard stops that do not have them. The bulbs would be equipped with new lighting, bike racks, benches and shelter foundations, Bryant said.

Bus bulbs allow buses to stop in the travel lane instead of spending time pulling in and out of traffic.

As part of the project, a number of bus stops along Market Street would be removed because of their proximity to other stops. Bryant said there are four pairs of stops being looked at for removal at the moment.

The transit project, which includes many more changes in Wallingford and the University District along Metro's route 44, is about making that route more reliable for riders, Bryant said.

He said the 44 is one of the busiest routes in Metro's system and is an important connection between Ballard and the University of Washington.