(Editor's Note: This letter was addressed to Seattle Department of Transportation, with a copy to this newspaper.)

While I realize you are the public front man for this project and most likely you aren't the one making the decision on this project of restriping Fauntleroy Way Southwest from Alaska Street to California Avenue Southwest, I would still like to tell you why this is a bad idea in hopes you will pass my views onto upper management.

I have lived in the Fauntleroy area close to the Ferry Dock for 43 years so I think I understand the traffic situation and what works and what doesn't. Since 1965, Fauntleroy Way was my travel path to work everyday and of course have seen the traffic volumes increase.

The ferry commuters definitely contribute to increased congestion. I have experienced the increased congestion on California Ave from Morgan St. to Admiral Way, which only got worse when they narrowed it to one lane in each direction. In recent years I have felt forced to take either Beach Drive (a very rough ride, by the way) or Erskine Way to avoid the Junction at California and Alaska.

Now it appears the city wants to mess up another main arterial. One lane north and east bound will have ferry traffic backed up from Alaska St. south to California and Morgan during full ferry loads. Adding bicycle lanes makes absolutely no sense at all. There are at least 10 other north-south streets that can safely handle bicycles without adding them into the traffic mix. By adding these people to the already congested arterial you are punishing the majority of the motorists to appease a very small minority. There is no good reason these bikes can't take the side streets.

Please! Do not restripe in this configuration, it will only drive people to take other routes and cause them to do their shopping south and East of Seattle. We already do most of our business out of the city because the Mayor and Council have made it an unfriendly area for most of us mainstream people who still drive automobiles. I'm sure more people will follow our example in the future. It is time the city government started working for us taxpayers instead of the bicycle lobby, which pays no license tax on their conveyances.

Traffic congestion only will blight and stymie the area. In a day when concern for air pollution is high, why would we want cars sitting at traffic lights sending more exhaust into the air?

Ronald A. Marshall

Fauntleroy