Over the next four years, the Seattle Department of Transportation will be making changes along Metro's route 44 that will speed buses up by 10 percent to 20 percent, according to the department.

If the reaction to Department of Transportation spokesperson Bill Bryant's presentation at the Sept. 9 Ballard District Council meeting was any indication, a more efficient route 44 is something the neighborhood desperately needs.

Meeting attendees took turns sharing horror stories of being stuck on the 44 for hours, especially during special events at Husky Stadium.

"Those of us who use it between Ballard and the U District are basically stuck for the entire route," Bryant, also a Ballard resident, said.

The department will be adding traffic signal priority, queue jumps and bus bulbs to the 44's route along Northwest Market Street, 45th Street, 15th Avenue Northeast and Northeast Pacific Avenue.

Traffic signal priority means green lights would stay green longer or red lights would change to green faster when buses were approaching.

Queue jumps are lane marking that allow buses to get ahead of traffic at stop lights.

Bus bulbs are sidewalks that extend out to the street so buses no longer have to pull in and out of parking lanes when making stops.

With Metro facing severe service cuts and only 20 percent of new service coming into the city, it is more important than ever to make sure routes are running efficiently, Bryant said.

He said most of the changes will occur in Wallingford and the University District, and there will be no significant impact on Ballard streets, especially in terms of parking.

The most controversial component of the plan is a potential westbound bus-only lane on 45th Street from 15th Avenue Northeast to I-5, Bryant said.

The project will be in its design phase through 2010. A 16-member community panel, including three members from Ballard, will be giving their input, Bryant said.

Permitting and construction is scheduled to take place from 2011 to 2013.

The project is being funded by the 2006 Bridging the Gap Levy.