King County Metro wants to help you zip through the Mariners post-game traffic around SAFECO Field, whether you're at the game or trying to get home from work.  That's why this season Metro is rerouting all of our regularly scheduled First Avenue South and Fourth Avenue South buses to avoid the area around SAFECO Field after all home games.

These reroutes begin two hours after the first pitch is thrown at each home game, and they will last until traffic clears – usually within 30 minutes after the game ends. The average length of a baseball game in the American League is about three hours.

The improved traffic flow will be most noticeable after seven weekday afternoon games, including Opening Day today. Regular commuters and Mariners fans leaving the game will need to be alert to changes in their bus stops. Those weekday early games fall on: Monday, April 1; Thursday, May 23; Tuesday, July 30; Wednesday, Sept. 4; and Thursday, Sept. 26. There are also afternoon games scheduled for two holidays: Fourth of July and Labor Day (Sept. 2).

Fans using regular service to leave the game should board buses on the Metro Busway, located between Fourth Avenue South and Sixth Avenue South, just east of the ballpark.

During the game-day reroutes, bus routes will be moved off of Fourth Avenue South between Jackson and Holgate streets. This will affect the following regular routes:

• Metro Route 24 northbound
• Route 28 northbound
• Route 39
• Route 136
• Route 137
• Route 174
• Community Transit Route 414
• Sound Transit Route 510
• Sound Transit Route 511
• Sound Transit Route 512
• Sound Transit Route 545

Buses on First Avenue South will avoid the stretch between Marion and Lander streets. This will affect:

• Route 15 northbound
• Route 18 northbound
• Route 21 Local
• Route 22
• Route 37 northbound
• Route 56 Local
• Route 57
• Route 132 Local
• Sound Transit Route 570