SEATTLE - Sound Transit will add an extra south run of the Sounder train in the morning and evening from Aug. 13-29 during the I-5 crunch, when portions of northbound I-5 will be closed in downtown Seattle.

"The extra run will depart Puyallup in the morning at 6:17 a.m. and will depart Seattle at 4:50 p.m. and terminate in the city of Puyallup," said Tacoma City Council woman Julie Anderson, who is also a Sound Transit board member.

Anderson said there will be extra parking in Tacoma, Sumner and Kent.

"We expect our station parking to fill up very, very fast and we recommend that riders find alternative ways to get to the station," said Anderson. "Take buses, use van pools, carpool or better yet get dropped off at the station."

The Department of Transportation will be replacing expansion joints and repaving portions of I-5 between I-90 and Spokane Street. It's expected to cause major traffic gridlock.

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The Department of Transportation will be replacing expansion joints and repaving portions of I-5 between I-90 and Spokane Street.

"The I-5 work is going to test everyone's patience," said Mayor Greg Nickels. "Tens of thousands of people will be affected by the construction during that period of time."

The DOT has said that unless half the normal commuters take the bus, find another route or simply go on vacation, traffic could back up to Tacoma.

During the project, Metro will be rerouting 22 bus routes that travel north into Seattle, Capitol Hill and the University District to avoid the I-5 work. The buses will use a temporary truck and transit HOV lane on Airport Way South. Others will use East Marginal Way to 4th Ave. S. Bus riders will still get on and off their buses at their regular stops downtown.

"We anticipate bus service and schedules will be disrupted at times due to widespread congestion," said Kevin Desmond, General Manager for Metro Transit. "We also expect standing-room only on many buses headed north during the morning commute, so we're encouraging our customers to be patient, flexible and have a back-up plan for their daily trips."

Desmond also encouraged people to take advantage of van pools, which will be available during the two-week period at a special price.

Metro will also enhance the Elliott Bay Water Taxi during the two-week construction period. Capacity will be increased form 149 to 250 passengers per trip and one additional trip will leave Seacrest Dock in West Seattle on weekdays at 6:10 a.m.; for a total of five trips from 6-9 a.m.

Also, two vans, instead of one, will operate on each of the regularly scheduled weekday Route 773 shuttle trips serving Seacrest between 6-9 a.m. and 3:30-6:30 p.m. There is also regular bus service along Harbor Avenue Southwest on Metro routes 37 and 53.

Other steps the city will take to reduce congestion include:

- Modifying 90 traffic signals along alternative routes people might use.

-Installing protected left-hand turn signals on eastbound Spokane Street to Fourth Avenue South.

-Adding a temporary HOV lane on Airport Way.

-Staffing additional traffic officers at key points.