A fixed-guideway system should indeed be part of our arsenal of traffic solutions. But the city also should take a closer look at public transit solutions that provide more immediate results— including TheBus system.

The city Department of Transportation Services has already taken promising steps. Some 84 bus stops have been eliminated, reducing the frequent stops that frustrate drivers and bus passengers.

But more can be done. Bus-only lanes can reduce the number of cars on the road and create incentive for mass transit, according to Matthew Ridgway, a transit engineer who co-authored a study on bus lanes in San Francisco and London. And the mayor rightly points out that any rail system must include links to our bus system, ferries, as well as bike and pedestrian paths.

Of course, there are downsides, such as reduced street parking. But bus lanes can be limited to key commuter times: 6 a.m. to 9 a.m., and 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Some cities have placed the bus lane down the center of the roadway.

Perhaps the biggest detractors may be drivers who don't want to give up the limited roadway. But if the city is to create incentives for mass transit, then why make it more convenient to drive?

James Burke, chief of the Public Transit Division of the city's Department of Transportation Services, said he's open to studying extended bus-lane usage. That's a good sign. TheBus will be an integral part of a multi-modal system. Installing innovations and improvements now will help us get from here to there in less time — and with fewer cars.