SEATTLE -- Metro Transit is preparing for more than 4,000 riders next year during the start of the Alaskan Way Viaduct construction.

The state has invested $32 million for new buses and more frequent service on popular routes along three busy travel corridors -- Aurora, Ballard and West Seattle.

Peak period service will be expanded on several routes to better meet growing demand, and passenger waits and overloads will be reduced with the help of a new bus detection system designed to more closely monitor on-time performance.

Working with employers, Metro said it plans to provide more than 3,500 transit, carpool and parking incentives to downtown Seattle workers who choose to share a ride during viaduct construction.

Metro is expecting to take delivery of the first 15 of 30 new 60-foot hybrid buses in 2009, in time for the start-up of initial viaduct construction.