Neighborhood and environmental groups in Seattle want to limit the number of cars that enter that city across any new SR 520 bridge.

Some Seattle politicians, including the new mayor, are said to favor the idea, too.

They would do this by changing the HOV/car pool lane in each direction into a transit-only lane.

How quaintly provincial. What’s next — horse and buggies?

Seattle used to be a regional center, but more and more is looking like an after-thought as this area grows and prospers.

Limit cars going into Seattle? Why, of course. Who needs these people coming in to shop and work? Why, these outsiders may take jobs from Seattle citizens who might be forced to – gasp! – look elsewhere for work. Some might actually move away from Seattle to be closer to their new job. Next, they might discover their kids have better schools.

And those shoppers from Redmond. They’re already suspected of swarming Fremont, snapping up all our funky clothing. And, no, it doesn’t matter that Redmond lets people from Seattle shop at Redmond Town Center.

Of course everyone knows that Seattle’s cultural icons — the Seattle Symphony, Pacific Northwest Ballet, Seattle Art Museum, Seattle Opera, etc. — don’t need ticket buyers and supporters from across Lake Washington. Who needs their stinking checks and attendance?

You have only to look at sports to see what happens when you have open borders. Sure, the Seattle Mariners still are in Seattle, but many of their players live in places with names like Redmond, Issaquah and Sammamish. Please.

And take the Seahawks. Well, Renton actually did. The team’s headquarters are along I-405 south of Redmond. It wasn’t quite so bad when the team’s headquarters was in Kirkland. Some Seattleites actually were known to have visited that little village. But Renton? Does the team have no shame?

Of course, Renton does have Boeing, but it has moved out, too, to some place called Chicago. We wonder how it’s doing.

State legislators are adamant that the 520 bridge will move forward with the most recent design of two general purpose lanes and an HOV/transit lane in both directions.

As Sen. Rodney Tom, D-Medina, said, “It’s time to move forward. We’ve been going at this for 15 years.”

With Seattle’s reputation and expertise at never-ending consensus building, we’re sure the 520 bridge will be declared a historical landmark before it ever is improved or replaced.

And, if that windstorm or earthquake actually happens — well, problem solved.