TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Friday on the roads, paths, buses…

(Live view from the only WS Bridge camera currently in operation; see other cameras on the WSB Traffic page)
7:10 AM: Happy Friday! This is the last weekday before the West Seattle Water Taxi switches to its fall/winter schedule; the last weekday before Metro adds buses to Routes 120 and 55; and the first full day that westbound lower Spokane Street is now fully open, after years of Spokane Street Viaduct Widening Project work. Thanks in advance for sharing your reports from the roads, paths, buses, etc.

1:34 PM UPDATE: WSDOT reports a crash has closed southbound 99 at the Battery Street Tunnel.

2:30 PM UPDATE: It’s clear.

3:38 PM: Crash on the 911 log for northbound 99 at Western.

4:39 PM: It’s cleared. Reminder – the heart of The Junction will be closed for the Harvest Festival Sunday morning into mid-afternoon – same basic “footprint” as other big street-closing events.

SeaChanty51 October 26, 2012 (7:20 am)

A tad off topic, but is there any indication when the West-facing camera on the West Seattle Bridge will be working again?

WSB October 26, 2012 (7:27 am)

I’ve been meaning to ask SDOT, since it’s been months now… will inquire.

Glenn October 26, 2012 (7:45 am)

Smooth sailing 7:35am 56x

Myles October 26, 2012 (7:57 am)

Speed Trap eastbound Spokane viaduct?

6:05am – Observed Seattle police car pointing east on rightside shoulder/pullout as lane for 4th ave exits starts.

Be nice if DOT sped up their speed study and equalized the posted limit to that of the bridge.
25 or 35 – whatever it is – makes little sense if 35th ave is 35mph and the bridge is 45mph.

WSB October 26, 2012 (8:05 am)

From Sue, who has chronicled her RapidRide commute on Twitter – she finally got to sit down.
.
https://twitter.com/jsrekd/status/261845221543911424

mariem October 26, 2012 (8:10 am)

Full with a couple folks standing 55 out of admiral at 7:44am

Ben October 26, 2012 (8:16 am)

RR C bus 6064 is unsafely jam packed – leaving last WS stop at 8:15am.

JAT October 26, 2012 (8:20 am)

Speed trap? No, just overdue and woefully inadequate enforcement; I can’t believe how universally indifferent drivers are to the speed limit on the Spokane St viaduct – even when lane lines were shifting nearly daily people were driving 150% of the posted limit. The equivalent of blazing down I-5 at 90 or 100 mph (and they call cyclists scofflaws… sorry, pet peeve)

anyway after yielding to a 56 downhill on Admiral (because I’m incredibly virtuous) I was alarmed to see the bus charge right on up the ramp to the high bridge (you know, in the Bus Only lane – sorry, other pet peeve) dispensing with the portion of the route under the bridge to Chelan – did they change the route or did the driver just goof?

Robert October 26, 2012 (8:43 am)

JAT,

The 56 and 57 no longer make stops under the Bridge.

richwseattle October 26, 2012 (9:17 am)

8:30a RR C at Fauntleroy/Alaska had a few seats on arrival, SRO upon departure. On the way downtown there were about a dozen people standing, not jam-packed.

Dancingeek October 26, 2012 (9:25 am)

Route 120 has been SRO by the time it hits North Delridge around 7am all week. Looking forward to the additional trips for that route that start next week.

WSEA October 26, 2012 (9:31 am)

@JAT

I guess you did not get the memo. Metro is requiring people north of the junction to drive more often. Winter water taxi schedule, reduces stops, longer bus routes or removal of 56 on non-commute times.

The good news for me is that Metro has allowed me to lose weight by biking more often. Its actually been a pretty nice commute, once I put on full SKS longboard fenders.

Usual October 26, 2012 (11:48 am)

Thanks for beginning to consider the path as part of peoples’ commute! Even though there are fewer of us than in the summer months the cyclists, runners and walkers are out there commuting daily and its always nice to be treated as part of it as opposed to the more common approach of mass media, an obstacle or annoyance.

jedifarfy October 26, 2012 (12:11 pm)

Got to my stop normal time, and OBA indicated that the previous bus is running super late and should be there in a minute. Let everyone else at the stop get on the very full 120 and I opted to wait. Less than 2 minutes later, my regular 120 with the regular driver showed up with less than 20 people on board. Made it Downtown in record time with many many seats available, and caught up with the other 120 at 2nd.

Now if my commute home is so good, I’ll be happy!

michellem October 26, 2012 (5:09 pm)

Trying to get home on rapid ride from queen Anne
3 stop times passed and the rapid ride still hasn’t come. Now 508. Unbelievable. Just cannot depend on metro.