TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Reports from a rainy Tuesday

(Live view from the only WS Bridge camera currently in operation; see other cameras on the WSB Traffic page)
6:54 AM: Once again this morning, the rain is the main challenge as drivers/riders head out – and this may be the rainiest day of the week.

7:24 AM: One report from the bridge, via Twitter – slower going than usual. No incidents reported, so perhaps just the rain.

9:06 AM: Crash just reported southbound 99 at the Battery Street Tunnel. Don’t know yet how many lanes are affected.

9:46 AM UPDATE: Per the scanner, the tunnel is reopening.

11:29 AM UPDATE: Battery St. Tunnel is a hot spot today. Now there’s a crash just south of it, in the NORTHBOUND 99 lanes.

1:10 PM: That’s clear now, by the way. But WSDOT has sent an overall alert for the rest of today and for tomorrow:

Commuters should buckle up and prepare for a long, soggy ride home this afternoon and another wet drive Wednesday morning.

Heavy rain is forecasted in the Puget Sound area and is expected to last through the peak commute times. Drivers should increase their following distance and leave plenty of room to stop on wet roads. With the mix of weather and traffic, some may want to consider adjusting their schedule to leave early or wait to head out until later in the commute.

Washington State Department of Transportation maintenance crews are working ahead of the weather to keep roadside drains clear of debris, so water doesn’t pool onto the roadway. However, fall leaves are still blowing and drains can clog quickly. Crews will service drains as soon as possible, but drivers should try to avoid standing water on the roadway.

2:02 PM: Battery St. Tunnel yet again – northbound, this time. Also trouble on NB 5 by the Convention Center.

9 Replies to "TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Reports from a rainy Tuesday"

  • Chris W October 30, 2012 (7:46 am)

    Took the C line a while to get on bridge and in bus lane. People driving bridge eastbound might want to leave a little early.

  • Todd October 30, 2012 (8:28 am)

    30 minutes to I 5 north and counting!

  • Jamo October 30, 2012 (9:04 am)

    50 bus at California and Dakota was 5 minutes ahead of schedule and did not wait at stop. Left next stops early as well. Not helpful considering my choice to switch from RabidRIDE C to ease crowding. I’M on RabidRide bus 6068 now from the Alaska junction conditions feel unsafe. Bus driver politely asking people in wheel chair seats to stand so more riders can be crammed on. Bridge and 99 crawling along.

  • Kelsie October 30, 2012 (9:20 am)

    I work next to Nucore Steel and live about 2 blocks up the road on Avalon. Due to the bridge backup it took me 20 minutes to get to work. I’d walk, but…downpour. Figures.

  • KS October 30, 2012 (12:22 pm)

    I can’t help but wonder if Metro royally screwed up with this whole RR deal. I took a stab at counting the buses based on Metro’s Oct 12 report posted on WSB. It appears that we now have four additional bus runs during peak hours compared to Spring 2012 (154 vs. 150 counting the standby buses.) Metro spent a ton of money on new buses, bus stops, and a marketing campaign to give us a net increase of FOUR standby buses with what many agree is slower, more inconsistent service. This seems to be an incredibly irresponsible use of public funds for an organization that is already running on a lean budget. My breakdown:

    West Seattle to Downtown (7AM – 9AM)
    73 buses – Pre-RR
    70 buses – 10/1/2012 RR Start
    72 + 2 stdby buses – 10/8/2012 RR-C Buses Added
    76 + 2 stdby – 10/29/2012 #55 & #120 Buses Added

    Downtown to West Seattle (4PM – 6PM)
    77 buses – Pre-RR
    68 buses – 10/1/2012 RR Start
    70 + 2 stdby buses – 10/8/2012 RR-C Buses Added
    74 + 2 stdby buses – 10/29/2012 #55 & #120 Buses Added

  • Chris W October 30, 2012 (6:00 pm)

    On Rabid Ride driver is saying enter in the back if you have scanned your card in the past 2 hours. “Let enforcement deal with that.” But the 55 driver said last week if you scan for C line but hop on regular bus instead, you still have to scan cuz they are different systems? What gives? I will scan at front of C line until Metro clarifies in writing, but I would hate to see someone get a big ticker for listening to C line driver.

  • Glenn October 30, 2012 (6:37 pm)

    After 57 and 56 never showed, I jumped on a RR to WS from 3 rd and Seneca. It’s taken us 16 minutes to get to the stadiums. Traffic gets lighter further down 99.

  • soosan October 30, 2012 (7:34 pm)

    57 and 56 all messed up tonight around 6 pm. Nothing came so I ended up on the 55 and had a long wet walk home.

  • why_cause October 30, 2012 (9:33 pm)

    Chris – While I was on RR a few weeks ago the fare enforcement came through checking passes. They confirmed that the only thing they look at is if you have scanned your card in the last two hours. You can enter in the back of RR if you have.

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