Comments on: What’s ahead on the roads and underground? South Portal Working Group briefed

By: wetone

wetone — Wed, 20 Feb 2013 04:08:35 +0000

What do you expect from a city that has a mayor making a statement today how crime is down 30% don’t know what he is smoking but it must be good. Pretty easy to have crimes go down when they don’t file charges on the law breakers. Metro works the same way they just tell you what they want and 60% of the people believe them, that’s all it matters to them. It is only going to get worse around here if people keep their heads in the sand.

By: KenT

KenT — Wed, 20 Feb 2013 02:59:35 +0000

Never mind the 99 mess – look at the Metro statistics. I would love a definition of “some” standing and “many” standing. I am gonna cry bull that on 42% of all PM peak trips to West Seattle there are seats on the C for all. I ride PM peak and have never seen everyone seated unless you want to count weekends (or if two buses pull in almost at the same time – not unheard of). And still there are “crush loaded” – leaving people behind at the curb – trips (23% by their stats)? Is that reason to pat yourself on the back? Is anyone really convinced that Metro is doing a good job?

By: G

Tue, 19 Feb 2013 21:05:09 +0000

Somehow, this sounds like it will be as fowled up as the confusing around the west side of Southcenter.

By: sw

sw — Tue, 19 Feb 2013 21:04:53 +0000

The middle lane needs to be reversible – Northbound in the morning, Southbound in the evening. WSDOT can use one of the “zipper” barriers and move it as applicable. Add the APPROPRIATE signage and drivers will get the hang of it in short order.

By: Smitty

Smitty — Tue, 19 Feb 2013 20:36:39 +0000

Wow. The single lane south of the WSB is going to impact us greatly, imo.

Currently, people heading to West Seattle can get in the right lane whenever they want – up to the last second if they are in a hurry.

Now, SB cars will presumably start merging into their one lane before the WSB exit thus indirectly forcing those of us exiting to WSB into the far right lane much, much earlier than we need to currently. This will force all cars, slow, fast, bus and otherwise to cue up much earlier.

Not to mention people heading SB driving in one of the WS lanes until the last second and then trying to merge left. Yikes.

Can you say WSB exit backed up to the new “s-curves”?

Just a guess…..

By: sam-c

sam-c — Tue, 19 Feb 2013 19:34:43 +0000

wow, that one lane southbound lasts through July of next year. wonder if people will figure out good alternatives if it turns out to be a big traffic creator? I-5 ? the low bridge? 1st ave on-ramp?…

By: chas redmond

chas redmond — Tue, 19 Feb 2013 19:18:43 +0000

According to the city’s own traffic flow data maps, 82,000 vehicles are using the viaduct north of the Spokane interchange and 50,000 are using the viaduct south of that interchange. So, where is the data to back up Preedy’s statement “Since more than half the southbound traffic gets off 99 at the West Seattle Bridge, they don’t believe the single lane will be a problem.”? I’m thinking this will not be the smooth vanilla shake SDOT is promising – just as everything else SDOT has promised has fallen short of the mark. And the schedule, when was the last time SDOT actually completed a multi-year project affecting West Seattle on time?

By: wetone

wetone — Tue, 19 Feb 2013 19:05:14 +0000

Timber Bridge info statement they say: Since more than half the southbound traffic gets off 99 at the West Seattle Bridge,(???) they don’t believe the single lane will be a problem.
Wow can’t wait to see this one and what happens during rush hours. I think it just might back up a we bit. I think they should of done a little test, like laying some cones out to the one lane configuration and testing there school of thought first hand. Just don’t have any faith in our City engineering group any more do to their track record lately.

By: dcn

dcn — Tue, 19 Feb 2013 18:13:52 +0000

Thanks for the thorough update, WSB. I’m most surprised by the various options for tolling the new tunnel. I just assumed they’d over-price it, like they did SR 520, making most people divert and overcrowd the alternative routes.