TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Tuesday updates; Metro meeting tonight

(East-facing camera on the West Seattle Bridge; see other cams on the WSB Traffic page)
One commute note so far this morning – King County says it’s canceling the Vashon Water Taxi runs because it’s too windy. The temperature hasn’t dropped below freezing in our area – mid-30s right now in Seattle – so you might not have to worry about icy roads today; let us know if you find otherwise. However, you might need extra time to clear your windshield if you use a vehicle that’s been parked outside; the graupel/ice pellets that fell on ours last night is still on the windshield and back window.

METRO MEETING TONIGHT: No funding solution has emerged yet to keep Metro from proceeding with plans for major service cuts, so the plan for a community meeting tonight at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center, 6-8 pm, is on. Open-house format with a presentation/small-group discussions scheduled at 7, per the county.

DE-ICER DEBACLE FOLLOWUP: Added to our Monday coverage of the two-hour West Seattle Bridge closure following crashes blamed on an early de-icer application – an SDOT manager’s explanatory memo. He writes that it was done early because of a “wrong” forecast, expecting an early temperature drop, and early Seahawks-game traffic.

8:21 AM UPDATE: In comments, “Enough” points out a two-car crash on the eastbound bridge, indicating the Spokane St. Viaduct section; 911 log is less specific, calling it only the eastbound bridge “from Fauntleroy.”

Also, looks like the modular-townhome project near 26th SW/SW Genesee (previewed here over the weekend) is on for today – a commenter says the cranes arrived this morning. That could affect traffic on SW Genesee west of Delridge; we’ll be checking later to see how it’s going and what the operation looks like.

8:37 AM UPDATE: Yet another note – a reader tip suggests a continuation today of an unannounced partial closure of 42nd SW in The Junction, part of the block between Alaska and Edmunds that we heard about yesterday just before the de-icer debacle diverted us. We’re checking with the construction company to see how long this is expected to last.

And if you’re thinking about 4th Avenue South this morning, note that an emergency response is checking out a reported crash parallel with the east side of CenturyLink Field.

16 Replies to "TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Tuesday updates; Metro meeting tonight"

  • Chris W December 3, 2013 (7:24 am)

    WB bridge is crawling…

  • Chris W December 3, 2013 (7:25 am)

    Sorry. Eastbound.

  • A. December 3, 2013 (7:41 am)

    Salt? Really, SDOT?

  • onion December 3, 2013 (7:41 am)

    I left Admiral at 6:45 and conditions were bone dry, both on the car (no scraping or even wiper needed) and road surfaces. People were driving a bit more slowly than normal, which probably resulted in the crawl experienced by Chris and others leaving later, but overall the commute was smooth as silk all the way to the northeast side of Redmond. Cheers.

    • WSB December 3, 2013 (7:54 am)

      Thanks for the report, Onion! Our team member who headed out to check on possible breaking (non-weather) news reports the puddles left over from last night’s freezing-at-times rain didn’t even ice over. – TR

  • Fed up! December 3, 2013 (8:15 am)

    What is expected to be accomplished by tonight’s metro meeting? We already know that citizens are getting the royal shaft. This will affect everyone riding in a car or bus and maybe bicycle as it is bound to put more vehicles on the road. We know that Rodney Tom is the one holding up a transportation funding package and that he and his ilk dislike funding for transit. Perhaps the meeting needs to focus on how to change Rodney’s mind. Perhaps he needs to see what it is like not to be able to leave his house in an economical, efficient manner.

  • Enough December 3, 2013 (8:17 am)

    2 car Accident left lane just past 1st ave exit.

    • WSB December 3, 2013 (8:20 am)

      Thank you.

  • Enough December 3, 2013 (8:20 am)

    Eastbound of course.

  • Anne December 3, 2013 (8:44 am)

    We live halfway up Morgan St.-6500 block- car windshield is iced up as well as our deck-very slick!

  • Mike December 3, 2013 (9:09 am)

    Our decks are ice rinks this morning – just off Admiral Way, above Harbor Ave.

    • WSB December 3, 2013 (9:09 am)

      North West Seattle got the graupel/etc. a lot earlier than we did down here, so that makes sense. Stay safe!

  • East Coast Cynic December 3, 2013 (10:29 am)

    Fed Up, I suspect that constituents of Rodney Tom who use transit should be the ones getting in his ear, for I believe West Seattle anger about transit means as much to him as a piece of lint on his suit. That may be something that the WSTC can hopefully figure out.

  • seattlecris December 3, 2013 (12:35 pm)

    So if they cut transit service then the “parking place pass” given to the new high rise housing units in the junction will be revoked… RIGHT? The pass was given because we have so much transit service so……………….???? Seriously, there will be NO parking in the junction and the businesses will be suffering soon. Maybe I should build a parking garage for people that don’t like to ride bikes in the rain or wait for busses for an hour in the rain. doh

  • Fed Up! December 3, 2013 (3:14 pm)

    Then I suggest we get Rodney all linted up! GET RID of Rodney!

  • Junction resident December 3, 2013 (3:15 pm)

    The 3:00 pm c line is packed beyond capacity. If you ask me they have already cut back service. You see more c line busses headed back to the terminal these days!

Sorry, comment time is over.