TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Monday updates; Water Taxi’s new fares

(Latest bridge and Viaduct views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
Happy Monday! Notes as we start our first daily traffic watch for the first full week of March:

WATER-TAXI FARE REMINDER: As reported here a week ago, King County Water Taxi fares have just gone up. If you use pre-paid-fare media such as an ORCA card, you’ll pay $4 one way on the West Seattle Water Taxi, up from $3.50; if you pay cash, it’s up to $4.75 from $4.

NEXT ROAD-WORK REMINDER: Next weekend, the I-5 expansion-joint work resumes; this time, they’ll close up to 3 northbound collector-distributor lanes downtown from Friday night until Monday morning. The James and Madison exits will remain open, WSDOT says.

DAYLIGHT SAVING TIME STARTS SUNDAY: Almost time for a time change, already. Next Sunday morning at 2 am (call it Saturday night if you prefer), we spring forward an hour as Daylight Saving Time begins.

TALES OF A TEMPORARY COMMUTER: Continuing our almost-daily notes on joining the morning exodus from West Seattle temporarily while covering the Morgan Junction murder trial downtown – today was the longest yet, but the bridge wasn’t the biggest challenge; 4th Avenue S. was clogged. It’s the most direct route from the bridge to the courthouse parking garage we’ve been using (the courthouse is between 3rd and 4th on the south end of downtown), but today, it was a wait through multiple cycles at just about every light, for no obvious reason aside from me and the other commuters just filling the street. Left the house at 8:15, got to the garage at 8:50 (still not much to complain about, we’ll admit).

12:58 PM: Thanks to Keri for mentioning trouble with a semi-truck on the bridge offramp to northbound I-5. Checking cams in the area, we don’t see any sign of a backup, so it might be clear by now.

3 Replies to "TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Monday updates; Water Taxi's new fares"

  • Diane March 3, 2014 (11:55 am)

    so TR; have you given up on the bus commute already?

    • WSB March 3, 2014 (12:11 pm)

      No, but I don’t have a folding umbrella and it was massive downpour when I had to leave, don’t have the bandwidth to pack my entire office-in-a-bag AND the golf umbrellas we have around the house, so I drove. If the weather is better tomorrow, going to try transit again.

  • Eli March 3, 2014 (5:37 pm)

    Heads up, something happening on 99 north by the drill site right before it tops out on the old viaduct again. Police and a stopped vehicle. 99 north looks to be at a crawl. I’d avoid it if you can.

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