TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Friday updates; Summer Fest road, transit changes

(Four WS-relevant views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
Good morning! Again today, no trouble on the outbound routes yet, but the big Junction reminder through Sunday night:

WEST SEATTLE SUMMER FEST (co-sponsored by WSB) happens in The Junction today through Sunday; streets closed to vehicle traffic are California between Genesee and Edmunds (Oregon remains open to through traffic) and Alaska between 42nd and 44th. Metro reroutes are linked here.

Sue July 10, 2015 (7:08 am)

No temp stop marked at 41st & Alaska for NB RR-C – it stopped at regular 42/Alaska stop. Also, it appears to have missed the detour as the one at 6:30am came SB on 42nd and turned (reroute has it coming from NB 42)

WSB July 10, 2015 (7:10 am)

I hope that these and any other discrepancies are being pointed out to the driver or called to Metro customer service? 206-553-3000

John July 10, 2015 (7:28 am)

I tried to call, but their office isn’t open. I did send a message on Twitter to their account, but no acknowledgment so far.

Sue July 10, 2015 (7:34 am)

This happens every year there, and every time I say something to the driver they say “nobody told us.”

Colleen July 10, 2015 (8:02 am)

As I said on twitter, the 6:16 C line driver had NO idea on where the re-route was, and wasn’t told anything about it. I’ll make sure to call right now too.

John July 10, 2015 (8:07 am)

Sue, I actually decided to walk to a different “established” bus stop because of comments you made in a previous post…so thanks to you, I got to work just fine.

Sue July 10, 2015 (8:39 am)

Glad to hear it, John! I normally wait there for the 55. Today it was nice to be able to grab a C without having to walk the extra block and a half.
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I did also just fill out a complaint form about the general problems with the reroutes and the temp stops, as well as having talked to my driver about it.

newnative July 10, 2015 (9:01 am)

Road sign said collision on Western ave ramp. Slow on the viaduct. 56 bus was already twelve minutes late.

miws July 10, 2015 (9:48 am)

In relation to John’s suggestion, I’d suggest that those that are able, to walk to an established stop, preferably one where the bus actually stops, or if not (the stop next to 7-11, where the 22 and 128 already stop, but not the “C”, for example) and if you are waiting for a “C”, keep a close eye out and be ready to flag the driver, if it appears they are not already planning on stopping.

I’m not guaranteeing that they will stop, but I believe I’ve seen most of them do so in Summer Fests past, while I’ve been waiting for the 128. I don’t know if it’s a Metro sanctioned alternate/temp stop, or if some drivers just opt to stop there under the circumstances.

And to Sue’s point; I have several times witnessed bus driver confusion on reroutes/temp stops. Not only for this event, but others as well, on various routes, in various parts of the City.

It must have been two years ago, when I went to catch the southbound 128 back Home, and I believe the temp stop was on 44th, just north of Oregon.

It seems the driver was a bit confused, as to whether that was a temp stop, and with one of my issues being having trouble stepping up/down from/to an uneven surface, made it more difficult to board, since the driver was unable to get close enough to, and properly line the coach up to, the curb.

But yeah, I’ve heard in many of these instances that the driver was totally unaware, or at a minimum, confused about the reroute/temp stop. It’s happened so much, that I can’t believe it’s simply that drivers are not paying attention to briefings/reroute notes. I think it may be lack of communication, or too vague of communication, from higher up.

Mike