TRAFFIC, TRANSIT, WEATHER, SCHOOLS: Tuesday morning updates

(QUICK LINKS: School delays here … Metro bus info here … SDOT winter-weather map map here … More traffic cams/links here)

(Click any view for a close-up; more cameras on the WSB Traffic page)

5 AM: Good morning. No changes this morning from what was announced last night – most schools are on a delayed start today, including Seattle Public Schools (2 hours late) – here’s our list.

Metro says most of its buses are on regular routes (check here).

The temperature is just above freezing, with lots of slush left on non-arterials and sidewalks, so caution is in order. No new weather alerts.

After skipping pickups Monday, Seattle Public Utilities‘ trash/recycling schedule is delayed one day all week, SPU says – so if you are a Monday customer, have your carts out today.

7:42 AM: Relatively quiet morning so far. Hilly streets, not surprisingly, are the trouble spots. Evan reports via Twitter, “30th between Juneau & Brandon is icy! Multiple cars stuck.”

7:56 AM: Even if you’re not on/near a hill, give yourself time to go slowly. Our side street, which was slushy when we last drove it yesterday evening, sounds crunchy with each car going by this morning. And as commenters are discussing, sidewalks might be your biggest challenge, whatever your ultimate mode of transportation.

8:11 AM: Metro says Routes 131 (which serves Highland Park) and 132 (South Park) are back on regular routes. But we also have anecdotes in comments and via text of unannounced bus no-shows or changes in various spots, FYI.

8:22 AM: Josh reports that Delridge/Kenyon light is flashing red (this is one of the lights affected by yesterday’s power outage). Please remember … an out, or flashing, signal = all-ways stop.”

8:38 AM: From the scanner – police are being dispatched to Avalon and Genesee for a report of a jackknifed semitruck. Don’t know whether it’s blocking one, both, or neither, but we’ll head out shortly to look.

8:50 AM: Before we could even suit up to get out the door, Matt Collins sent that photo (thank you!), which shows the location as well as the situation – on the Genesee slope between 30th and Avalon. Could take a while to clear. (Added) Here’s the view from the other side, looking east over Avalon and down Genesee, from a texter (thanks!):

9:19 AM: Update via text: Genesee is cleared.

Meantime, two school notes – Our Lady of Guadalupe has now changed the plan and will be CLOSED today due to “extreme icy conditions” (OLG is at the highest elevation in the city); Madison Middle School says its tours are canceled.

12:07 PM: As just published in a separate story, SPU is now saying it will NOT get to Monday customers in this area until next week.

SunriseHeights February 7, 2017 (6:45 am)

Sidewalks are a disaster this morning. Unless they were shoveled yesterday (only two houses were in my seven block walk uphill in sunrise heights) they are pretty much solid ice. Best to trudge through the crunchy snow and duck the trees in the planting strip.

HotCoffee February 7, 2017 (6:50 am)

Shoveled is WORSE! Makes it a smooth sheet of ice. Only chance we had this morning was the crunchy white stuff thankfully still there.
- Sue H February 7, 2017 (7:10 am)
  
  That’s because people here don’t use salt. If people shoveled and salted, it would be clear.

Gia February 7, 2017 (7:02 am)

King County Metro informed me via Twitter that the 131 bus is still on its snow route, which skips over Highland Park entirely. Just wanted to share for those who are like me & rely on this route heavily!

WSB February 7, 2017 (8:11 am)

The 131 and 132 are now back on their regular routes, Metro says.

JRR February 7, 2017 (7:27 am)

Please, people, if you get out there and shovel it right away, then put down a little salt, no one will sue you for getting hurt. Shovel your dang walks. (Says the former Midwesterner who has the only shoveled and salted walk on the block.)

Trickycoolj February 7, 2017 (7:54 am)

Can you bring me some? I don’t exactly have rock salt on hand.
- JRR February 7, 2017 (8:09 am)
  
  Any salt works! Yes, even table salt. Even a little will bring the temp up.
  - Jethro Marx February 7, 2017 (9:54 am)
    
    Salt doesn’t change the temperature; it serves to lower the freezing point of water by colligative properties. Nothing special about salt in this regard, either; any substance that weakens the intermolecular forces of water will work. Alaska uses acid! That’s fun for the cars.
Julia February 7, 2017 (9:01 am)

You’re probably the only one for blocks around with a snow shovel.
- nw February 7, 2017 (11:32 am)
  
  This crowd now a days relies on apps for everything try getting people to sweep their walk or along the curbline of their three quarters of a million dollar house. Shovel snow you say that’s blue collar work!

Charlie February 7, 2017 (7:35 am)

Metro says there’s no cancellations but a 57 didn’t show up. 56 full of people 2 stops before California.

Ed Slope February 7, 2017 (7:44 am)

Roads are slippery. Photo is of an Ambulance fish tailed sideways and stuck on 36th.

Elisa February 7, 2017 (7:57 am)

It’s super icy out there and busses are scarce and still running on snow routes. If you’re in Admiral, your best bet is to head to the junction and grab a C bud

Michelle February 7, 2017 (8:00 am)

My husband took a spectacular spill off our back steps. He’s okay, but it’s really icy out there.

trickycoolj February 7, 2017 (8:07 am)

Anyone travel eastbound on Sylvan/Orchard/Holden/Highland Park? Or better to take the high bridge to Tukwilla/South Park?

Alki res6 February 7, 2017 (8:19 am)

Water taxi is working well if you can swing it. Last one leaves at 845. Watch out for the sidewalks – they are super icy in spots

Stuart February 7, 2017 (8:30 am)

The dog and I were out at 6:00 am and had to turn back. Way too slippery- 42nd Ave SW sidewalks and street are sheer ice. Found the only way to navigate was to walk in the crunchy snow in parking strips. Any slush leftover from yesterday is today’s treacherous ice !

Just Wondering February 7, 2017 (8:48 am)

Seattle snow is usually icy and not powder. My grandfather grew up in Butte, Montana and said throwing a snowball here in Seattle could injure somebody!

I’d rather have some crunchy snow to walk in!

Josie February 7, 2017 (9:01 am)

Any more updates on 30th SW between Juneau and Brandon? Are there cars blocking the road?

PangolinPie February 7, 2017 (9:05 am)

I feel bad for the people who were denied entrance to the 125 I was on. After two 125s just didn’t show, the one that did was packed to the gills, and the driver turned down people at the next two stops, who were understandably irate and said they’d been waiting over an hour. Did One Bus Away reflect any of this? No. Did Metro’s alerts, website or Twitter feed reflect this? No. I understand buses being delayed, but it seems that Metro HQ has no clue at all what is really going on out there.

Robert February 7, 2017 (9:10 am)

Do they ever?

West Seattle Hipster February 7, 2017 (9:40 am)

It may be icy out there but it is so beautiful and scenic!

Margie February 7, 2017 (10:02 am)

From previous experience long ago in west Seattle wonder how my friends commute from Beacon Hill to Deliridge would be:: I remember all those long steep icy hills::

Kathy February 7, 2017 (4:13 pm)

I bike from Alki to Beacon Hill every Tuesday morning for a class (electric pedal assist to get up Holgate). Today with all those refrozen slush clumps on the bike trail and streets I decided to give it up at SODO Link station and use the light rail “elevator” from SODO to Beacon Hill.

BlairJ February 7, 2017 (11:41 am)

I shovel half of the sidewalk and leave the other half with snow. Gives people a choice of what to walk on. One time someone came by and said, “How nice. I didn’t think anyone did that anymore.” (And yes, I salt after shoveling.)

JRR February 7, 2017 (12:57 pm)

I got my shovel for ten bucks at home depot. Stop the excuses and clear your property, I say. I share my shovel, but the responsibility falls to each of us who are able bodied enough to do it. Maybe I’ll start a club.

KBear February 7, 2017 (1:27 pm)

Agreed. Not having a snow shovel or salt doesn’t absolve homeowners of their responsibility to keep the sidewalks clear.

Kay K February 7, 2017 (1:44 pm)

Being from the midwest in my youth, I shovel. Just a square blade garden shovel I have, no special snow shovel. My neighbor cleverly used a piece of plywood, 2′ x 4′ it made a great little “sidewalk snowplow”. He cleared the steps and sidewalk for our elderly neighbor to make it safely to the bus today.

Ran into a guy a few blocks from us yesterday using a snow blower – he must have imported it from ?? He was obviously tickled pink to have the opportunity to use it.

Plus shoveling sure keeps you warm while you are waiting for City Light to get your power back up. :)

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