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TRAFFIC/TRANSIT/WEATHER: Little-bit-of-snow Friday updates

November 3, 2017 6:56 am
|      24 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

(SDOT MAP with travel times/video links; is the ‘low bridge’ closed? LOOK HERE)

6:56 AM: Good morning! No snow right now (some saw it earlier!) but it’s been raining all night, so you’re in for a wet commute. No incidents reported outbound in/from West Seattle right now, but there is a problem for people heading southbound on 99 – the Battery Street Tunnel’s SB side is closed because of a crash.

TIME-CHANGE REMINDER: Daylight Saving Time ends at 2 am Sunday, when we’ll “fall back” an hour.

7:15 AM: The Vashon Water Taxi has been canceled for the rest of the morning because of wind.

7:24 AM: John sent this photo taken about an hour ago in Upper Fauntleroy:

The National Weather Service says the snow level is rising as the morning goes by but if you see any falling, let us know via 206-293-6302, when you can safely/legally use your phone!

7:35 AM: The southbound Battery Street Tunnel has reopened. Still no outbound incidents reported.

8:16 AM: In comments, no-show buses at California/Admiral were mentioned. Here’s an after-the-fact Metro alert about two:


Meantime, now that it’s light, we’re going out to the highest-elevation parts of West Seattle to see if any trace of the early-early-morning snow remains.

8:21 AM: Also after-the-fact from Metro:

And on the south side:


8:25 AM: And one more:

9:26 AM: Didn’t see anything more serious out there than some snow spots on roofs and planting strips, and of course some on cars. A bit of snow/ice in a shower we drove through a few minutes ago en route back to HQ (which is at 330′ elevation), too.

9:46 AM: We’ll continue tracking the weather here unless things get more serious. Just got a text that 37th/Andover is seeing some snow. (206-293-6302 – text or voice – is always the best way to reach us immediately – thanks for the updates, reports, and tips!)

10:21 AM: Thanks for the texts – light snow reported in areas including The Junction and Seaview. And we’re still seeing a bit here in Upper Fauntleroy, east of Lincoln Park.

10:41 AM: Tamsen reports light snow in Morgan Junction.

AFTERNOON NOTE: PM coverage is here.

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24 Replies to "TRAFFIC/TRANSIT/WEATHER: Little-bit-of-snow Friday updates"

  • Bus November 3, 2017 (7:42 am)

    Three consecutive no show buses at California and Admiral. Metro stinks.

    • WSB November 3, 2017 (7:45 am)

      Sorry to hear that. No text/Twitter alerts from Metro so far.

      • Laura November 3, 2017 (8:28 am)

        Along the lines of Metro stinking, does anyone know why the buses have gotten so ridiculously crowded in the last month or two? I normally ride the 3rd 57 of the morning and there were almost always folks standing by the last stop. But now people are jammed in all down the aisle. And a couple days we’ve skipped stops completely because there was no more room. And I know school started about the same time as this started. But it’s never been this bad in past years. And it definitely wasn’t like this before school let out last summer. 

        • Else November 3, 2017 (9:15 am)

          I have the same question. I live behind WSHS and used to walk down to Admiral to catch the 56/57. Not anymore since those buses became unpredictable and overcrowded. Now I catch whatever comes on California in order to connect to routes going downtown through the Junction, a commute that is obviously longer. I mostly bike and use the water taxi a lot (thank god for that option) but at least once a week I need an alternative and obviously during the winter season biking is the least desirable option.

          • WS commuter November 3, 2017 (6:08 pm)

            It is simply the number of downtown workers commuting from WS. I noticed the sudden increase back in September too. I used to catch the Route 56 at the Starbucks at the top of Admiral at 7:10, but it became too crowded. Now I ride the 57 at 7:00. This week it suddenly became crowded-standing room down the aisle. During the evening commute, the 5:10 Route 56 is jam packed.

  • Alki Resident November 3, 2017 (7:50 am)

    A bus was just seen heading over ws bridge east bound by a tow truck, maybe it was a bus you were waiting for.

  • newnative November 3, 2017 (8:02 am)

    What direction? The 6:55 was on time. 

    • WSB November 3, 2017 (8:16 am)

      As I’m sure you’ve also seen, Metro just sent an after-the-fact text and tweet about two 56s that didn’t run.

      • newnative November 3, 2017 (8:22 am)

        I just got the two texts, it is/was 4 buses cancelled!!!  2 56’s and 2 57’s.  That means they stranded loads of people in freezing weather (windchill was below freezing). Shame on them!  

        Added to say another cancellation; 55 at 8:44!!

        • WSB November 3, 2017 (8:23 am)

          Also the last Route 113 on the south side, FWIW. I’ve added all three tweets (56, 57, 113) above, for the record at least. – TR

          • WSB November 3, 2017 (8:25 am)

            … and the last 55. Adding that too.

  • WS Resident November 3, 2017 (8:09 am)

    Route 125 was a no show too.  

  • NH November 3, 2017 (8:22 am)

    Metro just sent a text alert about two 57s that didn’t run. That makes 4 runs of our already limited service in Admiral in one commute. Ugh.

  • NH November 3, 2017 (8:24 am)

    And now the 55…

    Metro Transit Alert – The last Route 55 to downtown Seattle due to leave SW Atlantic St & 44 Av SW at 8:44 AM will not operate this morning.

  • NH November 3, 2017 (8:38 am)

    Husband just returned from the bus stop. Lots of folks stranded. One bus pulled up with to terminal sign on, said sorry, he couldn’t take any more passengers, and that he didn’t know when any other busses would be coming. Some can work from home. For those of us without that option, arriving to work an hour late because metro has an off day doesn’t go over well. Frustrating to say the least. 

  • CJ November 3, 2017 (9:29 am)

    It’s snowing again in Sunrise Heights.  It isn’t really sticking, but with my little car, I think I’ll stay in for a bit rather than chance the big hills.

  • Admiral Resident November 3, 2017 (10:00 am)

    Yup, I was one of those stranded people along Admiral waiting for a 56/57. After the 3rd one didn’t show, I gave up and went back home. Ended up driving in this morning.

    Also echoing previous comments about how crowded the 56/57 has gotten lately. I’m toward the end of the route before the bus gets on the bridge (38th/Admiral) and I’ve been passed by too full buses several times. And even when the drivers stop to let us on, it usually means that someone is standing in front of the yellow line in order to fit. Time to switch to the longer accordian buses for those runs, I’d say. 

    I’ve been meaning to send a complaint to Metro for weeks. Today’s experience will ensure that I do. Suggest that all of us experiencing issues do the same. I’m cynical enough to believe that it won’t make any difference, but we might as well try. 

    • WSB November 3, 2017 (10:02 am)

      I would also suggest contacting your County Councilmember Joe McDermott (who currently chairs the council) – as the county oversees Metro, though the city has paid for extra service in some areas and therefore there’s a reason for City Councilmember Lisa Herbold to be interested too. – TR

      • Laura November 3, 2017 (10:11 am)

        To piggyback here: write these folks!!! I have contacted Joe’s and Dow’s offices in the past and have gotten responses so they DO see them. 

    • flimflam November 3, 2017 (11:07 am)

      this is after voters passed whatever transportation levy not long ago – remember metro threatening us with how terrible service would be if the levy wasn’t passed?

  • Aly November 3, 2017 (12:33 pm)

    I’m downtown and it’s not sticking, but it’s coming down quite good. Curious to know what it’s doing near Lincoln Park, Endolyne Joe’s, Arbor Heights area. 

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