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1. Robert2715
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   I just saw a webcam picture of the West Seattle Bridge at 8:14 AM and it looked like it normally does around noon. My question is, are we all "panicking" and commuting in earlier than normal and thus just shifting the traffic jams on the West Seattle Bridge to earlier than "usual"?

   Posted 7 months ago #         

2. SarahScoot
   Member Profile

   

   I think so. The bus I normally take used to hit a bit of a backup part way down Avalon at around 7:35 each morning. This morning it hit a backup on 35th and Alaska at the same time. On an average day, that bus would get me to my downtown stop around 7:50; now it's usually a few minute after 8:00.
   So yes, there seems to be a "new normal" time at which people leave.
   Of course, this morning there was yet another collision that likely contributed to the backup. Nonetheless, I do believe there's been a large shift to earlier commutes as people try to beat the back-ups.

   Posted 7 months ago #         

3. metrognome
   Member Profile

   I think bus ridership is going up as well and Metro just increased service on Rt 54 to 15 minute headways weekdays and Saturdays, and added trips on the 120, so ridership should continue to increase, thereby reducing the number of cars.

   And, it's luck of the draw. I hit the bridge last Thursday at 9:30 am and didn't get to W'ford until 11. Part of that was I couldn't safely get to the lane to take 99 and ended up taking I-5. Not sure 99 would have been any better.

   Posted 7 months ago #         

4. sacatosh
   Member Profile

   Yes, I commute from WS to downtown at 6:15-ish and my commute time has increased. My guesstimate is that there are 3-5 times more cars on the road. I used to see only 2 or 3 other cars on the bridge at that time of day; now I see ~20. Surface roads used to be deserted; now I'm seeing fairly consistent traffic.

   Posted 7 months ago #         

5. Bostonman
   Member Profile

   I agree. It used to be the biggest influx of cars was around 7:45 and it would back up to Oregon and Fauntleroy around 8. Now its backed up there at 7 and by 7:45 usually the traffic is backed up someplace on the bridge.

   Its only going to get worse though. Fridays are always dead which makes me wonder if people work 4 10's and take Fridays off.

   Posted 7 months ago #         

6. WSB
   Member Profile

   

   Once in a while I point our FB page toward a Forums discussion or post. Did that with this one, since this is one of the few topics that generates a lot of talk there. If you are on FB, here's what folks there had to say:
   http://www.facebook.com/westseattleblog/posts/207905105943604

   Posted 7 months ago #         

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