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1. Hawkeye
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   Is it just me or is the morning commute out of West Seattle about as bad, if not worse, than during Viadoom? It doesn't seem to matter what time of the morning "rush hour" I head out, low bridge or high, snow or no, but I'm invariably greeted by a long line of brake lights and more stop-than-go traffic.

   My usual brief commute through downtown has doubled or more in recent months and I see no end in sight. Is it a back-up of traffic from I-5 taking I-90 to avoiding the toll on 520, or something else? Is the the new normal or is there any hope on the horizon for a reprieve?

   Posted 4 months ago #         

2. PK22
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   There is no reprieve I'm sorry to say, especially with only 2 lanes of traffic on the " new " 99 and when the tunnel is completed you can look forward to more of the same as the tunnel will be built with ONLY 2 lanes and with NO DT exits incorporated into the tunnel design we are all screwed as far as West Seattle goes, with basically one way in and one way out, there appears to be NO hope anytime in the future, and adding 1 additional lane on the West Seattle bridge will NOT alleviate any backups but will ultimately add to the problem. I know some people in the past have made mention of adding an HOV only lane on the bridge but I highly doubt that would do any good with the amount of traffic that funnels in and out of West Seattle on a daily basis, and if more people would carpool I can assure you that traffic would be mitigated in a positive way, I cannot tell you how many single occupant vehicles I see EVERYDAY, whether it be coming from West Seattle, North Seattle, the eastside, south sound, it doesn't matter. There's my two cents.

   Posted 4 months ago #         

3. shed22
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   It is not just you, Hawkeye. I have come to expect a 45 minute to 1 hour morning commute from WS to DT in the morning, regardless of time or weather. I have tried to leave earlier (6:30am); I have tried to leave later (9am). Doesn't seem to make a difference. Break lights and slow lines have become the norm. West Seattle, for all its wonder and glory, has become a commuter's nightmare.

   Posted 4 months ago #         

4. Harmonic
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   boo. My almost 5 year old told me tonight to take tomorrow off so we didn't have to sit in traffic. LOL, if only it was that easy!

   Posted 3 months ago #         

5. WSB
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   Lately I am getting texts/e-mails rom people as late as 9:30, 10 am saying "what's up with bridge traffic?" Used to be it peaked by 8:30 and we never got complaints after that. Another indicator ... Will be interesting to see if the completion of Spokane Street Widening Project this summer makes a difference (three lanes each way between 99 and I-5 when it's done). - TR

   Posted 3 months ago #         

6. Dunno
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   In regards to the Widening. You ever try pushing water from a big hose into a small one? Isn't one of the lanes each way going to be bus or hov?
   Too bad the tunnel is being built for the past, 4 lanes instead of 6 and no off ramps to downtown. the good news, more lanes, maybe, to wait in.

   Posted 3 months ago #         

7. Smitty
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   It is a little strange that it was decent for awhile (pre vacation December) and then got horrible this last week. Can't figure it out either.

   Three lanes each way on the Spokane street viaduct will be huge. A BIG choke point is right under 99 when trucks merge from below and cars try to exit 1st avenue. Will the three lanes start that early? If not, it may not be much help.

   I have ALWAYS said - and it falls on deaf ears - that we should take one of the westbound lanes and make it reversible (ala I-90). I can be done and would relieve a ton of pressure.

   Posted 3 months ago #         

8. WorldCitizen
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   At risk of beating a dead horse...LIGHT RAIL!!!!!!!!!!!

   And I don't care if YOU think it's a waste of money or if you won't use it. I and plenty of others will. Everyday. Happily. And yes, I will gladly pay more in taxes for it.

   Posted 3 months ago #         

9. elma
   Member Profile

   Don't forget the hundreds of apartments that have been built and the hundreds on the drawing board.

   It all adds up to more traffic.

   Posted 3 months ago #         

10. Hawkeye
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    Is today a West Seattle holiday that I missed? Gen Hill to downtown in 15 minutes during rush hour, about 1/3 less than a typical recent weekday commute and bridge open like it's early Sunday morning.

    What's changed and, whatever it is, can it please continue?!

    Posted 3 months ago #         

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