West Seattle Weather Watch: Metro briefing on winter plans

Two years after the stalled buses of Snowpocalypse (right) – one year after a virtually problem-free mild winter – Metro is taking steps today to make sure it’s ready, and its riders are ready, in case this winter turns out to be more like 2008-2009 than 2009-2010. Metro boss Kevin Desmond is briefing the King County Council this morning at 9:30 am; you can watch live on cable channel 22 or kingcounty.gov/council. And Metro’s just sent out a news release with reminders about the route-specific e-mail/text alerts you can sign up for now in case something goes awry with your bus (or the Water Taxi!), whether it’s snow, rain, bridges, or any other trouble. See it here (links included). We’ll have more on the Metro briefing later. (P.S. Our preview on the plan that never had to kick in last year was in this November 2009 story.) 9:43 AM UPDATE: The briefing has just begun. 10:46 AM UPDATE: The briefing’s over. No big surprises but we are working on a separate summary – we’ve also asked for the graphics from the presentation, so that we can share that info if you missed the briefing.

ADDED 4 PM: The summary’s been sidetracked but here, courtesy of Linda Thielke at the KC Department of Transportation, is the PowerPoint presentation given today – including an example of how the Metro website will look when they kick into severe weather mode. Interesting points included the county’s “memorandum of understanding” with the city of Seattle and its commitment to helping plow key in-city bus routes, particularly, they say, SODO.

6 Replies to "West Seattle Weather Watch: Metro briefing on winter plans"

  • Michelle W November 1, 2010 (9:48 am)

    I wonder if they’ll consider adding more buses to the 120 route during the next storm.

    In 2008 the buses were completely full just halfway down the regular route. Since I live on the north end of Delridge I just got to watch these overloaded buses pass me by.

  • sam November 1, 2010 (10:26 am)

    Michelle- agreed, also think those 120s were also filled with 125 riders.

    I just hope that Metro realizes that SDOT plowed the arterials, and sends 125 along its route (along the plowed arterials). in 2008, the 125 skipped half the route and trying to walk the big 21st, 23rd, oregon hill with all of the (arterial) street’s snow plowed onto the sidewalk was super fun.

  • Elikapeka November 1, 2010 (12:24 pm)

    The first thing they need to do is park the articulated buses at the first sign of a snowflake. They always end up jacknifed and blocking intersections. Even chained up, they just can’t maneuver in the snow. Just pull them over and park!

  • Noelle November 1, 2010 (4:32 pm)

    It would be nice if Seattle had more snow plows to get to the side streets at some point if it is a big winter.

    Also I hope people remember to salt the sidewalks if they can. No point in moving the snow if its just ice under.

  • (required) November 2, 2010 (2:04 am)

    More snow plows? Heck, Seattle just has to use the ones they got. I saw snow plows with the blades up driving right through piles of snow on 35th and then on Roxbury this past snowy winter — doing nothing. Speaking of doing nothing, I hear that our latest, most fabulous tunnel-hating mayor plans to have us all hold hands to pray for the snow to go away fast. I also hear Metro’s real plan this winter is to leave Seattle for the winter, because they figure ‘fool me once, shame on me, but fool me twice….’

    • WSB November 2, 2010 (2:14 am)

      Re: Seattle’s plan, we’ll get the media briefing next week, SDOT confirms. Last year they had a much-improved plan, but never needed to use it.

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