TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Last Monday in October

(Live view from the only WS Bridge camera currently in operation; see other cameras on the WSB Traffic page)
6:52 AM: Wet weather is the main challenge for the morning commute so far. A few notes:

-The West Seattle Water Taxi is on its fall/winter schedule now (and using Melissa Ann for the next three weeks, with Rachel Marie getting some work done)
-Routes 120, 55, and 22 have some changes (see our story from last night)

Let us know what you encounter out there – we’ll also update this story any time there’s a traffic/transit note between now and the end of the evening commute.

8:16 AM: Crash just reported on northbound I-5 at I-90.

8:47 AM: A crash on northbound I-5 just south of the West Seattle Bridge is no longer blocking lanes. Haven’t heard of any trouble from the “near I-90” report.

Christie October 29, 2012 (7:36 am)

After 3 weeks of trying to stay positive about RR, I am finding it challenging this morning. The 8 minute walk from my house to the stp at Findley (Junction is closer but I am tired of standing in the crowd), 2 RR C buses passed me. At the stop the reader board said the next bus was 21 minutes. That was at 7:12 am. The time quickly changed to 11 minutes, then 10, then back to 11, then it stayed at 10 minutes for 5 minutes before changing to have no time. Good news, I got a seat. Bad news, will miss my connecting bus downtown. This bus is really crowded.

jedifarfy October 29, 2012 (7:57 am)

I didn’t see any change in 120 fullness. I’m a bus after the bus they are trying to relieve, and the same people in the same quantity seemed to be there. We’ll see how the evening goes, since one new time is supposed to arrive at the same time my bus usually leaves because it’s always a few minutes late.

Moose2 October 29, 2012 (8:34 am)

The 7:54 (from Alki) 56 today left people behind. This is a small bus that is always packed to standing only, but today was overloaded. People at Olga and later stops were passed up.

Mike Lindblom October 29, 2012 (8:38 am)

I’m on a C Line bus with about 80 aboard, very full but not crush, just made the turn at steel mill. Christie, were the two buses that passed yiou packed full?

JJA October 29, 2012 (8:39 am)

Anyone seen the new (8:25-8:35-ish) 55 that was supposed to be added today? Been waiting for it in the rain at California & Hanford since 8:15. Nothing yet.

Senior Citizen October 29, 2012 (10:21 am)

Does anyone know if there are any upcoming community (not Metro sponsored/attended)meetings to discuss the Metro changes? I find some of the changes unacceptable and I am wondering how many others feel the same. What are our options? I’ve emailed Metro directly…yesterday a bus driver told me that Metro answers to the King County Council, so I am considering contacting them as well.

WSB October 29, 2012 (10:56 am)

Senior Citizen – depending on where you live, if there is a community council, you might want to contact them. (If you don’t know, tell me which neighborhood you’re in and we can tell you.) The issues were extensively discussed at a forum held by Sustainable West Seattle two weeks ago – here’s our report: https://westseattleblog.com/2012/10/metro-apologizes-promises-arbor-heights-changes-sustainable-west-seattle-transportation-forum – but there is nothing specifically scheduled at this point. A couple local community councils do have transportation committees/subcommittees. – Tracy

MTR October 29, 2012 (10:35 am)

I too waited for the 55 that was supposed to leave the Admiral District at 8:20. I was at the SW Hill and California stop. At 8:25 I couldn’t wait any longer and left to catch the last Water Taxi.

Diane October 29, 2012 (11:45 am)

Christie; I had same experience yesterday/Sunday, with RR reader-board “21 minutes”; if RR is supposed to be every 10 mins or 15 mins, it should never read 21 mins, but since you saw same thing this morning, wondering if this is the new normal; and since metro refuses to link RR with One Bus Away, or provide schedules, there’s no way to know when/if RR will show, so I took first bus to show up, the 50, and transferred to light rail at SODO
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dear metro; this is week 4, please get your act together; or have you all just moved on, expecting the public to accept/deal with the crappy new service, and start driving again
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oh, and btw; the shelters completely removed at mega bus stop at 3rd/Pine for RR back to WS; does not appear they will be replacing with RR shelter, or RR card readers, or real-time reader-boards; why not? and why no communications from metro via posted signs or email alerts or any other means of letting riders know what’s up with that? this is a major druggie corner, so if they took the shelter out to help deter the outdoor drugstore, why not tell us so we might see it as a maybe a positive action to clean up 3rd Ave?
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I would like to see a fully lit up Rapid Ride shelter with card reader and times on reader-board at this stop; will that ever happen? it might deter some of the rampant drug dealing (or maybe not, since they deal openly on the sidewalk all day long, because no one ever stops them)
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what ever happened to city council members Tom and Bruce saying they were working to clean up 3rd Ave; I have seen zero difference this year

WSB October 29, 2012 (11:51 am)

For the record, our son went out on Saturday to catch RapidRide, now the closest bus because of cuts to the 22, and he had to wait half an hour along Fauntleroy at a time when it was supposed to be 15 minutes. I believe he was at one of the stops, not stations, so no lighted board with the “next bus” projection; he did note that two went in the other direction before “his” bus finally arrived.

Heather October 29, 2012 (2:15 pm)

I just got back from taking the train to Portland where the trolly, rail and otherwise were easy to use and had a frequency of every 5 minutes. Of course, it’s a smaller region but as a commuter it was wonderful. Seattle is seriously misguided in investing this much money towards a system of bus transportation meant to service our area for years to come. I fail to see how this plan will accommodate the growth WS is expected to experience in the next 5-7 years.

why_cause October 29, 2012 (2:26 pm)

I was wondering when they removed the shelter at 3rd/Pike since I was out of town last week (NYC, the subway is awesome!). Are there any plans to replace it? If not I think I am done with the bus as well.

Carole October 29, 2012 (3:14 pm)

I was on the 50 that left Admiral at 9:16 Sunday morning. At Jefferson Square a couple got on and asked where to catch RR (because of the Junction reroute). The bus driver was rude and dismissive, repeating robotically, “All I know is my route.” Presumably that means knowing where to turn the bus, but not the location of connecting/transfer points. I emailed metro when I got home. That is totally unacceptable public service.

When I left downtown at about 4:45 pm imagine my surprise to see that the RR C board at 3rd/Seneca indicated Sunday times for RR C were 2 times in the am, and nothing more until 10:45 pm. Of course there is no time clock, although a RR C did come along after about 20 mins.

iml October 29, 2012 (4:59 pm)

I took the rapid ride from the junction at about 8:37am this morning. It may not have been a Crush, but it seemed unsafe to me. Metro still has work ahead of them to get this right.

Neighbor October 29, 2012 (5:08 pm)

Waited 25 minutes at 3rd and Senaca for a RR, none in sight so I took the 55. Packed to the gills.

Kg October 29, 2012 (5:38 pm)

Waited20 minutes and bus not letting anyone on at 2nd and columbia 5:38pm

Stephanie October 29, 2012 (7:23 pm)

Got on the 120 at 3rd & Pike at 5:13 tonight. This bus did not appear on One Bus Away – the one previous had left 5 min before, and the next was not expected for 8 more minutes. The bus was nearly empty, and having been crushed (and leaving people behind) on this bus every night for the last several weeks, I am guessing this is one of the new extras?? Any way, I was pleased to have a seat to myself for one day!