TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Wednesday, so far

(Live view from the only WS Bridge camera currently in operation; see other cameras on the WSB Traffic page)
No trouble reported in the early going (after a busy Tuesday!) on the main routes from/to/through West Seattle, though if you happen to be headed this way from the south, take note there’s a crash around mid-Boeing Field that’s “partially blocking two lanes,” according to WSDOT.

9:26 AM: Thanks to commenters for tracking some late-in-the-commute bridge trouble. There was an eastbound crash, and a reported westbound slowdown, though we are not sure what caused the latter.

Glenn October 17, 2012 (7:20 am)

56x 7:20am smoothly moving across WS bridge with several open seats and nobody standing.

WSB October 17, 2012 (7:20 am)

James tweeted that the 6:30 am RapidRide C Line was packed:
https://twitter.com/cooljames/status/258572754561937408

JayDee October 17, 2012 (7:36 am)

I took the 50 today to see how fast it was conpared to the 56 express. The 50 was four minutes late arriving at SODO light rail station and I missed the light rail connection northbound. the next train came in 10 minutes later. II got to work about 55 minutes after I started compared to 25 minutes normally period. Best time would be 45 minutes if I didn’t miss the first train.

Chris W October 17, 2012 (7:51 am)

#55 to downtown was smooth and on schedule.

WSB October 17, 2012 (8:12 am)

From Sue – also via Twitter – waiting for outbound RR C while three inbounds go by:
.
https://twitter.com/jsrekd/status/258585567422472192

richwseattle October 17, 2012 (8:59 am)

7:54a at Fauntleroy/Alaska C-line was standing room only. About 3 minutes later another C-line came along with seats available, though folks were standing as we headed downtown.

Spamela October 17, 2012 (9:11 am)

9:11. Traffic backed up almost to fauntleroy from WS bridge. What’s up? Is I-5 messing the later commute up? Delridge entrance looks ok.

Spamela October 17, 2012 (9:12 am)

Traffic backed up almost to fauntleroy from WS bridge. What’s up? Is I-5 messing the later commute up? Delridge entrance looks ok.

sam-c October 17, 2012 (9:13 am)

911 log calls out “accident” at hi rise EB on the bridge

Terry October 17, 2012 (9:19 am)

Metro has closed the western most bus stop at 2/Seneca. My bus had to wait through two additional lights to get to the now room for only one bus at a time stop. There was a line of busses backed up on the viaduct when I got off and looked back. Another brillant move by Metro.

Spamela October 17, 2012 (9:23 am)

Bridge traffic opened up after mid span – 15min to there.

Diane October 17, 2012 (12:24 pm)

“From Sue – also via Twitter – waiting for outbound RR C while three inbounds go by”
~
I had exact same experience last night at 6pm, waiting at Alaska/Fauntleroy to head downtown; waited 15 mins, while 3 RR-C’s went by headed west; then my RR-C driver, who was very very nice, told me he was an add-on run; so how long would the wait have been if not for this add-on? didn’t Metro say they added RR-C’s at peak so the wait would only be 8-9 mins; and btw, reader board not very helpful; during my 15 mins; it read 9min, 8min, 7min, 9min, 1min, 6min, 4min, 3min, 4min, 2min, 4min, 8min, 7min, 2min, 1min, 2min, ……(you get the point, it just goes up and down, up and down; why bother?); my bus driver is also WS resident, lives on Alki, so his bus ride to work is also double/feels our pain
~
I mentioned this in comments last week, re how impossible it is logistically, based on design of new RR-C, to communicate with driver during ride; this driver was very friendly, helpful, wanting to chat; but the only way we could hear each other was for me to stand next to him; when I sat down in the closest seat to the front, he could not hear me; I asked him about many things, like how do riders who are “seniors” or with disabilities, as many signs on bus windows state “ask the driver”; how do you do that? and what about the many who cannot stand entire time but don’t have visible physical impairments; or women who are pregnant, but may not be visible; he said to go the front of bus to board and tell driver you need seat if bus is crowded
~
I asked if he thinks runs are getting better this week; he said Metro changed a rule this week for bus drivers that has helped; apparently week 1 and 2, drivers were not allowed to go around bus in front at bus stops, which was causing a lot of back-up, causing buses to be very late (so if driver pulled up to a bus stop behind a bus loading riders for 10min—yes this happened to me last week at 3pm at 3rd/Pike—driver was not allowed prior to this week, to go around that bus? 1st, what logical reason for that rule?, and 2nd, would have been helpful for riders to be informed so they didn’t get furious at drivers for just sitting there; last week I witnessed several screaming riders who were upset about missing their next transfer bus because our bus was sitting/waiting for bus ahead); yep, metro still working out kinks, but didn’t even know about that rule

jedifarfy October 17, 2012 (12:29 pm)

The 7am 120 was same as always, despite the people blocking the aisle when seats further back were available. I don’t understand what they were doing.

I thought something was going on with 2/Seneca. We used to go to the top of the block, and now it’s in the midddle? It definitely slows us down getting through downtown.

Jeff Welch October 17, 2012 (3:18 pm)

Terry, that wasn’t Metro’s move, but the city of Seattle acting on complaints from the building owner that offloading buses were blocking access to its parking garage.

Jeff Welch October 17, 2012 (3:23 pm)

Diane, buses have always been permitted to pass each other. Rapid Ride buses weren’t supposed to (and shouldn’t need to) so that the system can track them and try to maintain proper headway – kind of like trains on the same track.

Diane October 17, 2012 (3:49 pm)

well Jeff, the Rapid Ride driver last night told me that the Rapid Ride buses were not allowed to pass other buses, until this week; so there’s more confusion, differing info from different drivers
~
he showed me his tracking system, and talked about how drivers are informed on how to “maintain proper headway”; his opinion was that allowing Rapid Ride buses to pass other buses was very helpful this week

clw October 17, 2012 (4:15 pm)

The 9am slow down heading west was caused by a disabled vehicle at the top of the bridge in the left lane. (Not 99 exit lane) When I drove by at ~9:20 there were 2 cop cars blocking part of the left lane and part of the bus lane and a tow truck working on getting it out of the way.

WSB October 17, 2012 (4:26 pm)

Thanks, clw. There are no logs on which such things show up – and only one camera is working on the bridge – so unless we catch a fragment of scanner traffic OR hear from somebody who passed by, we may never hear. Community reports – when safe! no txtng while driving! – are part of why we’re giving this daily dedicated spot a try, so there’s always a place to look for/report traffic info. THANKS! – TR

Ixobbp October 17, 2012 (5:49 pm)

Grrrr…waited 20 min for RR C at 2nd & Columbia. C finally showed up at 5:40pm but it was full. Stupid Crapid Ride.

michael October 17, 2012 (6:55 pm)

My wife and I got on the 8:15 AM RR and it was standing room only at Cal. & Fontleroy and took it only to 35th and Avalon and got off there was a 2nd RR and it too was standing room only so it is very clear still not enough buses for the amount of riders still.

NicMarie October 17, 2012 (7:04 pm)

Does anyone know if there is a plan for OneBusAway to have RR data? I now have to make 2 connections (used to take the 55, but not at the new reduced times) and unless I’m at a RR stop its impossible to know when the C will come… Sometimes the 56/21 arrive sooner but aren’t ideal. (I pretty much hate the whole switch, but no timetable and no OBA make this beyond frustrating.)

michael October 17, 2012 (7:09 pm)

I personally feel that the stop at 2nd and Senica should be moved up to 3rd where the old 54 used to stop. It still gives people away into the tunnel and offers alot more buses to connect with not like the stop at the bottom of 2nd and Senica where no other buses stop at. With winter on its way and the sidewalks going to be wet and could be frosty and if you wear leather sole shoes you might slip and fall. I myself have stopped riding the RR to downtown as it doesn’t connect with my bus downtown like the 54 used to do. I’m disabled and don’t want to walk up the hill and 2 or 3 blocks down 3rd to connect with my next bus. So if I take the CRide to 35th and Avalon and catch the very fast slow local 21 to down town to now catch my 3rd bus to my job which has added an extra 30 minutes or more to my trip to work. So much for Rapid Ride for me. Unless you want to say it is rapid getting me across West Seattle, just not to down town.

Zip line October 17, 2012 (8:33 pm)

This week I’ve been driving to the Admiral District and taking the 56 or 57 downtown. Plenty of room on the bus-no standing. This is a good alternative to RR-C.

michellem October 17, 2012 (10:26 pm)

The rapid ride c from lower queen Anne at 606pm was nearly full and by the time we left downtown it was full with folks packd in and standing front to back.

47% October 18, 2012 (9:05 am)

Took the 5:05 West Seattle bound C-line on Wednesday afternoon from 2nd and Columbia and had to squeeze on. Left a lot of people standing and waiting. Three weeks in, Metro still hasn’t figured it out. It’s getting really frustrating.