TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Tuesday on the move

(Live view from the west-facing WS Bridge camera; other cameras are on the WSB Traffic page)
7:35 AM: One traffic reminder for today – the city is scheduled to repave a section of California SW north of Morgan Junction, between Graham and Fauntleroy, over the next two days, 9 am-5 pm, keeping one lane open in each direction.

7:47 AM: Multiple commenters report a stalled bus on northbound 99 near the tunnel-boring machine launch pit (where, incidentally, digging is scheduled to begin today). This photo tweeted earlier by WSDOT shows where it’s stuck on the rise.

7:51 AM: … and now the bus has been cleared. Backups, as you are likely well aware, will take longer to dissipate.

39 Replies to "TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Tuesday on the move"

  • Beth July 30, 2013 (7:38 am)

    Stalled car on the viaduct – couldn’t see exactly where from the overhead sign

  • NW July 30, 2013 (7:39 am)

    Do metro buses have priority when in service with passengers
    over autos for example merging from the bus lane onto 99 on ramp on east end of West Seattle Bridge? Thanks

  • jedifarfy July 30, 2013 (7:42 am)

    My 120 to downtown died on the ramp to the viaduct about 7:05. Luckily another bus driving by to terminal stopped and picked us all up within minutes.

    Thanks to that understanding Metro driver, boo to bus riders who don’t understand common courtesy.

  • RRider July 30, 2013 (7:43 am)

    Stalled bus near Bertha, making for a long commute.

  • Michelle C July 30, 2013 (8:12 am)

    @NW – yes. From the SDOT blog:

    Here’s the section of the Seattle Municipal Code pertaining to yielding to buses:

    SMC 11.58.275 Right-of-way of transit vehicles.

    A. The driver of a vehicle shall yield the right-of-way to a transit vehicle traveling in the same direction that has signaled and is re-entering the traffic flow.

    B. This section shall not operate to relieve the driver of a transit vehicle from the duty to drive with due regard for the safety of all persons using the street or alley.

    C. For purposes of this section, “transit vehicle” means a motor vehicle, street car, train, or trolley which is owned or operated by a city, county, county transportation authority, a public benefit area, or the state, and which is used to carry passengers on a regular schedule. (RCW 46.04.355;69.50.435(5), (6)).

  • Fed up July 30, 2013 (8:26 am)

    Are buses exempt from the gore point law? As in merging from the bus through lane at the last minute to 99 north.

  • Mark July 30, 2013 (9:05 am)

    I am the only one that is tired of the SPD being at the east end of the high rise every morning to ticket bus lane violators? I just wrote a nice letter to the SPD asking them to review whether that officer needs to be there every day. His presence adds about 10-15 minutes to my commute…

    I understand the occasional patrol, but it has been a bit over the top lately.

  • Michelle C July 30, 2013 (9:18 am)

    @Fed up – no, buses aren’t exempt from regular traffic laws.

    Since I usually ride the bus through that area, I don’t pay attention to when the bus merges. There aren’t any dashed lines there, so I guess the bus needs to merge before the gore point – which they do when it’s not rush hour.

    You could always note the coach number, date, and time if you see a bus cross through the gore point and send it to metro.

  • enough July 30, 2013 (9:25 am)

    I don’t mean to make an issue out of this but buses cut across that gore point all day every day and yesterday’s traffic section on the WSB pointed out how this is being done in front of “Officer Sentry” and he/she does nothing.
    .
    I can’t speak for Fed but myself and others have tried to alert Metro to issues like this and they continue because Metro states they need 8 weeks to reply to a customer complaint.

  • ll July 30, 2013 (9:32 am)

    What’s over the top are all the cheaters using the bus lane. If the officer is not there the complaint would be, “Why doesn’t SPD go after the bus lane cheaters.”
    *
    One officer giving a ticket to a bus lane violator does not add 10 to 15 minutes to any commute.
    *
    Cops – damned if they do – damned if they don’t.

  • Frank July 30, 2013 (9:33 am)

    New to WS and was wondering if anyone could help me plan out my commute to downtown Bellevue. If I need to be there around 830am what time do I need to leave (near Alaska junction) and what’s the best way to go? I found out today that the left lane after the bridge to go I-5 N is brutal. Can I go up 4th to get on I-90?

  • g July 30, 2013 (9:52 am)

    Why would someone complain about buses merging in the gore area? I know it’s illegal, but given the circumstances I think it’s safer for a bus to merge there with heavy traffic because of the alignments and field vision for bus driver and cars.

  • g July 30, 2013 (9:55 am)

    The alternative would be for the bus to merge 150 feet or so earlier, with the bus lane adjacent to the cars with no gore area separation. We’re talking like 5-10 feet here at crawl speeds.

    It’s fine.

  • enough July 30, 2013 (9:59 am)

    Here’s something on the gore point law. Adding this since more than half of the drivers out there don’t seem to know this, including metro bus drivers :)

    http://www.komonews.com/news/local/87706112.html

    • WSB July 30, 2013 (10:18 am)

      I’m checking with Metro regarding policy on the “gore point merge.”

  • Dcn July 30, 2013 (10:25 am)

    Frank, taking 4th to I-90 is a decent option. That’s my usual commute path.

  • Commuter July 30, 2013 (10:53 am)

    Or take 1st Ave to Edgar Martinez and get on 90 there.

  • Marko July 30, 2013 (11:15 am)

    Stay out of the bus lane. Let the bus merge so transit riders can experience a little bit of a Rapid Ride. That bus is taking a number of cars off the road. Traffic must flow. Merge and let merge.

  • Mo July 30, 2013 (11:16 am)

    When traffic is stopping on the approach to Hwy 99N, a bus waiting to merge before the gore point would be blocking the bus lane, which continues east bound for other routes. By using the gore point to merge onto 99N ramp, buses are able to vacate the bus lane while waiting to merge, thus allowing other buses to pass. At the (non) speeds involved at these times of day, the gore point safety factor is hardly an issue, and this maneuver does reduce congestion and help buses stay more nearly on schedule.
    Fed up enough, I suspect your complaint has more to do with you feeling put out when you are “cut off” by a metro bus (which has the right of way). Please keep in mind that this bus will be traveling in its own lane once upon 99N, so the “cutting in” really has no impact on your commute time. If you want to benefit by the designated lane and right of way status that the buses enjoy, then perhaps you should come aboard and enjoy those benefits yourself.

  • Fed up July 30, 2013 (11:34 am)

    Just fyi Mo, I don’t take 99 north so the bus cutting doesn’t affect my commute. I am just concerned from a law/safety perspective.

  • Fed up July 30, 2013 (11:38 am)

    Also the bus doesn’t have the right if way in this case unless they are exempt from the law which prohibits merging in the gore point.

  • Joe Szilagyi July 30, 2013 (11:54 am)

    What would it do to the flow of traffic overall if buses DIDN’T merge at the gore point? As mentioned above, it sounds like it would cause massive backups across the bridge.

    It reminds me of the uproar when Elliot Avenue got it’s bus-only lane during commuter hours when we lived that way. Gnashing of endless teeth, etc — and then the commute mysteriously opened up. My bus ride from Magnolia to downtown changed from 45 minutes to 25 minutes (more or less) and on the days I drove, it got slightly faster. My buses also got a LOT more crowded over time, as people figured out it was now more efficient to ride the bus. My driving days got faster, logically, from less cars being on the road.

    I don’t personally see any downside with any system that gives a priority to buses.

    That said, I still wonder if it would be faster if viaduct bound buses just passed the viaduct and blazed up 4th skipping all stops until Seneca or so. What are they going to do once the Viaduct comes down?

  • Fed up July 30, 2013 (12:06 pm)

    Not to belabor the point but the rcw stated above gives right of way when the bus is re entering traffic as in after picking up or dropping off at a stop, not changing lanes on the bridge. Sec b also states drivers are to drive with due regard, caution, etc. I think the law is good, it was enacted about 10 years ago to help buses get back on the street after a stop but now with rapid ride, buses don’t have to pull over and then re enter traffic because the stops are designed in such a way as to stop the flow of traffic behind them.

  • Smitty July 30, 2013 (12:11 pm)

    They should turn the inside lane on the westbound SSV/WSB into a reversible lane. 6-9 every morning it would flow east from the Fauntleroy/35th intersection to just past the 4th avenue exit, ala I-90. It can be done with orange cones and proper signage.

  • Fed up July 30, 2013 (12:14 pm)

    Even with the construction on 99 north, the 99 lane on the bridge is way better than it used to be 5 to 10 years ago. Though illegal I could see why someone would be tempted to cross the bus lane to get to the 1st ave exit. Most mornings I5 n looks to be an option that is twice as bad as 99 n.

  • Mo July 30, 2013 (1:01 pm)

    from the SMC 11.58.275:
    “The driver of a vehicle shall yield the right-of-way to a transit vehicle traveling in the same direction that has signaled and is re-entering the traffic flow.”

    I’m not a lawyer, but i would not interpret the above to to mean re-entering the traffic flow only from bus stops. I believe the intent is to include lane changes as well, such as when a bus needs to merge from HOV lane to exit ramp, or to merge at the end of a designated transit lane.

    There is a yield sign posted on the back of every bus, after all.

  • NW July 30, 2013 (1:06 pm)

    I asked this question cause it seems to me folks don’t understand that metro, firetrucks with no sirens and medic units sould always have right of way and i always either wave them thru ,while riding bicycle, or in the case of driving slow down and a quick flash of lights, this is good practice and courteous also to longhaul truckers. Can you imagine how tough it is for these folks carrying ton or cargo on the roads and freeways? Let them merge!

  • schwaggy July 30, 2013 (1:36 pm)

    I LOVED watching the 99N waiting lane peeps change their minds today and cut over to the Eastbound lanes to go 1st or 4th. WHY? Because 99 was Hell. Good for you Bus Lane Cheaters, you’re one of us. Oh, and they did it BEHIND a bus stopped at the Gore Point so officer frowny didn’t see them. More power to ya, mind changers. If there’s a better route take it.

  • West Seattle since 1979 July 30, 2013 (2:04 pm)

    I learned a new term today: “gore point”! Thank you, WSB and commenters.

  • KD July 30, 2013 (2:19 pm)

    Schwaggy: 4th was NOT the “better route” to take this morning, it too was HORRIBLE. The peeps that changed their mind this morning went no where fast. The only “better route” is KCWT.

  • enough July 30, 2013 (3:47 pm)

    schwaggy, that sounds like the next Pemco commercial.. Bus lane cheaters, you’re one of us. I like it :)

    Seriously though, I don’t think people should change their mind and cross the bus lane, it has caused accidents in the recent past.. then we’re all in a much worse situation trying to get out of WS while lane(s) are closed to resolve the incident. Why are people so antsy!? I 5 north is much worse than 99 north. 4th Ave N sucks too as someone else pointed out.

    People have complained about the bus lane for as long as this blog has been up. Someone once said years ago that traffic was worse when there was no bus lane. Huh?

    Density as it is currently being processed in WS, SUCKS! 30 – 45 minutes to get from 35th to I 5 every day? Insanity. No thanks.

  • Steve f July 30, 2013 (5:35 pm)

    Kinda off thread, but has anyone yet heard the roar of mighty Bertha firing up?

  • West Seattle Hipster July 30, 2013 (5:48 pm)

    Would love to see light rail come to our overcrowded paradise.

  • Michelle C July 30, 2013 (6:54 pm)

    I didn’t get a good look today, but it seems like the gore point is really long at that section of the bridge where buses are merging onto the 99 onramp lane. It seems like it could be shorter, which would leave room for the buses to move out of the bus-only travel lane while merging. And while I’m at it, paint “yield to buses” really big in the 99 onramp lane.

    Of course I am neither a traffic engineer or a lawyer, just a frequent bus rider. I do wish we had a carpool lane tho. :)

  • West Seattle Since 1979 July 30, 2013 (7:18 pm)

    Does 4th always suck though? I’m usually on 4th between Lander & James around 7:30 AM or so on the 21 local bus and we rarely have a problem.

  • bbuddy July 30, 2013 (9:40 pm)

    I take it the gore point is a sore point;) After looking up “gore point” I gotta say the gore point is a mute point. It matters little what happens before, after, on, or in the gore point… none of that addresses the real issue — that there are too many vehicles and not enough bridge, period. The whole bridge is a gore point — a big gory mess.

  • jedifarfy July 31, 2013 (5:18 am)

    bbuddy, I saw it less of a sore point and more of a way to deflect the blame of the lane. Got caught in the bus lane? CLEARLY it’s the bus’s fault for merging late.

  • miws July 31, 2013 (7:27 am)

    bbuddy, you bring up some interesting points…

    .

    Mike

  • bbuddy July 31, 2013 (8:52 am)

    @ Mike — I make a lot of comments regarding how I experience the bridge. Most of them have the word “ridiculous” or “unbelievable”, or “unacceptable”… combined with any number of choice 4 letter words.

Sorry, comment time is over.