TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Monday updates & the week ahead

(Four WS-relevant views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
Good morning! As we keep watch on the morning commute (and beyond), transportation notes:

SOUTH PARK BRIDGE STATUS: After a malfunction put the bridge off-limits to surface traffic for most of Saturday, county road crews managed to get it back in service again, and are now awaiting parts for permanent repairs. You can check here any time to be sure it’s operational before you head that way. (Here’s a traffic cam, too.)

ADMIRAL WAY PAVING TUESDAY-WEDNESDAY: SDOT work on Admiral between 34th and Olga, as mentioned here Friday night after a tip from Mike.

WEST SEATTLE TRANSPORTATION COALITION ON THURSDAY: The WSTC’s monthly meeting is 6:30 pm Thursday at Neighborhood House’s High Point Center. The agenda features a guest: Paulo Nunes-Ueno, the new head of SDOT’s Transit Division.

METRO FARE CHANGES TAKE EFFECT NEXT SUNDAY: On March 1st, some go up, some go down, as explained here.

7:11 AM: Quiet so far. Checking travel times from the city’s map:

35th Ave SW @ SW Snoqualmie St to …
SR-99 Off Ramp 4 min.
1st Ave Off Ramp 5 min.
4th Ave Off Ramp 6 min.
Stadiums via 1st Ave 10 min.
Stadiums via 4th Ave 10 min.
South Lake Union 15 min.
Ballard 22 min.
Crown Hill 28 min.
Green Lake via SR-99 22 min.
I-5 NB/SB 5 min.
Lower Queen Anne 17 min.
Shoreline via SR-99 28 min.

8:16 AM: Just got two texts about a bus-car collision at midspan of the eastbound bridge, reported to be blocking two lanes. One texter says two lanes are blocked including the bus lane; the other says the vehicles are “stopped on top of the bridge just east of the (crest).”

8:22 AM: You can see the bus and car in the top left camera. Only the bus lane is blocked now – the car is in front of the bus. It’s a #56, per a texter on board.

8:36 AM: Texter on board says driver told them the car hit the bus, and that after some pictures/paperwork, they’ll be able to move on. While the top-left camera will have the newest image, here’s a screengrab from a moment or two ago:

A supervisor is now out checking the bus’s exterior, our tipster reports.

8:45 AM: And now a #55 bus has arrived to take passengers from the stuck bus. Not room enough for all of them, says our tipster – “about a dozen” are back on board and now waiting for a #120.

8:57 AM: Bus lane is now clear – the bus, Metro supervisors’ vehicles, and the car that was involved have all just left.

sc February 23, 2015 (9:52 am)

So why was the car in the “BUS ONLY” lane?

dsa February 23, 2015 (10:09 am)

My neighbor found out the hard way it’s a $250.00 fine just to cross the bus lane.

Wilson February 23, 2015 (3:13 pm)

@dsa: Your neighbor is fibbing. Crossing the bus lane to change lanes is completely legal. I suspect they did more than just “cross” the bus lane. There must be a double line for it to be an infraction.

Joeb February 23, 2015 (3:26 pm)

I’ve seen people change lanes across the bus lane right in front of the police and they got pulled over.

KBear February 23, 2015 (4:15 pm)

Wilson, changing multiple lanes at once is illegal, as is driving in the bus lane without a bus, which you would have to do to cross over the bus lane. Sounds like you’ll be getting one of those $250 tickets sooner or later.

cvhl February 23, 2015 (4:15 pm)

I have seen several people get pulled over for crossing the bus lane. It’s true!

sc February 23, 2015 (8:10 pm)

You can be in that lane until the top of the bridge than you need to move over.
Personally I’m ok with giving out a $250 fine.
If you don’t want to get one, don’t drive illegally!

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