TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Wednesday updates & alerts; SDOT visits STEM & Arbor Heights

(Four WS-relevant views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
7:12 AM: As the heart of today’s morning commute approaches, nothing unusual is reported in or from our area so far.

7:24 AM: Two notes – reminder that if you travel Delridge Way past the Boren Building next hour, you might see something related to SDOT director Scott Kubly‘s visit to promote safety. We’re not exactly sure yet what form it’ll take but we’ll be there to report. And another reminder that the northbound Alaskan Way Viaduct, from south of West Seattle to lower Queen Anne, is one of the roads around the area Saturday that will be closed to vehicles during the Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon/Half Marathon. The 99 closure is scheduled for 5 am-3:30 pm Saturday. See the full area closure list here.

7:55 AM: Texter says a police officer on the bridge is “waving random people over.” Can’t help but wonder if it’s part of the aforementioned SDOT safety event … let us know if you were among the “random” people waved over. We’re in a backup on Avalon, in the meantime, checking something out while on the way to the event on Delridge.

8:05 AM: Never mind – via Twitter, people who’ve seen this say it’s just the usual patrol for bus-lane violators. No camera pointed in that direction right now. Meantime, we’re still heading eastbound, currently in the Andover-to-Delridge queue.

8:12 AM: SDOT’s camera on the five-way intersection isn’t working this morning, so we’ve just gone by to doublecheck the presumed absence of protesters. None in sight; today’s backups just seem to be “regular” backups.

8:18 AM: Headed southbound on Delridge, we stopped at a corner where a woman waited to cross with a baby in a stroller. **Ten cars passed by northbound, nobody stopped.** We waved our arms out the window trying to get the attention of the northbound drivers. Somebody southbound even went around us in the center turn lane. Why would you not stop for two minutes to let the woman and baby cross the street?

8:31 AM: Now at the Boren Building, where the event actually involves both schools housed here (the media advisory had only mentioned Arbor Heights, but STEM kids are here too).

They're handing out Vision Zero bags. @seattledot dir Kubly asking kids if they know the safety rules. pic.twitter.com/b5qSm9T2EO

— West Seattle Blog (@westseattleblog) June 10, 2015

They’re not actually stopping people on Delridge but rather in the parking lot pulling up to the south entrance of the building. Swag bags branded Vision Zero (which the advisory said are “grant-funded”) are being distributed. The $5 coffee cards mentioned in the original advisory are for Starbucks. We’re listening in as Kubly quizzes kids about safety know-how. Crosswalk refreshers seem in order. This school building will get two new crosswalks soon, by the way – one midblock going to the main entrance, one on the south end at Graham.

9:07 AM: Thanks to the texter who just sent word of a crash on Sylvan Way by Home Depot – blocking “uphill and the turn lane,” they report. One SFD unit just dispatched.

11:07 AM: Thanks to the texter who just tipped us that the 10:40 ferry from Vashon to Fauntleroy is running late because of a medical issue involving a passenger. Vessel Watch says it’s expected to dock around 11:13 am.

Joseph June 10, 2015 (8:24 am)

The only thing “regular” about today’s back up is that is it caused by the same officer who stands in the middle of the bus lane freaking everyone out because they see a person standing in the road. Every time he is there a backup is guaranteed. Is the ticket revenue worth everyone’s time?

Fish in a barrel June 10, 2015 (8:39 am)

Officer needs back up. While he is writing a ticket, a dozen other violations occur.

Fish in a barrel June 10, 2015 (8:42 am)

See your point Joseph. Traffic is bad when he is there but I’m glad he is there. People need to follow the law. Now of he could enforce the double white line area! That is where safety is a problem.

Smitty June 10, 2015 (9:19 am)

Put up a darn camera and Mail tickets. Win/win. More revenue and no slowdown.

Joseph June 10, 2015 (9:27 am)

perfect solution Smitty ! I agree with you 100%

wscommuter June 10, 2015 (9:30 am)

I like the police nailing the bus-lane cheats, who are both selfish and dangerous. Having said that, I like Smitty’s idea – let’s do that.

John June 10, 2015 (9:34 am)

Is it me or has the morning traffic gotten progressively and consistently worse over the past month or two???

Community Member June 10, 2015 (9:49 am)

The existence of the bus lane saves everyone time.
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But the bus lane can only “exist” as a bus lane if it is recognized and observed by almost all of the drivers, almost all of the time.
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Occasional enforcement is necessary to avoid the mentality of “everyone else is breaking the rule, I might as well, too.” There’s a nice deterrent effect in seeing that someone got a ticket; they don’t have to ticket every violator to maintain the functionality and safety of the bus lane or the double white line.
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Yes, people typically slow down to the speed limit when they see a police officer. I don’t really see why that should be viewed as a problem.

A driver June 10, 2015 (10:13 am)

I like Smitty’s idea too about a camera and mailing a ticket but people could weasel out of the ticket like they do for school zones by saying it wasn’t them driving. I’m still for setting up a camera.
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Does anyone ever see police at the double white line area? I never do between 8 & 9am. But maybe SPD is there later? Frustrating to see one violation after another. And I agree with CM.

AceMotel June 10, 2015 (10:25 am)

Why isn’t Kubly on that very dangerous road, Admiral Way? so he can see for himself how dangerous it is and how VITAL the SDOT Zero Vision improvements are to the safety of that dangerous community?

ketchup June 10, 2015 (10:48 am)

Bus lane would be nice if it were HOV too. Cameras are a great idea.

Julia Scully June 10, 2015 (11:56 am)

WSB, thank you for calling out drivers who don’t stop for pedestrians on Delridge. The street definitely needs some better marked crosswalks, with bulbs to prevent drivers from using the turn lane to illegally pass. I know there are two going in near Boren but this street could definitely use many more.

SomeGuy June 10, 2015 (12:54 pm)

I can explain that 8:18 item: people are self-centered idiots too immersed in their iPhones and e-Cigs to worry about anyone else.

WSB June 10, 2015 (1:00 pm)

Couldn’t see into the cars that didn’t stop. Was just too busy remaining horrified that they didn’t. As inveterate we-stop-for-pedestrians drivers, we are used, sadly, to seeing it take one or two cars going the other way to realize WHY we are stopped and why they should stop too … but this was just so infuriating. Not surprising, but infuriating. Always a reminder of the time my then-very-young son (now grown) and I were waiting to cross Fauntleroy from the ferry dock bus stop, and a southbound car stopped for us, only to be rear-ended by a driver paying no attention. And rear-ended in a big way, too … if we had been in the crosswalk we would have been hit as the first car was shoved forward more than a few yards – we had seen that second car approaching and out of an abundance of caution, I wasn’t going to start crossing until it slowed behind the stopped car – which it didn’t.

AnotherGuy June 10, 2015 (1:44 pm)

I really can’t figure out what the WSB is trying to be. Do they consider themselves journalists? Are they a news media outlet? Are they trying to be objective and impartial? Seems like the site has no qualms pushing personal views rather than reporting independently on the news happening in the area, but hey, maybe I’m misinterpreting what they are trying to be. Personally, I don’t see why an article on
“TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY” would go off on a tangent about people not stopping for a woman standing on a corner. Not saying people shouldn’t stop for pedestrians, but is that news? Just seems a little preachy and off-topic…

WSB June 10, 2015 (1:54 pm)

AnotherGuy, while news organizations are EXPECTED more than ever to evangelize, opinion-ize, etc. (we have caught flak for NOT doing it in some cases), we don’t endorse, we don’t recommend, we don’t review, we don’t tell you who we think you should vote for, etc., unlike most news publications big and small. Our writing is usually about as basic and factual as it gets. However, the traffic watch is generally a running narrative of information and description on what’s going on during the (mostly) morning commute, and in this case, we were chronicling what we found on the way to the SDOT safety event. Speaking up about people breaking the law and endangering their fellow citizens is NOT “pushing personal views.” Thanks – TR

trickycoolj June 10, 2015 (4:47 pm)

SPD was working Highland Park Way down hill this morning. Motorcycle officer had someone pulled over into the business near the bottom. It’s easy to coast up to a high speed going down that hill, make sure to look down and check the speedo.
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I was the texter on the sylvan crash this morning (got neat new Bluetooth in the new car that voice texted while I was stopped) looked like it was head on. A private ambulance beat SPD/SFD which seemed odd. While stopped at the scene waiting to get through a semi truck was doing a 5-point turn trying to back into Home Depot’s loading dock taking up the remaining lane before SPD arrived. I can’t help but wonder if one of the involved was trying to swerve around the semi truck in the oncoming lane and didn’t look for cars coming around the corner. By the time I continued through to HP via Holden, the fire truck was leaving the station. Surprisingly eventful commute for leaving at 8:45 this morning.

WSB June 10, 2015 (4:49 pm)

Thanks, Tricky, I’ll make note of your number … since names don’t come w/cell #’s I generally just wind up crediting the anonymous generic “texter” – thank you so much for all the helpful info. Since it wasn’t a major medical callout we didn’t go back out – TR

Kathryn Gordon June 10, 2015 (5:01 pm)

Illegitimati non carborundum which is close to the Latin for “don’t let the bastards get you down.” You, individually and collectively, do one hell of a good job. Please, please carry on.

miws June 10, 2015 (5:35 pm)

What Kathryn said.

As a pedestrian, I appreciate reminders to other drivers, from WSB or anyone, that there are pedestrians out there that are just trying to get somewhere too, and do so safely. The driver isn’t just sitting there meditating while stopped in the middle of a lane of travel.

Mike

dcn June 10, 2015 (5:59 pm)

I was driving home on Delridge yesterday, being followed by a pickup truck pulling a boat. I stopped at a crosswalk for a pedestrian crossing from the far side of the street. The truck tried to pull around me on the right (in the bike lane), and almost hit the pedestrian. It was hard for me to understand how the driver of the truck could not have (a) seen the pedestrian, since the truck was much taller than my car; and/or (b) realized that I had to have stopped for a reason. Since there is a middle turn lane, I would not have stopped to make a left turn in the through lane (nor did I have a turn signal on). Luckily, the driver stopped before hitting the pedestrian.
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Delridge has already been road-dieted. I don’t believe that any amount of road engineering will ever be able to prevent accidents caused by bad/impatient driving.

A driver June 10, 2015 (6:13 pm)

You are right on the money Dcn. I just wanted to say that there are bad drivers out there who turn left from the general purpose lane instead of using the turn lane. Seen a lot of that lately and other driving “styles” that make absolutely no sense.

West seattle Hipster June 10, 2015 (6:31 pm)

“bastards” Kathryn Gordon? Calling someone a derogatory slur because you disagree with them is disappointing. I am surprised that comment got through.

Sorry, comment time is over.