TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Friday updates, alerts, road work; why school-zone beacons are still flashing …

(City cameras appear to be down – see other state cameras on the WSB Traffic page)
6:40 AM: Good morning. We start with word of a crash at Delridge/Oregon – a texter tells us Delridge is closed southbound at Genesee. More…

6:45 AM: SB has just reopened, per scanner. City Light was checking out a utility pole because of the crash.

6:52 AM: Reminder that Seattle Public Schools are NOT in session; it’s the third day of the Seattle Education Association‘s strike. Instead of picketing, teachers have service projects today, most of which the community’s invited to join – see our list here.

SCHOOL-ZONE BEACONS/CAMERAS: Some (if not all) have been flashing despite school not being in session. If anyone receives a ticket from a camera in Seattle Public Schools areas – Roxhill and Gatewood (the new camera near STEM/temp Arbor Heights on Delridge would be starting with warnings only) – SDOT tells us, “Our understanding is that the Seattle Police Department will not issue citations based on camera data for the public schools which are not yet open; however, citations will be given for speeding in the case of Holy Family School, which is open and operating.” We’re still checking on the issue of why the beacons are flashing at all. (added) To that last point, SDOT’s Marybeth Turner says, “The beacons are programmed. To have some working and some not would take custom programming. We’re looking into that.”

ADDED 7:25 AM – TODAY’S ROAD-WORK ALERTS: As published here last night, SDOT says microsurfacing work scheduled to be completed in Arbor Heights/Arroyos areas yesterday was not, so it’s happening today instead. … 35th SW paving work between Cambridge and Barton, which DID begin on Thursday, is scheduled to continue today … As of our check yesterday morning, the SPU sewer projects on 48th and 49th SW had not started; we’re checking again today.

Robert September 11, 2015 (8:28 am)

Noticed on the bridge at 7:30 the sign still referenced yesterday’s afternoon Mariner’s game.

WSB September 11, 2015 (8:35 am)

Robert – thanks for mentioning that. I wonder if the ITS signs and the city traffic cams are part of the same system failure, perhaps. While too many of the cams were down recently, today is the first time I’ve seen ALL city cams out, and I was about to send that question to SDOT – TR

Cecelia September 11, 2015 (8:29 am)

Could I just appeal to people to please slow down near the schools even if they are not officially open and the lights aren’t flashing. Many families and kids are joining the teachers on the picket lines. So while the schools aren’t open the kids technically are present.

D-Mom September 11, 2015 (8:29 am)

Personally I think the school warning beacons should stay on as scheduled. It’s a reminder that the kids should be in school and that we should be supporting the strike.

Cecelia September 11, 2015 (8:35 am)

Please slow down in the school zones even if school is not officially open and the cameras aren’t flashing. Many families and students are out there picketing with the teachers.

Brian September 11, 2015 (8:43 am)

I completely understand that infrastructure costs money and nothing is ever as easy as flipping a switch, but I have to laugh at the idea of “custom programming” for an installation that is literally two lights that pulse “on” and “off”.
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If anything, their “custom programming” should be editing a single piece of data under the variable “StartDate” or something equally benign.

East Coast Cynic September 11, 2015 (9:15 am)

The 7:30am 21X to Downtown did not show up again for the 2nd day in a row:/

WSB and 99N showed much heavier traffic around 8 am than a usual Friday.

Kadoo September 11, 2015 (9:35 am)

There’s also a flashing light at Our Lady of Guadalupe School on 35th and they’re in session.

WSB September 11, 2015 (9:53 am)

Thanks, Kadoo. SDOT interpreted our initial inquiry as related to only the zones with fixed speed-enforcement cameras, not applicable there, so that’s why they didn’t mention it, but very good point, as well as any other areas where the independent and parochial schools are, since they’re all back in session.

KBear September 11, 2015 (10:36 am)

I don’t see why people get so bent out of shape over this. Just slow down. It doesn’t harm you in any way, and it may save someone’s life even if school isn’t in session.

NBC September 11, 2015 (2:06 pm)

Gatewood is still running its daycare/preschool even though school is not in session. Those employees are not union members so they are unaffected by the strike.

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