TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Thursday alerts & updates; then/now ‘Throwback’ view

(Four WS-relevant views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
6:47 AM: No incidents in our area so far today. Metro has tweeted two bus-trip cancellations so far this morning, and one was in West Seattle:

Transit Alert – Rt 56 to Seattle due to leave 61st Av SW & Alki Av SW at 6:29 AM has been canceled.

— King County Metro (@kcmetrobus) October 22, 2015

6:51 AM: And two more, this time with some advance warning:

Transit Alert – NB Route 55 to downtown Seattle due to leave California Av SW & SW Atlantic St at 7:18 & 7:43 AM has been canceled.

— King County Metro (@kcmetrobus) October 22, 2015

7:33 AM: We’ve skipped Traffic Throwback Thursday for several weeks, for various reasons. This morning, it’s back. We have a then-and-now pair of views that represent a followup of sorts. In a September 29th story, we featured this historic aerial view from the Seattle Municipal Archives, looking west over Luna Park and beyond in 1962:

One commenter asked about a comparable current view from Gatewood pilot/photographer Long Bach Nguyen. He saw that comment and took time to provide this photo:

(Click image to see larger view)
Finally today, on a quiet-so-far Thursday, we have the chance to publish it.

7:52 AM: Back to today’s traffic – heads-up for southeastern West Seattle, from SDOT via Twitter:

No visual but hearing of a crash at Highland Park Way SW & W Marginal Way SW. Use caution and expect possible delays.

— seattledot (@seattledot) October 22, 2015

8:13 AM: If you are headed this way from the north – you should know that two lanes are blocked on southbound I-5 at the exit to the westbound West Seattle Bridge, so 99 will be a better alternative until that’s cleared up.

8:46 AM: Two more problems: #1, mentioned in comments, there’s a port-truck backup. We heard a bit of that on the scanner but didn’t realize it was on this side – sounded closer to the downtown waterfront. #2, a crash is reported at 42nd/Findlay, and police and fire are heading that way.

9 AM: 42nd/Findlay is currently completely blocked, mostly by emergency vehicles.

No one appears to be seriously hurt.

Chris October 22, 2015 (7:57 am)

The 55 scheduled for 7:53 decided not to show up too.

JayDee October 22, 2015 (8:05 am)

Sending a Transit alert 6 to 8 minutes after the start of a route is not useful…They knew at least 20 minutes before the start of the route that no coach was coming this way. Was Metro clicking it’s red heels and wishing a 56 would magically show up on the run?

sc October 22, 2015 (8:24 am)

Do they cancel because there is no driver?

WSB October 22, 2015 (8:45 am)

SC, in short, yes, and I’m hoping to publish the somewhat extended explainer today, finally, after technical difficulties, among other things.

newnative October 22, 2015 (8:30 am)

I have sent Metro another complaint about the cancellations and lack of transit alerts. I didn’t receive any for several weeks when I know there were. Also, after having good results from the OneBusAway app it now lies to me, causing me to miss buses and wait for buses that never appear. Afternoon commute home is generally a mess.

dp hi pt October 22, 2015 (8:37 am)

Avoid the lower bridge if at all possible. Trucks are stacked up and blocking east bound traffic on spokane

Sue October 22, 2015 (8:39 am)

Unfortunately, the 55 text still came too late to be able to get out and get the earlier one (since the first one cancelled is my regular bus). By the time one finally came, it was a shorter bus and – of course – packed. Ended up on the 50 to light rail instead and half an hour late for work. And they wonder why people are packing the bridge with cars.
.
Meanwhile, last night I left work early to get the 55 before my regular one (around 4:15ish at Seneca), and it never came. My regular one (4:28) never came. I ended up there for 35 minutes with still no bus and One Bus Away just kept extending the time until the alleged next one. Decided to hop on a 21X to at least get into West Seattle and then have an option to change to something else later. Took an hour to get home from Seneca to Jefferson Square. This is getting very old.

Eric1 October 22, 2015 (8:53 am)

Hmm. I need to get to harbor island once every 10 years. Lower bridge is open.. LOL.

Brian October 22, 2015 (10:34 am)

I’m guessing you’re not going to see many 55/56/57 riders vote yes on Prop 1, considering the perilous drop in service that Metro has demonstrated in West Seattle since their last cash infusion.

babs October 22, 2015 (11:14 am)

The cancellation of buses with barely any notice is really getting old. Without those 55’s the Rapid Rides are packed after leaving the junction. And the cancelled buses still show up on One Bus Away.

JanS October 22, 2015 (12:02 pm)

@Brian…so right on that…when I need to go downtown, as a disabled 68 yo woman who has a car, living in the Admiral District, I opt for the car every time. Metro has lost me, period.