West Seattle, Washington
01 Monday
Summer’s ending, and community/district councils are resuming their regular meeting schedules. That means our coverage is back in gear too. No substitute to being at your nearest community meeting yourself – but we’ll do our best to keep you up to date otherwise. Here’s what happened at last night’s Southwest District Council meeting (besides the two notes we’ve already published, regarding the Junction Plaza Park art project and Port of Seattle boat tour):
NEW ADMIRAL WAY SAFETY PROJECT PROPOSAL: SWDC co-chair David Whiting, president of the Admiral Neighborhood Association, announced that SDOT will be at next week’s ANA meeting with an update on revisions to the SW Admiral Way Safety Project, first outlined at ANA’s April meeting (WSB coverage here). While SDOT does plan a standalone meeting this month, Whiting said, this will be the first chance for the community to take a look at changes made (as SDOT director Scott Kubly hinted at in July) after vigorous community feedback earlier this year, as well as new parking/traffic studies by SDOT. ANA meets at The Sanctuary at Admiral (42nd SW & SW Lander), 7 pm Tuesday (September 8th).
TERMINAL 5 COMMENT DEADLINE TOMORROW: Friday’s the last day you can comment on the Port of Seattle‘s proposal for the shut-down-last-year cargo terminal on the east side of West Seattle, pointed out Jim Wojciechowski from the group of neighbors who put up the “Yes! Environmental Impact Statement” signs around the area.
(Port of Seattle graphic/photo)
“They’re not calling it an expansion, but it’s an expansion.” As we reported last month, a new comment period was opened because the city system lost a month’s worth of comments submitted via an online form.
Wojciechowski recapped that the port project would involve, among other things, thousands of pilings and 12 new cranes bigger than the ones you see now. He says Terminal 18 to the east on Harbor Island would be perfect for the big-ship handling, but the port is insistent on using Terminal 5. “What we’re asking them to do is do it right, but they’re giving no indication of any concessions to the neighborhood – they just are going to do what they want to do.”
One week ago tonight, the Admiral Neighborhood Association‘s Summer Concerts at Hiawatha series wrapped up this year’s six-show series – one that will go in the record books as its most-attended year yet! From ANA president David Whiting:
The Admiral Neighborhood Association would like to thank all of our sponsors that contributed to make the Hiawatha Summer Concerts possible. We especially want to acknowledge Metropolitan Market, who, in addition to their support, handed out treats at every one of the six concerts. A tip of our hats to Walter Harley and Christian Heilman, our sound engineers this summer, and Mark Jaroslaw, our videographer [concert highlights above]. These concerts simply wouldn’t be possible without the generosity of all of the following sponsors:
GOLD SPONSOR
Metropolitan MarketSILVER SPONSORS
Associated Recreation Council
The Johnson Team/Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices
Curious Kidstuff
Menchie’s Admiral
Seattle Parks and Recreation
Weitzel Construction
West Seattle BlogBRONZE SPONSORS
Alki Mail and Dispatch
Brent Amacher State Farm Insurance
Bob and Dawn Brown
Custom Crating
Elliott Bay Brewery
Head to Toe Day Spa
Little Gym of West Seattle
Kayle Shulenberger, Speech Pathologist
Stuffed Cakes
Thunder Road Guitars
West Seattle Fit Moms
Wiseman ApplianceMore than 4,300 people (our highest total audience count ever!) listened and danced to music at one or more of the six concerts. If you enjoy community activities like this, your community council needs to hear from you. Most of them take the month of August off, and reconvene their monthly meetings in September. West Seattle Blog announces all West Seattle community councils’ meetings and their activities. This Saturday at 9:00 am, ANA will conduct our quarterly Adopt-A-Street Cleanup, convening at Metropolitan Market, and our next meeting is 7:00 pm, Tuesday, September 8th, at The Sanctuary at Admiral.
We’re proud to have been a sponsor every year since ANA launched the series in 2009 – this was year seven!
Every year, we’re asked about volunteering opportunities for the National Day of Service. Here’s one just out of the WSB inbox – sign up now:
On Saturday 9/12 from 9 am to 3 pm The Mission Continues Seattle 1st Platoon will be supporting American Legion Post 160 and VFW Post 2713 to help restore their buildings while bringing the community together in support of The National Day of Service on 9/11. The community is encouraged to volunteer and to register here for the service project in West Seattle next Saturday.
The Mission Continues Service Platoons are teams of veterans working together with local community organizations to address tough challenges like homelessness & disadvantaged youth. We empower veterans to find a new unit: Members work together not only to solve community challenges, but also to support one another in navigating the reintegration into civilian life. Through a unique model that provides reciprocal benefit for the veteran and the local community, The Mission Continues: • Focuses veterans’ spirit of service through volunteerism • Mobilizes a network of supporters • And, through service helps solve tough challenges facing veterans and communities. By empowering veterans to serve at home, we seek to change the national conversation so that this generation leaves a positive legacy of service & personal success.
The project locations, Posts 160 and 2713, are right across the street from each other on SW Alaska in The Triangle.
Two car break-ins in this West Seattle Crime Watch report:
IN HIGHLAND PARK … That break-in happened in an instant while a parent was at Ages In Stages Child Care in the 8600 block of 9th SW last week picking up her child. We’d been hoping for a closer look at the thief, from the surveillance camera, but apparently this is all they have, so we’re showing it at least as a reminder that this can happen so fast. The victim’s husband says, “The guy broke the window and took off with a phone and a purse within seconds. Looks like he knew exactly what he was doing . . targeting drop-off cars at the daycare . . and he was very quick. I’ve actually been able to track down a few purchases that they made with my wife’s stolen card. I contacted the store managers, and they may have video . . I’m still tracking that down.”
IN HIGH POINT … The photo and report are from Drew on High Point Drive:
My wife’s car was broken into via the passenger window; looks like they basically just wedged the window down to unlock the car. Didn’t take much more than an iPhone charger and some sunglasses, which is good considering the sound system was left intact.
From the SPD reports map, here’s where car prowls were reported in the past week:
Someone looking southward from aboard a Kenmore Air floatplane texted us that view of West Seattle the other day. If you text a pic – 206-293-6302 – let us know who to credit! Anyway, if you’re heading out for the holiday weekend, have a great time. We’ll be right here covering the news, as always. And the scheduled happenings too. From the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar for today/tonight:
PORT COMMISSION CO-PRESIDENT TALKS TO CHAMBER: 11:30 am at Jack Block Park, the West Seattle Chamber of Commerce‘s monthly luncheon features Port Commission co-president Courtney Gregoire speaking about the “State of the Port.” Online reservations have closed but the event page on the Chamber website has info on how to check if there’s still room. (2130 Harbor SW)
PLAY GAMES! No fewer than SEVEN events listed for today/tonight on the right side of the home page for Meeples Games (current sponsor of the WSB calendar page, so you can click the ad atop that page any time to see what’s going on). If you love games – go see what’s up. (3727 California SW)
DELRIDGE GROCERY FARM STAND: 4-7 pm, join the Delridge Grocery Coop (WSB sponsor) for this week’s fresh-from-the-farm produce stand! (5455 Delridge Way SW)
4528 44TH SW @ DESIGN REVIEW: 6:30 pm at the Senior Center of West Seattle, this microhousing project goes back before the Southwest Design Review Board. See the design “packet” in the preview published here on Wednesday. The meeting includes the opportunity for public comments. (SW Oregon & California SW)
LIVE FOLK MUSIC: 9 pm at The Skylark – see our calendar listing for details. (3803 Delridge Way SW)
(Four WS-relevant views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
7:34 AM: Good morning! No incidents so far in our area or on the major outbound routes.
BACK TO SCHOOL: The local parochial schools are all back in session as of yesterday. And if you travel south of West Seattle, note that today is the first day of classes for Highline Public Schools (White Center and beyond).
SEAHAWKS GAME TONIGHT: The West Seattle Water Taxi will have extended service for tonight’s pre-season home game vs. the Raiders.
LABOR DAY TRANSIT PREVIEW: Monday (September 7th) is the holiday, and Metro will be on a Sunday schedule. So will the WS Water Taxi run.
ADDED 8:23 AM – ‘TRAFFIC THROWBACK THURSDAY’: Still relatively quiet. So how about a “Traffic Throwback Thursday” view from the Seattle Municipal Archives?
Click the photo to go to a city webpage with a larger view. The SMA says that building, photographed in 1914, was at 4525 44th SW – which would put it right across the street from the microhousing project the SW Design Review Board is looking at tonight.
ADDED 8:46 AM: Thanks to Doug for tweeting that a vehicle’s broken down on the bridge by the 99 offramp – but it’s off to the side, so not much trouble, so far.
ADDED 4:45 PM: Today’s two bus cancellation announcements:
Transit Alert – Route 55 to the Admiral District due to leave 5th Av & Wall St at 5:13 PM has been canceled.
— King County Metro (@kcmetrobus) September 3, 2015
Earlier:
Transit Alert – Route 56 to downtown Seattle due to leave 61st Av SW & Alki Av SW at 7:33 has been canceled.
— King County Metro (@kcmetrobus) September 3, 2015
It’s one of the most fun nights of (almost-)fall for Rotary Club of West Seattle members … the back-to-school sorting party for Pencil Me In For Kids, their signature charity distributing donated school supplies to local students. As Rotarians and friends gathered Wednesday night in a Westwood backyard, they knew that every local elementary has kids getting a boost from PMIFK (that was noted at this week’s Rotary meeting). Member or not, you can help too, through PMIFK – here’s how.
Another quick note from tonight’s Southwest District Council meeting: An artist has been chosen for the Junction Plaza Park project (42nd SW & SW Alaska). Susan Melrose from the West Seattle Junction Association told the SWDC that the decision had been made at a meeting earlier in the evening: The artist will be West Seattle resident Troy Pillow, whose public art you can see here. He also is the artist commissioned for The Whittaker (there’s some information on that plan in our report from last December’s city Design Commission meeting). The $25,000 budget for this project was part of the “public benefit” from what became the Spruce project (3922 SW Alaska). No specific design yet, Melrose said, but she says Pillow is “very collaborative.” Watch for updates.
8:36 PM: A crash on the eastbound West Seattle Bridge has closed the ramp to NB Highway 99, according to SDOT. We’re hearing that no one is seriously injured, so the closure might not last too long.
9:23 PM UPDATE: SDOT says the crash is clear and the ramp is open again.
From tonight’s Southwest District Council meeting: A reminder that the Port of Seattle‘s rescheduled “West Seattle Working Waterfront Tour” is coming up on Saturday, September 19th, and registration is happening right now. It’s a round trip from Pier 66 on the downtown waterfront, aboard the Spirit of Seattle; free (validated) parking near the pier will be available if you need it. All ages are welcome and there will be a special program during the cruise for kids, as well as narration for all. The official description: “Get an up-close look at the Port of Seattle cargo facilities that generate 24,000 jobs in our community with an annual payroll of $2 billion.” Check-in will be at 9 am on tour day; the tour itself will take you out on the water 9:30-11:30 am. The Port (which is advertising on WSB to promote the tour) reminds you that space is limited and you can register for up to 4 tickets – “RSVP with the name for each guest attending and e-mail pos-reception@portseattle.org by September 15th. Questions? Call 206-787-3527.”
(WSB photo. Note: This is NOT the bus on which the substance was found – that’s a few buses down)
4:42 PM: Eastbound Barton is closed right now at 30th SW because of a Seattle Fire response at the bus stop across from Westwood Village. According to the scanner, a “white powder” of some kind was found on a bus, which subsequently was evacuated, and they’re treating it as a possible hazmat situation until otherwise determined. We’ve just arrived at the scene to find out more.
4:48 PM UPDATE: This appears to be happening aboard a C-Line bus – not the one in our photo, a short ways east on Barton, which is now blocked both ways.
4:55 PM UPDATE: We’ve confirmed with SFD at the scene that no one has needed medical treatment. The suspicious substance was called in by the bus driver. Barton remains blocked off between 30th and 26th. (And yes, that is a TV helicopter that just arrived over the scene.)
5:09 PM UPDATE: Crews are suiting up in hazmat gear.
5:25 PM UPDATE: They subsequently went into the bus. We’re waiting to hear/see what happens next. Again, Barton is blocked BOTH WAYS.
5:33 PM: The verdict: Cleaning supplies (photo added above).
Barton will reopen shortly.
4:28 PM: That’s the picket line along SW Thistle outside Chief Sealth International High School (mouse over the image to show and click the video’s “play” button), one of two sites in West Seattle and nine around the city where Seattle Education Association members are picketing on the eve of their strike vote.
After more than three months of contract talks, there’s no agreement, so when members from around the city meet at Benaroya Hall tomorrow evening, they’ll be voting on whether to strike. As noted in our most recent coverage here and here, the issues on which they disagree include pay increases and guaranteed recess time. The SEA members picketing at Sealth are from not just that school but also its “feeder” elementary and middle schools; we’re heading next to West Seattle High School, where picketing also is supposed to be happening until 5:30 pm. The first day of classes for Seattle Public Schools is scheduled to be one week from today, Wednesday, September 9th.
5:14 PM: We aren’t going to make it over to WSHS because of the breaking story we’re covering. If anyone has a photo to share of picketing there, please send – editor@westseattleblog.com – so we can add. Meantime, Melissa has sent a photo from Delridge/Thistle, a few blocks east of the Sealth picketing:
10:02 PM: We did get photos from the WSHS picketing – thank you!
That photo is from Roland; the next one, from Rich.
The district has published another update, saying it has asked for mediation, and that the union has agreed, starting Friday. There’s also an update on the union website. Both updates spell out the respective sides’ views on where they remain apart.
The first microhousing (in official city terminology, Small Efficiency Dwelling Units) project in The Junction goes back before the Southwest Design Review Board tomorrow night (Thursday, September 3rd) at 6:30 pm. Embedded above is Alloy Design Group‘s “packet” for the meeting (or see it here as a PDF). Toward the start, it explains the 4528 44th SW project:
The owner proposes the construction of a new 6-story apartment building with approximately 58 small efficiency dwelling units, or SEDU’s. An existing apartment building on site will be demolished. The objective for these apartments in to provide upscale, yet affordable, housing to the West Seattle Junction neighborhood. The demographic that will benefit most from this housing will be wage earners in the neighborhood that can’t afford the $1,000 plus rents of nearby properties – millennials desiring to move out of their parents houses, people opting for minimal consumption as a lifestyle, and people that commute to downtown businesses that will utilize the Rapid Ride bus service steps from the project. In short, the project endeavors to promote urban density and support the thriving pedestrian-oriented businesses and activities in the neighborhood.
Public comments on the proposed design will be taken during Thursday night’s meeting (upstairs at the Senior Center of West Seattle, southeast corner of California SW and SW Oregon). You can review the official city report on the previous SWDRB review by going here.
SIDE NOTE – THE LAWSUIT: You might recall, the developer sued the city and the current tenants of the 2-story, 8-unit building that this will replace, challenging the city’s notice saying they needed to apply for a “tenant relocation” license under the city law requiring compensation for demolition-displaced tenants. The city filed a motion to dismiss the lawsuit – as we reported in July – and that was scheduled to be argued in court this morning; we’re checking on whether a ruling resulted or is pending.
We’ve just dug up details on two Seattle Parks projects you might have noticed:
(Seattle Parks photo)
SOUTHWEST POOL/TEEN LIFE CENTER/NEIGHBORHOOD SERVICE CENTER: You’re being asked to enter via the south side while this work is happening on the north side of the building at 2801 SW Thistle. A leaky water pipe was detected, and has to be replaced; once that’s done, the cement that’s being removed to get to the faulty pipe will have to be replaced, and this is all expected to continue for another week and a half.
SEACREST PIER: Remember last year’s controversy after the city temporarily shut off the Seacrest shower used by divers, because it drains into Puget Sound? Parks mentioned a “permanent solution” was being sought, and this project is apparently it.
When the work is done, the shower will drain into the sewer system instead. The $71,500 project is expected to be complete by the end of next month. (Thanks to Paul for the tip.)
(Golden-crowned kinglet, photographed by Mark Wangerin)
Midweek highlights (delayed a bit today by breaking news):
EDUCATORS PICKETING: On the eve of their strike vote, Seattle Education Association members will be picketing at high schools around the city, including both Chief Sealth International High School (2600 SW Thistle) and West Seattle High School (3000 California SW), 3:30 pm-5:30 pm today.
FINAL MONTH FOR HIGH POINT FARM STAND: 4-7 pm, the High Point Market Garden Farm Stand is selling fresh-picked produce, and this is its last month of the season. Details in our calendar listing. (32nd SW & SW Juneau)
SOUTHWEST DISTRICT COUNCIL: The city-supported group with reps from community councils and other key organizations around western West Seattle meets tonight at 6:30 pm at the Senior Center. Main agenda item: Potential environmental impacts of the Terminal 5 project, with a neighborhood advocate leading the discussion. (SW Oregon & California SW)
JIM PAGE @ C & P: Singer-songwriter Jim Page is live at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor), 7-9 pm. (5612 California SW)
INJURY-PREVENTION CLINIC: Runners are invited to this 7 pm clinic at West Seattle Runner (WSB sponsor) – details in our calendar listing. (2743 California SW)
MORE NIGHTLIFE … find it via our complete calendar.
(WSB photos by Patrick Sand)
9:41 AM: Big Seattle Fire/Police response en route right now to 49th SW and SW Graham (map) in Seaview, where a two-car crash is reported, one said to be “on its side” per the dispatch. More to come.
9:44 AM: First SFD crew at the scene confirms one vehicle, an SUV, is on its side and two people are inside – they’re checking on injuries as well as how to get them out. The response is being upgraded to “heavy rescue,” which means even more SFD vehicles headed that way.
9:52 AM: They’re getting the two people out now. Some of the responding units are being canceled.
9:58 AM: Our crew at the scene confirms both people are out of the vehicle that went into a tree on the SE corner of 49th/Graham; the other vehicle is a silver Volvo still out in the intersection.
Lots of SFD units still in the area so stay clear – 49th is residential but 48th, one block east, is a minor arterial through the area.
10:04 AM: Per our crew, the two people who were cut out of that vehicle – you’ll note that its roof is now missing, as shown in our top photo – will be taken to a hospital for evaluation, by private ambulance.
10:32 AM: The flipped Hyundai was headed eastbound on Graham, the Volvo northbound on 49th, when they collided, police tell us, as they continue investigating. The Volvo’s driver was unhurt.
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
No, the city’s new strategies for clearing crashes more quickly won’t compromise investigations.
So promised Seattle Police traffic section Capt. Eric Greening during the West Seattle Transportation Coalition‘s monthly meeting. He and SDOT’s Traffic Management Center manager Adiam Emery were there to talk about the city’s new emphasis on Traffic Incident Management (TIM), as first detailed in an August 3rd media briefing downtown focused on a new analysis by consultants.
WSTC also heard on Thursday night from the transit-advocacy group Seattle Subway, which is encouraging West Seattleites to join them in pushing Sound Transit for a bolder vision/plan than is currently being explored for next year’s “ST3” ballot measure.
Toplines ahead:
(Four WS-relevant views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
7:34 AM: Good morning. More rain due later today.
BACK TO SCHOOL: As of today, all the local parochial schools are back in session – today is the first day for Hope Lutheran and Holy Family (whose area of Roxbury has school-zone cameras – see the enforcement schedule here).
METRO CANCELLATIONS: In our followup published last night, a King County Department of Transportation spokesperson explained that cancellations aren’t new but their efforts to notify riders via texts/tweets are, while also responding to our questions about hiring efforts, since personnel shortages are behind the cancellations. So far this morning, one announced cancellation in West Seattle, the Route 37 run at 6:46 am.
ADDED 7:55 AM – SPEAKING OF TRANSIT: Just tweeted by Amanda Kay Helmick (who co-chairs the WS Transportation Coalition and Westwood-Roxhill-Arbor Heights Community Council):
The People's response to @kcmetrobus removing the bench at Roxbury and 26th Ave SW. @westseattleblog @WSTCoalition pic.twitter.com/RmRAXDzITt
— Amanda Kay Helmick (@ak_helmick) September 2, 2015
10:12 AM: We’re following up on that bus bench, by the way. Meantime, in addition to the 49th/Graham crash we’re covering, there’s a stalled vehicle reported to be partly blocking the Admiral offramp on the westbound West Seattle Bridge – tow truck has been requested.
ADDED 2:17 PM: In subsequent tweets, Helmick had said she was told the bench was removed because homeless people were sleeping on it. Metro spokesperson Jeff Switzer cites loitering and drug dealing:
The bench in this shelter was removed April 20 at the request of Metro Transit Police due to chronic loitering and
drug dealing* in the bus shelter. Removing the bench can often discourage this type of activity in a bus shelter. We don’t like to remove any benches needed by our customers, but it is an option we use when needed to try to reduce security issues in a bus shelter that otherwise drive customers away.We’re monitoring and are open to further discussions with the community about solutions that work for this location. We’ve had two walking tours in this area with community leaders, Seattle Police and Metro Transit Police. We are always open to working with social service groups and law enforcement to address homeless and security issues beyond Metro’s control.
Metro staff were notified and plan to remove the giant rocks found in the shelter so riders don’t accidentally trip and become injured.
We covered both of those walking tours – most recently, at the end of March, about 3 weeks before the bench-removal date mentioned by Switzer; the previous one was 15 months earlier, at the end of 2013. Our coverage noted that liquor was mentioned as a problem at that bus stop – with four places to get it nearby.
2:32 PM: *Referring to the asterisk and struck-out text above – at the exact moment we were publishing that update, Switzer sent a note saying that Metro Transit Police corrected themselves in a followup note to him, saying it was alcohol, not drug dealing, that was the problem at this stop.
3:02 PM: Back to bus cancellations – just tweeted:
Transit Alert – Route 56 to Alki due to leave 3rd Av and Bell St at 3:04 PM has been canceled.
— King County Metro (@kcmetrobus) September 2, 2015
4:58 PM: Avoid Barton between Roxhill Park and the east end of Westwood Village – a potential-hazmat response has blocked off the street. Also, while this is bound to be causing some bus problems, there were more *unrelated-to-this* cancellations noted by Metro – we’re posting them here for the record:
Transit Alert – Route 56 to Alki due to leave 3rd Av and Bell St at 4:28 PM has been canceled.
— King County Metro (@kcmetrobus) September 2, 2015
Transit Alert Update – Route 55 to the Admiral District due to leave 5 Av & Wall St at 4:59 PM & 5:22 PM have been canceled this evening.
— King County Metro (@kcmetrobus) September 2, 2015
If you ride the bus from/to West Seattle, you might have been affected by a cancellation lately. Today in particular, Metro texted/tweeted four cancellations on West Seattle-serving routes, as noted in our daily transit/traffic coverage. WHen we asked the county about cancellations recently, the explanation involved a personnel shortage. After what happened today, we asked King County Department of Transportation spokesperson Jeff Switzer if it was still a staffing issue and if so, what efforts are under way to remedy it. Here’s his reply, including an explanation of the notifications, which he says are new:
The alerts for cancellations aren’t all in West Seattle, and not all canceled trips are receiving alerts at this time as staff fine tune how to best to accurately communicate canceled trips in a timely fashion. We’ll look into what might have led to the coincidence of cancellations the past few days; 55/56/57 operate out of Central Base and they might have had fewer available operators today for some reason. …
As Metro began implementing the system’s largest service increases this past June, and more in September and March to help meet demand, we’ve been hiring and training at an unprecedented pace: We’ve hired and trained hundreds of part-time drivers and promoted and trained part-time drivers to become full-time drivers – all part of the transition to putting more service on the road.
Today we have more than 2,500 operators – about 1,600 full-time and 900 part-time. Right after Prop 1 passed, we got started on hiring to implement the new planned service. We have hired 212 part-time operators from January through August, and promoted 173 operators to full-time, and are increasing staffing in our rail section in advance of U Link and First Hill Streetcar. We anticipate hiring an additional 225 part-time operators and promoting an additional 96 operators to full time through March 2016. We have attended career and hiring fairs and will be back on college campuses this fall recruiting people interested in becoming part-time drivers. Growing our ranks is essential to growing service, but it means some growing pains during these times of transition.
Coordinators at the bases and control center work to fill individual bus trips whenever an operator becomes sick, or is in training classes or otherwise unavailable. They use the workforce available to backfill any missed trips as best they can. They rely on some standby operators but also seek available drivers willing to take on extra work.
Riders don’t even notice that this goes on every day as coordinators work to make the service perform smoothly. In the event a replacement operator isn’t available, some trips unfortunately go unfilled, which can mean more riders boarding the following bus. A new effort in its infancy now tries to notify riders via email and twitter when a trip isn’t expected to be filled. Even then, we have recently canceled some trips via transit alert, only to soon find an operator and “uncancel” it. Alerts are not yet sent for every canceled trip, but staff are working to improve this new effort at better customer communications. Better still, we’re hiring to avoid canceled trips altogether.
In some cases, a bus trip will operate very late with a replacement driver; however, a rider may already have made other arrangements or boarded on the following bus. The perception is that the trip never showed up. We send these buses out because even operating late helps ease any lingering crowding issues, provided it can get into the mix in a timely fashion. This is essential for first and last trips, where riders are especially dependent on our operations.
West Seattle isn’t alone and trip cancellations are occurring in places across the system, and vary from base to base on different days. Here’s a recent tally of West Seattle trips which did not operate for lack of a driver, not including any mechanical problems/ substituted coaches. This list shows 9 bus trips unfortunately canceled in the past three weekdays, with no canceled trips Aug. 22-28.
· Alerts show we canceled one Route 56 trip Tuesday morning. In the afternoon, we canceled a trip on the 21X, one on Route 56, one on Route 57.
· Alerts show we canceled and then filled a Route 55 Monday morning. We canceled one southbound Route 55 trip and one northbound Route 56 trip.
· Last week (Aug. 22-29), Route 55 had one canceled morning trip and one canceled afternoon trip, both Friday; there also was one morning Route 56 cancelation Friday.
Some weeks this summer have been a bigger challenge than others. We operate more than 11,000 trips each weekday, and over 55,000 each work week. Using backup drivers and asking drivers to work extra has kept more than 99 percent of trips on the street. We make every effort to avoid canceling back to back trips, or first and last trips, and are mindful that some areas of the county have infrequent service. We expect that as we continue to hire drivers and encourage available drivers to pick up extra trips if they can, service will smooth out and we will see fewer cancellations in coming weeks. Until then, we work day-in, day-out to put service on the road for riders.
We apologize for the inconvenience canceled trips cause riders and want to assure our customers we are working hard to address this quick growth in transit service by hiring good, professional customer-focused drivers. That effort continues and we graduate more drivers into the workforce every few weeks at the conclusion of each class.
Customers can sign up for transit alerts to receive notifications when possible of transit disruptions or canceled trips.
Three quick biznotes, all from the world of local food and drink:
WEST SEATTLE BREWING COMPANY: Two months after King County Public Health closed it for “operating without a valid permit,” West Seattle Brewing Company at 4415 Fauntleroy Way SW is about to reopen. Thanks to Diane for the tip; we went over to verify in person, and were told they’ll open around 5:30 am tomorrow (Wednesday, September 2nd) for coffee and expect to stay open until about 11 pm. They’ve done an extensive amount of work in the meantime, as you can see via the WSBC Facebook page (and in fact, even as night fell, they were making some finishing touches).
MARDI GRAS DONUTS: Six months after we reported on this donut shop, specializing in beignets, opening at 9828 16th SW in White Center, it’s closed “until further notice,” according to a sign on the door. Thanks to David for the tip; he had gone there Sunday (a day they’re supposed to be open, according to new hours posted recently) and discovered the sign. Still up as of our check earlier today. We’ll keep checking back.
COMMENT TIME FOR CHUNGEE’S WEST: We broke the news last Thursday that a rezoning/remodeling proposal for the house at 6921 California SW would include a West Seattle expansion of Chungee’s, the Chinese restaurant on Capitol Hill whose proprietors already own the Morgan Junction house. As expected, the comment period for the proposal opened a few days later – here’s the notice, and here’s the form to use to comment (deadline is September 13th).
#BigShipCallisto is 1,193ft long, 150ft wide & carries 11.4k containers #SeattleHarbor @PortofSeattle @CMA_CGM_Group pic.twitter.com/IM1jLh4yJg
— NW Seaport Alliance (@SeaportNW) September 1, 2015
The Northwest Seaport Alliance – the new entity that includes the Ports of Seattle and Tacoma – says that’s the biggest container ship ever to call in Puget Sound, the CMA CGM Callisto, which arrived at Terminal 18 today. As big as it is – see all the stats here – it’s not as big as the ships the port wants to redesign Terminal 5 to handle, which will hold up to a third more container volume than this one. The Callisto is scheduled to head back out tomorrow. Speaking of the modernization proposal – this Friday is the comment deadline for key aspects of that proposal – details are in our report from two weeks ago.
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
The U.S. Navy‘s presence in the Northwest – and much of the rest of the world – is vital, on a planet where 80 percent of all people live close to oceans or other waterways, and 90 percent of the world’s trade goes by water.
That’s what Rear Admiral Jeff Ruth, commander of Navy Region Northwest, told the Rotary Club of West Seattle this afternoon, as guest speaker at their weekly lunch. This region, in particular, he noted, is reliant on those trade routes, and in turn on the security provided by the Navy.
The turnout filled the lower meeting room at Salty’s on Alki (WSB sponsor). The admiral’s resume – detailed here – includes two years commanding the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz. And his speech was far more global than local.
Your local city-run community centers are heading into fall season – and spotlighting sports including volleyball. Quick announcement in case you haven’t heard::
Sign-ups now available for girls age 10-17 for Recreational Volleyball at our community centers. $35.00 entry covers all fees, including uniform, coaching, practice and league games. Practices and games run weekday evenings. This is a great opportunity for girls to learn basic volleyball fundamentals and teamwork. Call or visit Hiawatha Community Center for more details.
That’s just one of myriad sports, activities, classes, and other offerings this fall at West Seattle’s centers – browse the brochure to see what else awaits you.
| 1 COMMENT