VIADUCT CLOSURE, DAY 5: Tuesday morning commute coverage

(SDOT MAP with camera/incident links; OFFICIAL #99CLOSURE INFOSITE; ‘low bridge’ closed? LOOK HERE)

(Click any view for a close-up; more cameras on the WSB Traffic page)

5:04 AM: Good morning! Welcome to Day 5 of the two-weeks-or-so closure of the Alaskan Way Viaduct while the Highway 99 tunnel machine goes beneath it. Our expanded morning-commute coverage starts with some numbers:

–106 feet: How far the tunneling machine has gone as of about an hour ago, since its restart last Friday
–2,047 bicycle trips: New record for the counter on the low bridge, set yesterday as of 5:45 pm, 200 more than the old record on 5/14/15 per Don Brubeck of West Seattle Bike Connections
–1,189 West Seattle Water Taxi riders: Morning commute total Monday, more than triple the previous Monday’s ridership. (Still lots of room at the Pier 2 park-and-ride lot, so try it if you need parking! – info here.)

5:21 AM: If you have been using I-5 northbound *south* of the West Seattle Bridge, this is NOT the time to do it – big emergency response at Albro for a rollover crash [traffic cam here] blocking the two center lanes.

6 AM: That crash has now cleared to the shoulder, but – again, this is SOUTH of the West Seattle Bridge, so it won’t affect you if you’re going to NB I-5 *from* the bridge – miles of backup will take a while to clear. No other incidents in this area so far in the early going.

6:22 AM: As we’ve seen the past two weekday mornings, the (high) bridge is getting busier earlier. General advice from commenters’ commute stories has been to time-shift. Meantime, we just heard from co-publisher Patrick Sand at Seacrest – no number yet for the 6:15 am West Seattle Water Taxi run due to some communication problems but they’ve put out cones to improve the line organization:

6:29 AM: 125 for the first Water Taxi run, up from 87 yesterday.

6:53 AM: The high bridge is in full-usage mode. The Water Taxi’s 6:45 run had 144 people, only two more than yesterday. Also just in, a new final count for Monday bicycle trips across the low bridge – 2,525. (Check our daily calendar preview around 9:30 am for your next chance to get training, if you’re thinking about trying bike commuting soon.)

7:03 AM: Scanner reports “3- or 4-vehicle collision at 3261 Avalon Way,” police and medics en route. That’s just east of 35th. If you’re on a bus or otherwise in passenger mode and go by, please let us know what you see.

7:09 AM: Jennifer reports “nothing there,” which explains why the SFD callout has already closed.

7:24 AM: 208 riders for the 7:15 am Water Taxi run, down a bit from yesterday’s 221. They’re working to speed things up in a variety of ways – not just line organization as mentioned earlier but also sending staffer with ORCA Card reader down the line while people wait:

Thanks to the texter who sent us an informal count from on board in case we didn’t get an official one!

7:40 AM: 1st Avenue South is “congested” per scanner – we’re listening to SPD discussions of logistics to try to address traffic trouble spots while the Viaduct closure continues. They’re describing 4th Avenue NB as looking “real good,” meantime.

7:54 AM: 192 on the Water Taxi run at 7:45, down twenty from yesterday.

8:03 AM: Avalon trouble reports: For one, @allonsy says there’s a “broken-down C Line at 35th and Avalon.” A little further north/east, we’ve had reports of cars in the bus-only lane. And Chris sent this photo from the Luna Park area:

Chris explained, “In the picture you can see people making illegal left turns by Luna Park Café. This is a problem for people who have been waiting in traffic legally. While waiting in the queue I saw at least 20 cars cut in front.” Via Twitter, the SDOT Traffic Ops Center says they’ll make sure SPD knows Avalon might be in need of enforcement.

8:22 AM: 177 for the 8:15 Water Taxi run, only two-thirds of what it was yesterday.

8:48 AM: 4th Avenue has slowed down considerably, according to reports we’re hearing. So if you’re leaving late and headed that way, allow extra time.

8:50 AM: 134 on the Water Taxi run that’s under way now, up from 120 yesterday. We’re leaving the dock but our commute watch continues.

9:07 AM: From the scanner – stalled vehicle on the eastbound bridge before the 4th Avenue exit. A tow truck is en route.

9:14 AM: The “low bridge” (Spokane St. Swing Bridge) has just closed to surface traffic so vessel traffic can get through, first closure this morning.

9:42 AM: The bridge closure is over.

candrewb May 3, 2016 (5:35 am)

Many people are also using Lake Washington Blvd as a North-South. I do because of day care location. However this did not stop SDOT from allowing a contractor to start a project last week that restricts one lane with the use of two flaggers who cannot manage the increase in traffic. Nice job on that one.

Paul May 3, 2016 (6:29 am)

Left Sunrise Heights at 5:45am and got to SLU at 6:05am. At that time all was clear onto I5.

Mel May 3, 2016 (6:36 am)

Left Fauntlee Hills at 5:45 and had an easy commute to SLU. I’ll be using the “go early” strategy until this mess is over!

Sam May 3, 2016 (6:40 am)

It’s a miracle! The 775 shuttle actually made its run around the point this morning, in advance of the 6:45 sailing!

New procedures in place in WT lineup: fares are being collected at the top of the ramp by the parking lot, and the lineup on the dock is being managed by a staff menber to use both sides of the dock.

Shuttle was on time; boat arrived about 5 minutes early to start loading. Nice work!

newnative May 3, 2016 (6:51 am)

6:45 Water Taxi not close to full. staff took fares before we queued up so boarding was quicker. Mt. Rainer looks awesome

John May 3, 2016 (6:53 am)

Riding my bike over the bridge last night at 5pm I was the 1,701st bike to cross that day. Last week at the same time I was averaging around the 550th biker. That’s a huge increase! Keep it up after the reopening!

John May 3, 2016 (6:54 am)

Oh…one more thing. Stop running the red lights new bikers.
- West Sea Neighbor May 3, 2016 (7:50 am)
  
  @John, I second your comment. I’ve seen a lot more risky behavior out there, and makes us all look bad.
- JanS May 3, 2016 (10:50 am)
  
  John, thanks for that. I do see that more than I’d like.

Natinstl May 3, 2016 (7:26 am)

Found parking pretty easily by the water taxi this morning, 7:15

David May 3, 2016 (7:31 am)

Our 21X driver found a solution to all the cars camped out in the bus lane on Avalon. Simply cruise down the empty through lane and turn right at Spokane St cutting in front of the guy in the right turn/bus lane. I’m sure this saved at least 5 minutes.

adk May 3, 2016 (7:38 am)

Wow, that’s a lot of bike riders. The water taxi feels crowded, but it’s amazing to see that the bike riders over the bridge outnumber us water taxi riders substantially. Keep it up bike riders. Nice work!

JayDee May 3, 2016 (8:02 am)

The 6:34 56 took 45 minutes up from the normal 25 minutes to the Union Street stop which was actually Pine Street (opps). No “dedicated” bus lanes on 4th.

wsgal May 3, 2016 (8:14 am)

Glad to see the illegal left turns by Luna Park Café will get some attention! People cut through there all the time, very tricky and frustrating.

KBear May 3, 2016 (8:18 am)

Seems like a concrete barrier would be a simple solution to the illegal left turns.
- West Sea Neighbor May 3, 2016 (8:52 am)
  
  It is tricky, and made more tricky because it is actually legal for bicycles to make a left turn there (there’s a painted bike turn lane). A concrete barrier would require removal of that turn lane as well.
SoundersFan May 3, 2016 (8:46 am)

Are left turns at Luna Park really illegal? IIRC, the sign says “right lane must turn right”. But the lane widens a bit at the intersection with a bike lane to the left of the traffic lane. So at the very least bikes are allowed to turn left (otherwise their lane would stay on the right shoulder). So I think there is legitimate confusion about whether it is allowed or not.
- DaveB May 3, 2016 (6:55 pm)
  
  It’s not clear, it took me a few times going through that intersection to realize that only bikes could turn right. I’ve been thinking about writing the city but it hasn’t been a problem until now.

Andrea May 3, 2016 (8:16 am)

Left Highland Park and Othello for our daily commute of west marginal way to the low bridge to 1st avenue then up James to 9th and Terry and back that same way to SODO. Total commute 1 hour and 5 minutes, this is an increase of 20 minutes from yesterday. I assume it was due to people avoiding I5, more folks than usual were on west marginal way this morning. Not terrible :)

East Coast Cynic May 3, 2016 (8:17 am)

@David, unfortunately my 21X driver this morning (caught it around 7am in upper Morgan) decided to sit in the bus lane behind all the SOV cheaters and wait his turn instead of doing what your driver and most drivers of the route do. If my driver does it again tomorrow morning, I may have to be the backseat driver d-bag and ask him/her to do what your driver did. Ride to downtown about 43 minutes otherwise, which wasn’t bad; however, I thought that 4th Ave NB before the stadiums was a bit more hammered than Monday, if they want to call that “looking good.”

The illegal left turns at Luna Park have been going on forever, enforcement of that as well as the SOV cheating in the Avalon bus lane is waaaay overdue.

K. Davis May 3, 2016 (8:24 am)

People … it is not “illegal” to turn left at LPC. Get over it. By all means, enforce people using bus lanes – that is not cool. But the other part is just legal traffic merging.

mike May 3, 2016 (8:34 am)

If they’re crossing a double yellow line turning left then it is, indeed illegal. Can’t tell by the picture above. Lots of selfish traffic behavior which is legal (eg: driving to the front of the wait line to N.B. I-5 then cutting in just before the double white line) subjects the offender to the “law” of Karma, which might be stricter than a simple traffic ticket :)
- KBear May 3, 2016 (9:30 am)
  
  Mike, double yellow lines indicate that passing is prohibited. They have nothing to do with left turns.
JW May 3, 2016 (8:42 am)

I thought there was a “right turn only” sign at Luna Park? It’s been a while since I’ve gone that route but I distinctly recall feeling that I was pulling a no-no, by turning left…
Sunuva May 3, 2016 (8:47 am)

The vehicle lane is marked as right-only on the pavement, in addition to a “right lane must turn right” sign on the stop sign. The place where people are turning left is supposed to be a bike lane. It does have a left arrow, but that is for bikes. I bet most people who make the illegal left here would use the signage confusion as an excuse. The “right lane must turn right” sign makes it seem like there are two vehicle lanes when one of them is supposed to be just for bikes. The left arrow on the pavement in the bike lane could also be confusing. This intersection could use a green-painted bike lane area to make it more clear and maybe change that sign to just “right turn only”.
West Sea Neighbor May 3, 2016 (8:55 am)

Yes, it is illegal for cars to turn left there.

K'lo May 3, 2016 (8:24 am)

Kudos to Metro @water taxi! Being proactive, getting the queue pre-scanned/ticketed. Leaving time, they stand their ground and don’t let stragglers down on the dock until after the boat pulls out. Makes for on time performance, hence, happy commuters! They have really shown some flexibility and readiness to make the commute a smooth one.

Willistheclown May 3, 2016 (8:33 am)

“People … it is not “illegal” to turn left at LPC. Get over it.”

If that is true, then I agree with you. It is similar to drivers who say “use every inch of every available lane” and merge at the very end (think SB 99 Columbia onramp). It may not “feel right” to some, but we need to use every bit of legal pavement we have during this time.

Willistheclown May 3, 2016 (8:35 am)

I guess there is no way to know without taking a survey – and maybe they can during the ferry cue – but does anyone think that new boaters and bikers are simply ex-bus riders? In which case, very little is being done to remove cars from the roads?

WSB May 3, 2016 (8:53 am)

Willis, they actually did take a survey on day 1. I will have to ask about the results. No way to know otherwise, though one person interviewed by a TV reporter at the Water Taxi dock identified herself as someone who otherwise drives the West Seattle Bridge to work.
- BC May 3, 2016 (9:02 am)
  
  They handed out surveys on the water taxi today and one of the questions asked about normal commute method. So they should have some data here. I’m one of those who is just switching from the bus and never drives anyway (having to drive to the dock instead of just walking to the bus stop is what prevents me from taking the wt more often).
sam-c May 3, 2016 (9:05 am)

Yes, I do know of one person. He is usually a bus rider. With the delays of the bus commute Friday AM, he took water taxi Friday afternoon and has been biking these last couple days. So, yeah, didn’t take a car off the road- just a bus rider turned bike rider.

workdowntown May 3, 2016 (8:35 am)

Ok, I took Friday and Monday off to avoid the inevitable, but had to return to work today. Yes, I usually drive to work – don’t hate me, I’m old and tired. I pay for monthly parking. But trying to do what’s right, I caught the 55 this morning on Hill street, because I knew I could get a seat. And I’m carrying my laptop which to me weighs a ton. It let me off at 3rd and Seneca and I work at 5th and Columbia, so a bit of a hike. Took an hour and 10 minutes door to door. Usually takes 20 minutes max. I just hope Bertha doesn’t break down in the middle of the viaduct.

tk May 3, 2016 (8:36 am)

re: illegal left turn @ Avalon/Luna Park

Sometime last year (?) the “No left turn” sign was removed (for cars coming down the hill onto Avalon). There is a middle lane specifically for turning left now. Personally, I think left turns show not be allowed during the morning commute, but the rest of the day left turns should be permitted.

Chris M May 3, 2016 (8:59 am)

The “middle lane” is 1/2 width and has a big bike symbol on it — Bikes can turn left. Signage needs to be revamped there because people are constantly making the illegal turn.

Elton May 3, 2016 (8:39 am)

The 8:15 water taxi definitely didn’t seem full, line was well organized as others reported and the taxi left very close to on time.

Anyone know why there’s yellow paint on the curb in front of saltys? Does that mean no parking? Because there’s no signage for it, no hydrant, and it goes far along from the driveway.

K'lo May 3, 2016 (9:58 am)

Not positive, however, it could be that Salty’s painted the yellow line to allow for safer turns into their parking lot on Sat/Sun. Brunch days. They also put cones out on the street to accommodate their needs, thus eliminating probably 6-8 on street parking spaces. Might want to check w/the City and see if this is legal. Salty’s also typically uses the parking lot for the street end park as parking for the restaurant. Darn neighborly, right?
- Elton May 3, 2016 (1:13 pm)
  
  Thanks, K’lo! I checked the City of Seattle parking site and it looks like they are allowed to paint the curb yellow for 5 feet on either side of the driveway. It feels like more than 5 feet so it seems like as long as you park more than 5 feet away it should be ok even if you’re in the yellow. I’m going to check the curb again before I contact the City to see how long they’ve actually painted for.

L May 3, 2016 (8:43 am)

The 816 c line took 22 minutes from gatewood to lander. So nice to have the stop by the sodo light rail station.

NiceSurprise May 3, 2016 (8:52 am)

Left Morgan Junction on the 116 at 8:07 and got off at 4th and Jackson at 8:30. Totally normal commute.

Worksmoothly May 3, 2016 (8:52 am)

The 56 at 7:33am from Admiral Way in downtown: ~40 minutes total. Not bad!

JayDee May 3, 2016 (8:54 am)

@ K. Davis: Signage @ LPC (SW Manning and Avalon) says “Right Lane Must Turn Right” and Right Turn Only arrows all the way down the street. So it is illegal to make a left turn at SW Manning and Avalon. You can see the signs in Street View.

LOLA May 3, 2016 (8:58 am)

I get out of WS going South taking the back roads and heading to 509 across the 1st ave Bridge into Geo Town. I am liking this new route as I am only in traffic once I get to 509 but only for about 10 mins.

Busrider May 3, 2016 (9:08 am)

Does someone know why wsdot is not shutting down Columbia on ramp of the viaduct when Bertha tunnels under it. Seems like that on ramp might also heed caution

Shawn May 3, 2016 (9:36 am)

The Columbia and 1st ramp that turns into southbound 99? This is indeed closed. I used to take that every morning after dropping off my wife at 3rd and Columbia. Now I have to go down 2nd back into SoDo.
- sam-c May 3, 2016 (10:05 am)
  
  I am guessing busrider is talking about later.
  
  if you look at the map that WSB linked, Bertha will tunnel under the Columbia ramp AFTER the viaduct closure.
  
  http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/Projects/Viaduct/99closure/progress 
  
  I am worried about after the closure. I can’t remember where I read it, but wasn’t there a sinkhole in Beacon Hill some time long after the tunneling machine passed through?
  - cjboffoli May 3, 2016 (11:17 am)
    
    Sam-C: Don’t forget that Bertha will be significantly deeper at the point at which it descends under the Columbia St. on-ramp, much farther below pilings around the foundations. At that point it is expected to be in much more stable, stiff clays that are very dense and less prone to crumbling. The TBM that is mining the SR-99 replacement also likely has grout injection systems that are more advanced than the completely different tunnel borers that created the Beacon Hill tunnels.
  - WSB May 3, 2016 (11:52 am)
    
    Re: going under the Columbia ramp, I am on the media conference call with tunnel project rep and WSDOT, and asked the question. They have no concerns – “the tunnel is much deeper at that point.” Overall, everything is going well, they’re saying. I won’t be able to write the full story for an hour or so due to having run off to something…
Alan May 3, 2016 (12:17 pm)

In addition to the depth, this ramp was completed in 1966, thirteen years after the viaduct and is of a completely different design which is probably of less concern for failure.

http://www.historylink.org/index.cfm?DisplayPage=output.cfm&file_id=9977

sun*e May 3, 2016 (9:25 am)

Re: Left turn at Luna Park.

There is NO sign that says ‘No Left Turn’! Why would a bike be allowed to turn left only? That makes no sense! Cars and bikes follow the same rules of the road… at least they should! I think there are a lot bikers out there that need to take some driver’s education classes to learn those rules!

Kyla May 3, 2016 (9:40 am)

I would not say 4th ave was “looking good” at all. And as a South Park resident, can’t say I’m a huge fan of all the diversions into our neighborhood, though I understand WS doesn’t have much choice. Taking me an extra 30 minutes to drive, plus leaving 30 minutes earlier – with a kid and a school schedule, not fun.

trickycoolj May 3, 2016 (10:25 am)

I hear ya. I work at the foot of the South Park Bridge I gave up and have been leaving at 9:30 and getting into work really really late.

Turn left already May 3, 2016 (9:52 am)

If it were illegal to turn left at Avalon, the sign would say “No left turn”, not “Right lane must turn right”. “Right lane must turn right” naturally implies that there is a left lane. That’s also why there is no enforcement there. It’s not against the law. It drives me nuts how Seattle drivers love to punish themselves then attack those who choose not to do the same. Seriously, get over it.

Sunuva May 3, 2016 (10:44 am)

In addition to the sign, there are pavement markings indicating that it is right turn only. I agree that the sign on the stop sign is confusing though. The left partial lane is a bike lane, not for vehicles to turn left.
JanS May 3, 2016 (11:02 am)

I think the “facts” need to be left up to traffic enforcement. I live near there and have always treated it as an illegal left turn. I think we don’t need to confuse people more by arguing what is right and what isn’t. Better signage, and better street markings are needed. Guess we’ll see. But…none of us are authorities on this unless it’s our job to know.
- Sunuva May 3, 2016 (11:57 am)
  
  It is a valuable discussion to have since there is plenty of confusion on that specific intersection and traffic enforcement is not currently happening there. Further, it is causing obvious frustration and creating dangerous situations daily. Sure, we can wait for the city to improve the signage, we can make requests for them to do so, and we can hope that traffic enforcement picks up on this at some point. However, in the meantime it is actually a good thing to discuss it here. At the very least, some people might now avoid making that illegal turn after reading through this.
- chris May 3, 2016 (9:11 pm)
  
  It is poorly marked, so I guess I have a change of heart. Drivers can’t really be faulted for making the turn.
  
  But it is frustrating if you’ve been waiting on Avalon because drivers were merging all over the place this morning and it wasn’t zippering.

erikpnw May 3, 2016 (9:55 am)

Got on the C-line at ~8:15 today and was in SLU by 8:50am. There were even empty seats. This is pretty much on-par with my usual commute. Avalon was clear onto the WSB and the bus used the “bus lane” on 4th some of the way. A driver cut the bus off forcing us to slam on the brakes at the post office but otherwise no problems.

Don Brubeck May 3, 2016 (10:02 am)

Final bike count for Spokane St Bridge on May 2 was 2,525.

This breaks the previous record by 678 trips! If you can do it, it’s more reliable and can be a lot faster than other ways. Frees up a bus seat for someone who needs it, or takes a car off the crowded roads.

Turn left already May 3, 2016 (10:04 am)

And Mike, it’s not illegal to cross a double yellow line. Just because you don’t do something doesn’t mean it’s wrong.

From Seattle.gov:

Two solid yellow lines between lanes of traffic means neither side can pull into the on-coming lane to pass another vehicle. However, you may turn left over a double yellow line that is less than 18-inches in width if you do not block traffic. If the yellow line is solid and wider than 18-inches, or if the space between double lines is crosshatched, it’s illegal to turn left. [SMC 11.55.140 Left turns between intersections –Limitations].

Annie May 3, 2016 (10:06 am)

Left at 9:30, arriving in SLU 10:00, avoid I5, over Beacon, thru Int’l dist and up Boren.

Todd May 3, 2016 (10:15 am)

31 minutes from 35th and Avalon to 3rd and Seneca on the C Line departing at 8:45am

WS-DzF May 3, 2016 (10:15 am)

My apologies if this has been answered already, but why does the C and 55
not take the bus road that runs concurrent, between 4th and the light-rail to
avoid most of the congestion on 4th?

Friday, the C bus I was on, exited the West Seattle Bridge on 4^th
and made a right on Spokane, and a left onto the bus road, stopped at the
Lander Light-rail station and continued on the bus road until he made a left on
S Royal Brougham Way back on to 4^th. This was a lot quicker and
smoother ride then the last couple of days going straight up 4^th and
dealing with all the congestion.

Also, why does the C line heading back to WS in the afternoon has to go way
out to 6^th? It seems like it
would be quicker to follow the 21 line down 4^th. Thanks!

newnative May 3, 2016 (10:38 am)

I too, was wondering this very question yesterday on the #56 as we took 5th Ave S through Chinatown (getting stopped at a cop-controlled intersection for a long time) then went all the way to Airport Way to Lander-an incredibly congested road with many unused rails we still stopped on, plus two light rail trains to wait on. The Bus Way would be much faster! I think overall the bus drivers are doing their own thing.
AMD May 3, 2016 (2:07 pm)

I think Metro answered early on that the busway would be too crowded if all of the re-routed buses used it. And even if they can jog onto it for a bit, they still need to get back onto regular streets before pioneer square so that they don’t get funneled into the tunnel (I believe Royal Brougham is the last opportunity to do so).
- WS-DzF May 3, 2016 (3:10 pm)
  
  Thanks AMD! The driver on Friday took Royal Brougham Way and
  it worked out great, as it bypassed most of the 4^th congestion. Made the ride that much smoother and quicker.
  It seems that it would make sense to put the C and 55 on the busway, as they
  are meant to be a semi-express ride from WS to downtown. As for getting the busway clogged up, I am
  not sure it would be worse than how bad 4^th can get. On Friday, the busway did not seem all that
  busy during the morning commute.

M May 3, 2016 (10:20 am)

The left turn for bikes is a left to turn onto the sidewalk which is where the bike path goes.

Benny Hill May 3, 2016 (10:33 am)

I will fill out an online request for DOT to make signage more clear on whether a left turn at LPC is legal or not for motorized vehicles. I will do it but I have to say, people will do whatever they want in this area, sign or no sign. GRRRRR. It seems as though if a cop isn’t around, people will do whatever. Cops can’t be everywhere and they shouldn’t have to be. In the meantime, it’s good to know the DOT OPs center let SPD know it may need to be enforced.

Mark B May 3, 2016 (10:54 am)

The C-line stopped at SODO station and 3rd and Columbia on Friday and Sunday but not today. The first stop was 3rd and University. I hope that was just driver error and not a new route plan.

miws May 3, 2016 (11:00 am)

In defense of those claiming no left turn across a double yellow line, as a lifetime, 50+ year resident, I swear that “back in my day”, it was indeed illegal to turn across a double yellow, as well as to make a U-turn in the middle of the block. It seems like we were told this in Driver’s Ed even.

Both have apparently been legal for many years, with conditions, such as the maneuver should not impede traffic.

From other comments I’ve read here on WSB over the years; others so very certain of the (at least at one time) illegality, makes me think that it indeed was so and that the illegality way back when is not just my imagination or misunderstanding.

Mike

sb2780 May 3, 2016 (11:25 am)

Has anyone used UberHop coming and going on any of their trips downtown, or as a connector to the Water Taxi? Just wondering if this is a viable option instead of the bus.

seekingsunshine May 3, 2016 (12:31 pm)

56 at 6:35am this morning was kind of slow going – got downtown in 40 minutes or so from California and Admiral, this can normally take as little at 18 minutes. All things considered, 40 minutes isn’t bad. Traffic on Admiral hill and the bridge was pretty much at a stand still. 4th ave/3rd ave through SODO and Pioneer Square went pretty smoothly and was primarily busses.

dsa May 3, 2016 (12:33 pm)

I agree with you on the change in law concerning U turns and double yellow lines MIWS. Doing either bothers me yet.

WSB May 3, 2016 (12:54 pm)

One more commute report of potential interest – turns out two WSDOT employees have been comparing commute modes. Today, it was bus vs. Water Taxi, both with a starting point of 35th SW/SW Trenton:

http://wsdotblog.blogspot.com/2016/05/west-seattle-to-downtown-seattle-rematch.html

Paul Nicholson May 3, 2016 (2:06 pm)

tried the car today, big mistake, 1 hour 10 mins from West Seattle to SLU, most of that was on West Seattle Bridge, back to the water taxi tomorrow.

Russ Walker May 3, 2016 (2:26 pm)

Tracy, what is a “bike trip”? I’m referring to the news reported here and elsewhere that the Spokane St. bike counter reached a new record on Monday with 2000+ “trips.”

I ask because I bike that route regularly, and I have seen the counter much higher than 2000. If a trip is actually two one-way crossings, then I get it. But even then, I recall a 5000+ one-way crossings day last May — the annual “bike to work” Friday. But looking at the data on SDOT’s site, I don’t see a number anywhere near that. http://www.seattle.gov/transportation/bikecounter_spokane.htm

Just curious. I know the counters aren’t 100% accurate. I see them miscount on a fairly regular basis, usually counting 1 bike as 2 or even counting a passing big truck as a bike. Not all the time, but it happens.

The point of my writing is simply this — I think we’ve had more than 2000 “trips” (i.e. more than 4000 one-way crossings) in the past two years.

WSB May 3, 2016 (2:38 pm)

Sorry, I really wanted to publish a standalone with what Don told us, and ran out of time. From the note he sent us: “The counter counts each one-way trip. That is the same way that vehicle traffic counts are done.”
- Russ Walker May 3, 2016 (3:35 pm)
  
  OK, then SDOT is doing something with the #s after they receive them from the counter every day. I have definitely seen the counter with readings well above 2000 on multiple occasions. Mostly in the May-Sept. period the past two years.

Sorry, comment time is over.