PORT TRUCKS: New terminal-gate program to start next week, aimed at reducing backups

(SDOT webcam screenshot from June 2016 backup)

The Ports of Seattle and Tacoma are going to try something new starting next week in hopes of lessening truck backups as drivers wait to get into cargo terminals. From the announcement:

The Northwest Seaport Alliance will reimburse up to $2 million to extend gate hours at its international container terminals during peak season.

With cargo owners forecasting a 3 to 5 percent increase in volume during peak season, which will start in late August and continue through early November, the alliance proposes to help the marine terminal operators avoid congestion on surface streets in the port industrial area and keep import and export cargo flowing efficiently.

This program will reimburse terminal operators for some of the costs to operate flexed gates from 7 a.m. to 8 a.m. and lunch gate hours Monday through Friday during peak season.

It also would provide one off-shift gate per week. Off-shift gates are after 5 p.m. Monday through Friday or any shift on Saturday or Sunday.

This is set to start on Monday (August 22nd), according to the full announcement, which you can see here.

4 Replies to "PORT TRUCKS: New terminal-gate program to start next week, aimed at reducing backups"

  • Space Dust August 17, 2016 (8:10 pm)

    Lets hope so, reduce the back-ups

  • GWS August 17, 2016 (9:55 pm)

    It would be nice if the Port of Seattle cops would enforce some sort of queuing discipline for the drivers – at least in the morning.  If a driver is blocking the travel lane, make him/her go around and go to the end of the line.  This morning was particularly bad around 7:00 with a number of rigs blocking the main roadway.  Wishful thoughts I guess.

  • Tired of the lies August 18, 2016 (11:42 am)

    Just so you know and readers as well. The photo taken above is congestion leading to terminals 30 and 46. Since the new year terminal 46 has been operating 7 days a week and 3 hoot owls (3am-8am) a week so this new thing they say is starting Aug 22 has already been going on. So if your expecting the congestion to be cleared don’t. This is the port and NW seaport alliance trying to make it seem like they are doing something to help the people complaining about it. 

  • Nathan August 18, 2016 (1:24 pm)

    The back-ups make life scary for us bike commuters. Trucks constantly block the travel lanes, frustrated car drivers distractedly cut over into the bike lane, without looking for bikes, someone is going to get seriously injured or killed.

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