West Seattle, Washington
09 Friday
(UPDATED 9:29 AM FRIDAY)
With snow expected to start Friday afternoon, the first school change has just been announced:
SEATTLE PUBLIC SCHOOLS: Dismissing 75 minutes early Friday, regular transportation routes, after-school activities canceled.
(added 4:30 pm) HIGHLINE PUBLIC SCHOOLS: “All schools will be open and start on-time on Friday, February 8. Due to snow in the forecast, buses will stop at alternate stops before and after school.”
(added 7:18 pm) VASHON ISLAND SCHOOL DISTRICT: Early-release schedule Friday, evening activities canceled.
(added 7:18 pm) UW: Closing early tomorrow, staying closed Saturday – full details here.
(added 8:37 pm) SOUTH SEATTLE COLLEGE: Closing at noon Friday.
(added 9:17 pm) HOPE LUTHERAN: Noon dismissal Friday.
(added 9:17 pm) COMMUNITY SCHOOL OF WEST SEATTLE: 11:15 am dismissal Friday.
(added 5:11 am) KENNEDY CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL: Dismissing at 11:30 am, closing noon.
(added 5:11 am) HIGHLINE COLLEGE: Closing at 1 pm.
(added 5:51 am) EXPLORER WEST MIDDLE SCHOOL: Early release, 12:30 pm.
(added 7:17 am) WESTSIDE SCHOOL: Early release – preschool/preK 12:45 pm, K-4 1 pm, middle school 1:15 pm.
(added 9:27 am) SEATTLE LUTHERAN HIGH SCHOOL: Early release, 12:30 pm.
(added 12:30 pm) HOLY ROSARY SCHOOL: Now closed, per texter.
(added 12:59 pm) OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE SCHOOL: Closing early and parents have been messaged to come get their kids, per texter.
(206-293-6302 text or voice if you have an announcement.)
Thanks for the tips! After word that artist Desmond Hansen was working on yet another signal box – this time at 35th SW and SW Roxbury on the north edge of Arbor Heights – we went over for a look. We found the artist packing up to take a break for some errands; he says this is a portrait of karate legend Chojun Miyagi (who is quoted on the website for West Seattle Karate, just steps away from the box). He’ll be back to finish it later today. This is his 10th signal box – here’s a montage of the first 9.
More info today about the restaurant on its way to the 2676 Alki Avenue SW space from which the former Tully’s Coffee was evicted. It’s from our friends at Capitol Hill Seattle Blog; Capitol Hill is the home neighborhood of Harry’s Fine Foods, whose proprietor Julian Hagood – as revealed in our community-collaborative coverage last Sunday – is opening Harry’s Beach House at the ex-Tully’s. Here’s the full CHS report, in which Hagood promises “killer brunches and seasonally driven fare” at the new place. CHS publisher Justin Carder also notes that the Alki property was sold for $1.5 million last September to a group that includes Hagood’s Capitol Hill landlord.
As we’ve shown you before – the West Seattle Food Bank is also a book bank! And more books are needed – maybe you can take some over before the next storm, or perhaps you can spend some time sorting through yours while you’re indoors this weekend. From Judi Yazzolino at WSFB:
The West Seattle Food Bank’s Bookcase Program is in need of all kinds of gently used books, especially for children ages 5 years old and younger. Our Bookcase Program is growing tremendously, having distributed over 11,000 adult and children books thanks to generous donations from individuals and business in our community. Our clients are very appreciative of the program, where they can take home up to 10 books to keep.
Donation hours are Monday-Friday 9 am – 3 pm and we are located at 3419 SW Morgan St. on the corner of 35th & Morgan. Enter through our garage on Morgan and come in through the double doors. Our volunteers will be glad to help you with your donation. Thank you so much.
The poster was sent by Robin Lindsey of Seal Sitters Marine Mammal Stranding Network, who explains:
NOAA’s Office for Law Enforcement (OLE) is offering a $20,000 reward for information about the recent sea lion shootings, a confirmed total of 12 shot dead (9 in West Seattle alone). It is our hope that this will prompt someone to come forward and provide valuable leads. Seal Sitters’ hotline (206-905-7325) received numerous calls reporting shots heard along the Elliott Bay waterfront during the time period the animals were shot (September to early December). There is undoubtedly someone in the public who knows something about the shootings. It is time to get some justice for these remarkable, gregarious animals.
We reported on the shootings multiple times in the fall; the backstory is summarized in this post on Seal Sitters’ website, which also includes a higher-resolution version of the poster shown above, for anyone interested in printing and displaying it.
KNOW SOMETHING? As the poster says, call 206-526-4300, or go here.
(Red-breasted Merganser, photographed by Mark Wangerin)
With snow not expected to return until tomorrow, we’re expecting the slate of events announced for today/tonight to go on as scheduled – but we’re also renewing our request that if you’re canceling something because of the expected storm, please let us know! We’re building a cancellations (and postponements) list and will publish the first take later today. Text/call our hotline, 206-293=6302, and/or email us, westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
Meantime, a few highlights for today/tonight, from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
CANNABIS EDUCATION FOR SENIORS: Free presentation at the Senior Center of West Seattle, 1:30 pm, courtesy of Canna West Seattle (WSB sponsor). Call to register. (4217 SW Oregon)
STEM ELEMENTARY OPEN HOUSE: 6-7 pm at Louisa Boren STEM K-8, an open house for prospective elementary students’ families – details in our calendar listing. (5950 Delridge Way SW)
HIGHLAND PARK ELEMENTARY OPEN HOUSE: 6:30 pm, prospective families are invited to visit Highland Park Elementary. Info and helpful form links are in our calendar listing. (1012 SW Trenton)
D-1 COMMUNITY NETWORK: New coalition of West Seattle and South Park community groups and organizations meets at 7 pm at the Senior Center/Sisson Building. All welcome. (4217 SW Oregon)
ROO AND THE FEW: 7-9 pm live music at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor), with “an eclectic mix of originals and covers.” (5612 California SW)
THERE’S MORE … on our complete calendar.
(UPDATED Thursday night with a second city response to the data question)
(At Sunday’s meeting, L-R: C2C’s Eric Davis, Alki UCC’s Cinda Stenger, city HSD’s Shawn Neal, committee chair Willow Fulton)
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
Just before the first blast of snowy weather hit our area Sunday, the latest updates on West Seattle’s city-sanctioned encampment were shared at the Camp Second Chance Community Advisory Committee meeting.
In attendance were C2CCAC chair Willow Fulton, members Aaron Garcia, Cinda Stenger, Judi Carr, and Grace Stiller, camp manager/co-founder Eric Davis, and Shawn Neal, a grants/contracts specialist with the city Human Services Department.
STATUS REPORTS: Davis provided the monthly report on the camp’s status via this one-sheet:
(SDOT MAP with travel times / WS-relevant traffic cams / Water Taxi schedule HERE)
6:27 AM: Good morning. This is the one semi-normal day before the next threat of snow tomorrow; the weather alert was upgraded overnight to a Winter Storm Watch in effect starting Friday afternoon.
METRO ALERTS: Route 37 did not run at 6:16 am
Route 55 is not running at 6:31 AM, 6:48 AM & 7:30 AM .. also 8:34 am
Route 116 is not running at 6:33 AM, 7:13 AM & 8:00 AM …
Route 56 is not running at 6:43 AM & 7:33 AM … also 8:41 am
Route 57 won’t run at 7:20 am …
Route 113 is not running at 7:34 am …
6:33 AM: Seattle Fire “full response” headed to Daystar Retirement Village (WSB sponsor) across from the south side of Westwood Village. It’s a reported electrical fire. First crews on scene aren’t finding anything.
6:40 AM: The response is being downsized, “no sign of smoke or fire.”
6:55 AM: All SFD units dismissed. Back to the rest of weather/traffic watch.
7:07 AM: Updating the list of announced Metro cancellations above. In all, more than 30 routes around the greater Metro service area have had cancellation announcements so far this morning.
7:25 AM: One SFD unit is being dispatched to Roxbury/Olson for a reported crash. (added) It was called in as driver hitting a tree.
7:33 AM: Location has been updated (by first-arriving SFD crew) to 3rd/Olson [map].
8:10 AM: Two more north West Seattle bus runs have added cancellations – 8:34 am Route 55, 8:41 am Route 56. Adding to the list above. In comments, Metro’s Jeff Switzer says a factor in cancellations here and elsewhere is buses in the shop for repairs.
8:28 AM: Tunnel’s backed up on its second non-snow day- here’s a screengrab from a few minutes ago, looking at the south entrance to the NB deck:
Still awaiting that south-side exit ramp to handle some of the traffic – here’s our report from Wednesday. P.S. We’ll be adding tunnel cameras today to our traffic-cams page. (Here’s the “live” link to the one screengrabbed above.)
As athletic director Corey Sorenson (above left) noted while these four West Seattle High School seniors celebrated their college commitments on National Signing Day, all have made school history: Ally Veenhuizen with the first WSHS girls’ soccer team to go to state:
She’ll play at Seattle Pacific University.
Chloe Cunliffe, track and field athlete, is a state recordholder:
She’s headed for Washington State University, as is Grace Sarver:
Grace and her basketball teammates finished third in the state last year – among them, Kelsey Lenzie:
Kelsey will play at University of Portland.
P.S. The center chair at the table in our top photo was in honor of another Wildcat senior who’s college-bound, Abdullahi Mohamed, who’ll play basketball at Eastern Washington University.
So far we have word from this area’s two major public-school districts about their Thursday plans:
SEATTLE PUBLIC SCHOOLS: Starting on time Thursday, buses on snow routes, plus:
There will be no preschool or Head Start classes, and no door-to-door, midday or out-of-district transportation services. No before- and after-school activities. Check with your school regarding athletic events. Check with your child care provider about child care.
HIGHLINE PUBLIC SCHOOLS: Starting on time Thursday, buses using alternate stops (as listed here).
Any other school changes? Text/call our hotline, 206-293-6302, or email westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
(Salted 35th SW just north of SW Thistle, photographed this afternoon)
ORIGINAL REPORT, 5:44 PM WEDNESDAY: The National Weather Service has now issued an official alert for the next round of expected snow, Friday-Saturday – which might be just the first round! See the Special Weather Statement in its entirety here. It includes:
… This system will bring a round of widespread lowland snow and strong northeast outflow winds from the Fraser River Valley. Expected impacts with this system include: Cold temperatures, snow-covered roads, strong outflow winds and blowing snow for portions of the area.
Precipitation will spread from the north to the south beginning Friday morning. Temperatures will be cold enough for snow Friday from Everett northward, with a rain/snow mix south of Everett. Precipitation will transition to snow over the remainder of the interior as the cold outflow from the Fraser River Valley works through the remainder of the interior by late Friday night.
Variable snowfall totals are expected, with snow peaking early Saturday morning. The most likely snow accumulations include 3-4″ over most of the lowlands, with heavier amounts possible for the Hood Canal area, the north Olympic Peninsula, and the north interior including the San Juan Islands. Cold ground temperatures over the lowlands may enhance initial accumulations. …
Weather analyst Cliff Mass sees the potential for up to 8″ around the Sound – here’s his take, including even more snow likely Monday/Tuesday/Wednesday, concluding:
SDOT, WSDOT, and other local departments of transportation need to get prepared for perhaps the snowiest period since the large snowfall of December 1996, when Seattle received 21 inches.
But tomorrow is expected to be snowless, so now’s the time to start getting ready!
THURSDAY MORNING UPDATE: Still looking snowless today – the upgraded Winter Storm Watch alert kicks in at noon Friday.
Today was the first real test of the Highway 99 tunnel in traffic. If you weren’t among those using it – above is the next best thing, Jamie Kinney‘s dashcam video from the northbound morning commute. Below, a “live” look inside the south end of the northbound deck:
One big question remains for West Seattleites: When will that exit ramp to the south end of downtown open, so people headed northbound from here can use 99 without having to go through the tunnel? Dating back to last summer, WSDOT warned it would take up to two weeks beyond the tunnel opening to finish that ramp. Optimistic projections more recently were that it could be as little as one week – but then came the snow. We checked in today with WSDOT’s Highway 99 project spokesperson Laura Newborn, who says, “Weather definitely put the work behind on the NB off ramp Monday and Tuesday. The contractor is working today, but the bad weather could cause challenges for the crew.” And, of course, as the weather experts are warning, it’s likely not over yet. One other thing about NB 99 came up in a comment discussion today: The NB bus lane south of the tunnel. It was cut short a while back so that crews could repair a “dip” and has not been fully restored yet, but Newborn says it will extend to, and onto, the new Dearborn/Alaskan Way exit ramp, and then after the Metro routing “interim” time of up to 1 year, will also extend onto the new Alaskan Way. (The 4th Avenue temporary bus lane on the eastbound West Seattle Bridge, meantime, will be removed once buses stop using that ramp, SDOT has reiterated – again, waiting on that NB 99 exit ramp.)
Eight months after we first reported that The Habit Burger Grill would take over the former KFC location at 35th and Avalon, a banner has appeared. The remodeling work at the site has been under way for three months. No official word yet on plans for opening but with the banner up and paper off the windows, it is clearly getting closer. Habit Burger is a California-based chain with more than 240 locations.
We can attest to Waste Management trucks being back out in West Seattle neighborhoods today – we saw that one in Upper Fauntleroy, and another on Avalon just north of Luna Park. Seattle Public Utilities said again today that their plan is to pick up on a day-delayed basis for the rest of the week, and Monday customers can put out double next Monday. So, a few Monday customers asked us, what about recycling, since that otherwise wouldn’t be picked up again until February 18th – will they send recycling trucks around next Monday? We took the question to SPU spokesperson Sabrina Register, who replied:
SPU will attempt to collect the missed recycling from Feb 4 on Monday Feb 11. However, this requires substantial extra trucks and drivers for this unscheduled recycle pickup, so we can’t guarantee we will collect it all. And then additional snow on Friday could, unfortunately, impact access on Monday.
If you weren’t around for the long-running snow event in 2008 – that one led to enough problems, there were even City Council hearings.
(Photo by Mary Burki – hummingbirds crowding a feeder)
First, the request, since we’re still in wintry weather and more is expected: If you cancel/postpone an event, please let us know – even if it’s not on our calendar! – so we can help get the word out. Tens of thousands of West Seattleites are checking WSB for weather-related information, as it’s a central, visible-to-all, no-membership-required hub. Email westseattleblog@gmail.com or text/call our 24/7 hotline – 206-293-6302 – thanks!
Now, from our calendar (where you’ll find the full list), three notes for today/tonight:
LUNAR NEW YEAR @ HIAWATHA: 2:30 pm tweens/teens party at Hiawatha Community Center. (2700 California SW)
SOUTHWEST DISTRICT COUNCIL: 6:30 pm, upstairs at the Senior Center/Sisson Building. Scheduled guests are Donna Sandstrom from The Whale Trail and City Councilmember Lisa Herbold; see the agenda here. All welcome. (4217 SW Oregon)
TRIANGULAR JAZZTET: 7 pm at Whisky West (WSB sponsor), no cover. 21+. (6451 California SW)
We’ve published West Seattle Crime Watch reader reports before about gym-locker thefts. This one, reported by Linh, led to the theft of her car:
Be on the lookout for a silver 2007 Lexus RX. license #AOE7002, that was taken last night between 7 pm-9 pm at the gym [LA Fitness]. They got into my locker in the women’s locker room. Took my gym bag including my car keys inside. It was a nylon black North Face tote. I always carry it with me with my clothes. … Hopefully someone saw something last night in the parking garage or has any information. Thank you.
If you see the car, call 911.
(WEDNESDAY SCHOOL INFO: Some delays, ALL LISTED HERE)
5:31 AM: Good morning. A little warmer – 21 degrees. Today’s still forecast as dry, with the next snow still projected for Friday/Saturday.
METRO STATUS:
The reroute page shows West Seattle buses back on normal routes
Early alerts were sent for:
Route 37 cancellations (all morning trips)
Route 55 cancellations (6:31 am, 6:48 am & 7:30 am)
Route 113 cancellation (7:34 am)
Route 116 cancellations (6:33 am, 7:13 am & 8:00 am)
CITY WINTER-WEATHER-RESPONSE MAP: See where SDOT’s been in recent hours.
6:07 AM: Closed for hazardous conditions, according to the city traffic map (let us know if you find otherwise – these are all time-stamped early this morning) – Genesee at Avalon, Ferry SW and California Way in North Admiral, Lander at Admiral, Charlestown at 55th and at 46th … Overall, as Alex warns in a note, beware of icy side streets too.
6:49 AM: Not far away, a crash has closed all NB lanes of Airport Way at Corson.
6:52 AM: SPU has confirmed, SOLID WASTE PICKUP RESUMES today, one-day delay except for Monday customers, who can put out double next Monday.
7:25 AM: Airport Way is clear. … Looking at the bridge, traffic still appears lighter than usual.
7:52 AM: Low bridge just reopened to drivers/riders/pedestrians after first marine-traffic closure of the morning.
8:50 AM: Checking the video cameras, the eastbound high bridge and northbound 99 both are stop-and-go. Looks like the backup extends into the tunnel (see the south view of the NB tunnel here).
9:43 AM: Note that a few other road closures due to icy conditions are noted on the city map – 20th/Trenton and California/Othello. We don’t have firsthand verification, so if you happen to find any of these open, please advise – thanks!
(Updated 7:19 am)
Seattle Public Schools – 2 hours late, buses on snow routes
Highline Public Schools – 2 hours late
Holy Rosary – 2 hours late
Our Lady of Guadalupe – 2 hours late
Vashon Island SD – 2.5 hours late
Westside School, 9:45 am start
South Seattle College – 10 am start
Explorer West Middle School – 10 am start
(added) Little Pilgrim School – AM classes and Parent Teacher Conferences cancelled today
Both Seattle Lutheran HS and Hope Lutheran planned to open at regular time.
Any additions/changes, please text/call our hotline, 206-293-6302
Congratulations to those young women and their coaches for a prestigious soccer championship! The announcement and photo were sent after their Sunday championship-match win over Bainbridge, 1-0:
A local soccer team, HSA Select G05 – Foulk, comprised of athletes from West Seattle to Burien / Normandy Park, won the GU-14 Founders Cup! They finished first in group play and then won a quarter-final 1-0, semi-final 2-1 and final 1-0. They gave up a total of 3 goals during the tournament and scored 20 goals, with almost all players notching a goal!
In addition to winning the cup, the GU-14 age group is also awarded the Karl Grosch Girls U14 Founders Cup trophy (the one on the left in the photo), named in memory of WA soccer pioneer Karl Grosch, who championed Girls Soccer in Washington in 1972. This trophy is kept by Washington Youth Soccer and HSA Select G05 – Foulk will be listed as the 2019 Champions!
Their coaches are Jamie Foulk and Mike Jensen.
WEDNESDAY SCHOOL ANNOUNCEMENTS SO FAR: Seattle Lutheran HS, Hope Lutheran open at regular time … Seattle Public Schools, Highline Public Schools, Holy Rosary, Our Lady of Guadalupe, 2 hours late … Vashon Island SD 2.5 hours late … Westside School, 9:45 am start … South Seattle College, Explorer West MS, 10 am start …
(“Live” SDOT cam looking west at west end of West Seattle Bridge)
2:34 PM: Now that it’s past 2 pm, we’re starting to get word of changes for this afternoon/evening and beyond. Starting with:
WEST SEATTLE/FAUNTLEROY YMCA: Just in from executive director Shalimar Gonzales:
We are expecting another round of freezing temperatures tonight so all YMCA of Greater Seattle branches will be closing at 4:00 today to ensure that staff and community are able to get home safely. This means that. . .
Kids Corner (closed) at 1 pm
Evening swim lessons will be cancelled
No swim team practice
No basketball practice
Current plan for tomorrow:
All YMCA of Greater Seattle branches will open at 10 am on Wednesday, February 6th.
All morning swim lessons are cancelled
Group Exercise classes will start at 11 am
WS Kids Corner will operate with limited staffing, Fauntleroy Kids Corner will be closed
More updates as we get them. Please also note that beyond today/tomorrow, we’re getting some cancellations for events toward week’s end, given the unsettled forecast – we’ll do our best with publishing/updating as we get word.
4:19 PM: More Metro buses have returned to their regular routes – check here for the latest on yours. … Forecast says Friday night’s when that next round of snow is “likely” …
4:50 PM: First school announcement for Wednesday: Hope Lutheran planning to start @ regular time.
6:05 PM: Highline Public Schools plans to reopen schools on Wednesday, two hours late.
6:24 PM: Vashon Island School District two and a half hours late.
6:59 PM: Seattle Lutheran High School plans to reopen, normal time, tomorrow … Seattle Parks also expects its facilities to reopen: “Good news! We anticipate that our facilities will operate on their normal hours & with their normal programs tomorrow (Wed., Feb. 6) … For information on status of Child Care Programs, please refer to the Child Care Hotline: 206-684-4203.”
7:40 PM: Thanks to Joy for the heads-up. Seattle Public Schools has announced it plans to open Wednesday, on a 2-hour delay.
8:42 PM: Holy Rosary will start 2 hours late, no AM preschool, no BASE … Westside School will start at 9:45 am …Explorer West Middle School will start at 10 am.
8:54 PM: South Seattle College is also opening at 10 am Wednesday.
9:18 PM: OLG will start 2 hours late.
(January 2015 photo of Terminal 5 by Long Bach Nguyen)
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
Just one week after a new promise that a tenant for Terminal 5 would be announced “soon” – we know who’s moving in.
And that news opens the door for the modernization project to begin; the city has just granted the permits.
A briefing is set to start at 11:30 am at the Northwest Seaport Alliance‘s managing-members’ (Seattle and Tacoma port commissioners) meeting at Sea-Tac Airport – you can watch the stream here.
First, the toplines. The last major tenant at Terminal 5, Westwood, moved out in 2014. The port and the NWSA have been planning the modernization project and seeking a tenant. From the announcement that’s being made today:
… The investments in Terminal 5 will be coordinated with the proposed new tenant, Stevedoring Services of America Terminals (SSAT) and Terminal International Limited (TIL Group). The proposal calls for a new 32-year lease with these two terminal operators, which together are in partnership with several of the world’s largest ocean carriers.
To support the Phase I construction schedule for Terminal 5 modernization, estimated to begin this Spring and be completed by 2021, the Port Commissioners will be considering a realignment of marine cargo in the Seattle Harbor. Specifically:
Matson’s Hawaii service moves from T-30 to the South berth of T-5 in Spring 2019.
International marine cargo would be re-assigned to the Terminals 18 & 5, beginning with the current customer at T-46, TTI, moving to T-18.
This presents the opportunity to use Terminal 46 for other project and break-bulk cargo, and relocating Seattle-based Foss Maritime, to this terminal. The Port of Seattle Commission is also studying using approximately 29 acres of the 86-acre Terminal 46 could be accommodate a cruise berth to meet the demand for Alaskan cruise industry, which is a growing business in Seattle. …
Foss has been an interim tenant at T-5.
Port commissioners are expected to take final action on the newly unveiled plan on February 26th.
1ST ADD: We talked this morning with Seattle Port Commissioner Fred Felleman, in advance of the briefing/meeting. First, what’s been a big issue for many West Seattleites looking ahead to the modernization project: No, the deal does not require ships to use shore power while berthed at T-5. But it will be shore-power capable, and he contends that will be attractive to shippers for financial as well as environmental reasons, since electricity here is relatively cheap.
He also notes that the new plan basically consolidates many freight operations at the two on-dock-rail-equipped terminals, 5 and 18 (which is on Harbor Island), which makes a dent in truck traffic. The port’s requirement for newer, cleaner trucks is already in place. And Felleman noted another port program that is making it possible for trucks to get in and out more efficiently, an economic benefit to drivers as well as an efficiency enhancement regarding traffic. And the T-5 project will come with a railroad “quiet zone,” as previously reported.
On another environmental point – Felleman notes that, with a background as a whale biologist, he shares the newly intensified concern about shipping noise and its effect on marine life including the Southern Resident Killer Whales. He is hopeful that fewer – though larger – ships will have less of a noise impact, though he acknowledges that research hasn’t verified that yet.
While the new T-5 tenants have partnerships with shipping alliances that already call in local ports, Felleman says they expect there will be a net increase in jobs.
2ND ADD, BRIEFING UPDATES, STARTING AT 12:24 PM: We are now at the NWSA meeting briefing on this, which is happening in the conference center at Sea-Tac. (Looks like the feed is up and running here.) The first slide deck they’re going through is here, and it begins with toplines from the report unveiled last week at T-18, regarding regional cargo-shipping economic impact.
Preceding this, it was reiterated that final action on this is three weeks away and the commissioners want to hear from the public. NW Seaport Alliance CEO John Wolfe called this “an exciting day” as they unveil the T-5 details, and noted that along with the port’s $340 million capital investment, there are two phases of private-sector investment totaling $250 million, “overall investment of half a billion dollars.”
Speaking of money:
(TUESDAY SCHOOL INFO: Closures/changes are ALL LISTED HERE)
5:31 AM: Good morning. 18 degrees! Again today, schools are changing their mind and closing rather than delaying – that info is all here.
Transit/other transportation (updated 12:40 pm)
METRO: Some buses – including C Line – now OFF snow routes – check the newest info here (update)
METRO BUS CANCELLATIONS: Some already tweeted
RIDE2: Canceled today
ST ROUTE 560 BUS: Back to regular routing (updated)
WEST SEATTLE WATER TAXI: Both vessels running
SDOT WINTER WEATHER MAP: See treated/plowed streets here
SDOT TRAVELERS’ MAP: The map we regularly feature
OUR TRAFFIC CAMS PAGE: Cameras particularly relevant to WS and vicinity
Services etc. (updated 8:53 am)
RESIDENTIAL TRASH/RECYCLING/ETC: SPU says NO pickup again today – everyone slides a day but Monday is off until next week
WEST SEATTLE GOLF COURSE: Closed for golf, open for sledding/snow play
OTHER CITY OF SEATTLE INFO: Updates are here
WEST SEATTLE FOOD BANK: Closed today
Businesses/institutions (updated 11:31 am; want to report yours open or closed? 206-293-6302)
West Seattle/Fauntleroy YMCA – opening at 10 am
Little Gym of West Seattle – closed
West Seattle Tool Library – closed
6:15 AM: No new weather advisories for that next POSSIBLE snow blast, but the Weather Service says its timing is more like Friday/Saturday. Meanwhile, this morning remains icy, very cold, and Metro overall warns “All routes are experiencing significant delays this morning.” Side streets are downright crunchy, per what we’ve heard so far. If you have to head out, please take everything slowly and cautiously.
7:36 AM: As the cameras show, traffic is very light. No incidents; we continue monitoring in a variety of ways. Much discussion about side streets – city policy has long been to treat/plow arterials, and this brochure shows which streets are priorities.
11:13 AM: We are headed off-peninsula for the first time in a few days and so far, it’s smooth going – California and Fauntleroy to the bridge, and then the bridge, ice and snow free. Shoulders and side streets, of course, a different story.
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