TRAFFIC/TRANSIT/WEATHER/MORE: Snowy West Seattle Monday AM updates, info

(MONDAY SCHOOL INFO: Local closures/changes are ALL LISTED HERE)

5:53 AM: Snow continued overnight. We’re under a Winter Weather Advisory until 10 am. Here are key links/updates for starters:

Transit/other transportation (updated 8:25 am)
METRO: All buses on snow routes – info here
RIDE2: Canceled today
HIGHWAY 99 TUNNEL: Open
WATER TAXIS: Some West Seattle runs canceled (Doc Maynard is sailing, per Water Taxi Watch); all Vashon runs canceled
SDOT WINTER WEATHER MAP: See it here (shows treated/plowed routes)
SDOT TRAVELERS’ MAP: The map we regularly feature
OUR TRAFFIC CAMS PAGE: Cameras particularly relevant to WS and vicinity

Other changes (updated 9:36 am)
No residential solid-waste pickup today, per Seattle Public Utilities – full details here
West Seattle/Fauntleroy YMCA: BOTH LOCATIONS CLOSED TODAY (2nd update)
Seattle Parks – some closures; here’s the roundup
Seattle Public Library facilities that usually open at 10 will open at noon (Southwest, Admiral); added – Delridge closed
Neighborcare High Point closed
City of Seattle: Here’s the latest
King County offices/services – some closed, some late (update)

We’ll keep adding to those lists and add incident etc. info below as the morning continues.

6:47 AM: Metro has sent two alerts about Route 37, saying the 5:48 and 6:44 trips didn’t run this morning. As noted above, all buses are on snow routes. And it’s still snowing.

6:53 AM: Just in via text – WEST SEATTLE WATER TAXI CANCELLATIONS: Because of high winds at Seacrest, the 6:50, 7:25, 8, 8:35, 9:10 runs have been canceled.

7:11 AM: We’re continuing to add to the lists above as info comes in – cancellation of residential trash (etc.) pickup for today is the latest change. Overall, in terms of getting around, remember that side streets generally are NOT plowed/treated – Michael reports the ones he’s been on are VERY icy – this is NOT the typical Seattle snow situation where the snow is followed almost immediately by warmer weather.

7:26 AM: Streets where the “closed” signs go up on days like these generally won’t show up on any official maps, so in general, beware West Seattle’s many hilly streets – for reasons like what Brian describes in this comment.

7:48 AM: Lots of reports of bus trouble this morning – see comments. And this photo’s just in from under the bridge:

7:58 AM: And a belated alert from Metro saying Route 55’s 6:31, 6:48, 7:30 trips didn’t operate.

8:41 AM: Now a Metro alert saying the 775 Water Taxi shuttle isn’t operating this morning. Update – 14 minutes later, Metro sent updates saying 773 and 775 WILL operate … If you’re even thinking about going out, please note that the wind’s blowing snow around and the temperature’s in the 20s, unlike the “typical” Seattle snow day on both fronts. Here’s a photo showing wind-fueled waves on the Alki promenade earlier (high tide was three hours ago), from Mike Livdahl:

(James Tilley sent one too – we tweeted it.) Thanks to everyone who’s sent other photos – we’ll be putting together a gallery a bit later, when we get past the commute (for those who absolutely have to) etc. period. … Just in, another update from the West Seattle/Fauntleroy YMCA (WSB sponsor) – now both locations are closed for the day.

8:58 AM: The Winter Weather Advisory has just been extended through 1 pm. Still snowing.

9:22 AM: Seattle Parks has posted its closures/changes list. See it here (also added to our list above).

11:11 AM: About 40 homes are without power since just before 11 am toward the end of Roxbury. A separate, larger outage in North Highline and North Burien south of there is going on six hours now. Updates on the SCL map … Still lightly snowing. We’re going to get a gallery going shortly but first, there are a few non-snow news stories we need to publish next. Thanks again for all the tips, reports, comments, and other info!

88 Replies to "TRAFFIC/TRANSIT/WEATHER/MORE: Snowy West Seattle Monday AM updates, info"

  • Morning commute February 4, 2019 (6:21 am)

    C lines seem to be MIA from Morgan Junction and South. Waited 25 min and nothing, OBA time kept changing. Finally caught a chained up 116 that came by.

    • Brayton February 4, 2019 (6:41 am)

      Haven’t seen a single bus on California for quite some time. 

      • Paul February 4, 2019 (6:51 am)

        I’m on a C that went down California. Arrived at the Junction about 6:45 am. Bus is moving relatively slowly, but no problems. 

      • Matt February 4, 2019 (7:35 am)

        Waited for the c for an hour at the junction. Nothing. Finally just walked back home.

        • Brayton February 4, 2019 (8:15 am)

          Metro website said there would be a C shuttle south of the junction. Ended up finding a full fat C after over 30 minutes, stuffed. Lots of buses staged at the junction. This bus bus took the high bridge after the driver spoke to another driver before heading to the low bridge. Road seems fine when driven with care. 

  • Mike February 4, 2019 (6:38 am)

    Anyone know if the West Seattle Bridge, I90 or I5 were plowed or salted? 

    • WSB February 4, 2019 (6:46 am)

      The SDOT winter-weather map, one of the links we’ve featured above, shows the bridge has.
      http://web6.seattle.gov/sdot/winterweathermap/

    • MrsL February 4, 2019 (7:23 am)

      Drove over the West Seattle bridge around 6:20. It was salted but snow was coming down and was sticking a bit on the road. It’s windy out there. The 4th Ave exit had snow, people were taking it slow. 4th near Costco was pretty slushy/snowy.

  • Jamma February 4, 2019 (6:40 am)

    Lower bridge was closed for over 20 min (about 10 min ago 6:25) There was a boat at first, but seemed to pass without issue; bridge didn’t reopen. Not sure if it’s still closed there were a few buses lined up waiting for the bridge to open up.

  • Chris February 4, 2019 (6:46 am)

    Wondering if there will be trash, etc pickup today in West Seattle

    • WSB February 4, 2019 (7:05 am)

      Canceled. Added to list of changes above.

      • just wondering February 4, 2019 (7:42 am)

        Thanks for the info about garbage pickup canceled.  We live near the Charlestown hill so we’ll bring in our garbage can so that the lid won’t become an improvised sled!!!

  • AdmiralDon February 4, 2019 (6:53 am)

    Drove the tunnel this morning.  Nice.after all that waiting.

    • Santee February 4, 2019 (12:00 pm)

      Thank you for taking the time to report on first drive thru tunnel.  Anxious to drive thru.

  • m February 4, 2019 (7:08 am)

    Just back from downtown. Around Lake Union, almost pure ice beneath the snow. Side roads here in North Admiral area, also very icy.

  • NH February 4, 2019 (7:10 am)

    No 56 or 57 has been seen. A man at the stop with me has been waiting since 6:15. No alert.

    • Meg February 4, 2019 (9:26 am)

      Same with the buses since 8 o’clock I was trying to catch the 8:42 56 and someone had been waiting for the earlier 8 o’clock that never showed up. The 9 o’clock bus hasn’t gotten here either. 

      • NH February 4, 2019 (9:59 am)

        Thanks, I was wondering. Metro sent an alert for a few missed runs, but I’m not sure any 56/57 made the trip today. Why don’t they just say cancelled? I finally took a 50 to the C.

  • Brian Engler February 4, 2019 (7:21 am)

    FYI, I just saw a front wheel drive car lose traction on Alaska while heading uphill towards the Junction (and then slowly away from it.)  Unless you have 4WD I’d avoid it between 46th and 44th Ave.

  • Paul February 4, 2019 (7:21 am)

    Downtown, the streets are slushy and slippery in the Pioneer Square/International District area. Sidewalks are mostly covered in snow that is getting compacted and a bit slippery. Travel with care and watch your step.

    • BoPeep February 4, 2019 (4:16 pm)

      Same here. Waited for over an hour for a 56/57 at California & Admiral starting at 6:40 AM. No sign of any buses until a 50 finally came up Admiral. Hopped on that one and had a quick transfer to a C Line. Would have been nice for the 56/57 run cancellation alerts from Metro to have been issued earlier. Oh well. Even under normal conditions, the alerts typically come after the fact…

  • LKHighpoint February 4, 2019 (7:25 am)

    There are two buses stuck on Spokane Street under the bridge.

    • WSB February 4, 2019 (7:47 am)

      Just got a photo of one. Thanks, adding.

  • Chuck February 4, 2019 (7:36 am)

    Any word on whether the 773 & 775 shuttles to Seacrest are running?

    • Wsres February 4, 2019 (7:53 am)

      Water taxi canceled today 

      • WSB February 4, 2019 (8:18 am)

        No, it’s not canceled. Vashon is canceled. West Seattle has canceled SOME runs (see above). Doc Maynard has just left Seacrest, per Water Taxi Watch.

        • Ernie February 4, 2019 (9:44 am)

          I can see the water taxi making it’s crossing from my office, it is going VERY slowly. It’s rough out there!

    • newnative February 4, 2019 (8:02 am)

      I just saw one go by on Avalon

  • Joe Z February 4, 2019 (7:39 am)

    Wow, there’s no traffic on the bridge this morning. The tunnel really solved all of our traffic woes! 

    • Brayton February 4, 2019 (8:18 am)

      Haha! It did the trick! Silly nay sayers. ;-)

  • newnative February 4, 2019 (7:43 am)

    After waiting 40 minutes for 56/57 and hearing none had come by for over an hour, got on 50. 

  • trickycoolj February 4, 2019 (7:58 am)

    Is there access to Harbor Island with the buses blocking?

  • wsgolfer February 4, 2019 (8:01 am)

    Any word on whether either Y is open today? 

    • WSB February 4, 2019 (8:09 am)

      Hi – we have added their update above, new info since what we published last night:
      -West Seattle will open a 9 am
      -Fauntleroy closed
      Also: “All Kids University, Preschool, and School Age Care programs are cancelled for today”

      • WSB February 4, 2019 (8:54 am)

        SECOND UPDATE: Now, both YMCA locations are closed.

    • Marjurie February 4, 2019 (11:11 am)

      Y is closed today both WS & Fauntleroy.

  • 120rider February 4, 2019 (8:06 am)

    waited 45 mins for 120, never showed, stuck at home

  • North Delridge Home Owner February 4, 2019 (8:11 am)

     Waited over 45 minutes for no show 120 4:45 and 5:10 buses this morning WTH… finally caught a rerouted 125…

  • Whitney February 4, 2019 (8:14 am)

    I waited at 16th & Henderson for 40 minutes, between 6:50 and 7:30am, no buses (125 and 28 go by there on their snow routes). Gave up and walked back home. 

  • West Seattle Hipster February 4, 2019 (8:15 am)

    Not sure who (SDOT or WSDOT) was responsible for de-icing the bridge but they did an excellent job.The road inside the new tunnel was also bare and dry, great work!

  • WS Realtor February 4, 2019 (8:15 am)

    39th & Genesee to Westwood Village was piece of cake.  Just drive slow or stay home and enjoy. 

  • Best of the West February 4, 2019 (8:20 am)

    Went out to wait for the 21 on 35th and Elmgrove around 6:50, was a no show each scheduled time. Just came back inside to stay warm and wait it out for a bit. 

  • ktrapp February 4, 2019 (8:42 am)

    Must have been my lucky day.  As I was walking to 35th, I saw two 21’s roll by within a couple minutes of each other.  I assumed I’d wait a while for the next one, but it was just a block away when I arrived.  Got right on, and joined the 6 other people on board (including the driver).  We did pull in behind the stuck buses under Spokane Street, but had enough space to get around them and take the upper bridge.  Actually got to work a bit early!I have now jinxed my afternoon commute…

  • Jack February 4, 2019 (8:43 am)

    anyone been down 35th yet? 

  • West Seattlite February 4, 2019 (8:51 am)

    My snowed in street.

  • NH February 4, 2019 (9:05 am)

    Did any 56/57 ever come? I finally got a 50 to the C. Metro sent a few alerts, but not for every missed bus…

  • Allison Dobbins February 4, 2019 (9:13 am)

    C line 60-articulated busses are staged at the junction. 40-foot shuttles will pick you up at C line stops south of the junction and take you to the junction.

    • chemist February 4, 2019 (9:45 am)

      The important thing is they often have signs saying “shuttle” on the front and won’t display a C.

  • Bzzbzz February 4, 2019 (9:16 am)

    Hey west Seattle!  Happy snow day!  Where is the best sledding in the neighborhood?  Looking for snow activities. 

    • Mkl February 4, 2019 (9:42 am)

      The hill behind Madison middle school is a traditional hot spot, and I’ve heard the golf course is awesome if you can walk on.

  • Courtney Searls-Ridge February 4, 2019 (9:17 am)

    How is the hill on Avalon?

  • Peter February 4, 2019 (9:33 am)

    Waited for a 21 on 35th for 45 minutes. No sign that any 21s are running today. 

    • ktrapp February 4, 2019 (9:50 am)

      I grabbed one (a 21X) around 6:53 this morning at Thistle.  The One Bus Away app noted that they were arriving about 25 minutes late.  Three were clustered within about 4 minutes of each other.  I got on the third one, and then we caught up to the first two.  We didn’t pick up another person after I got on.  

  • hbb February 4, 2019 (9:37 am)

    I don’t know what was going on with the articulated bus stuck under the bridge. If that is meant to be a snow route, Metro might want to take a closer look at the turning radius of the buses headed that way. 

  • trickycoolj February 4, 2019 (9:40 am)

    Apparently the commute from High Point to Harbor Island was faster than the time it took to clean the snow off the car.  Sylvan Way and Delridge were perfectly clear around 8:30am.

  • MJ February 4, 2019 (9:48 am)

    Admiral Way is clear of snow and very drivable.  

  • Tyler February 4, 2019 (9:53 am)

    Any news about Myers Way or Olson Pl SW? There are no cameras along there that I can find.

  • Jay February 4, 2019 (9:56 am)

  • Power out February 4, 2019 (10:05 am)

    Power is out in parts of Burien. Instersection lights out and people not stopping. Don’t drive! 

  • WestSideStori February 4, 2019 (10:09 am)

    Anyone know what is going on with the freight train at Spokane St. between 1st Ave South and Hwy 99 ??? I have been stuck waiting for this ****ing freight train to move for over 30 minutes now!

  • AMD February 4, 2019 (10:23 am)

    Don’t forget to clear your sidewalks for the poor folks that are still delivering packages and mail in this weather.

    • Alice February 4, 2019 (10:42 am)

      And for those of you with Seattle-level snow experience (i.e. very little) yes, this makes the sidewalk perhaps slipperier (than the snow) at first, but it prevents the packed-down ice from forming where people walk. That packed-down ice is slipperier than anything and lasts days and days longer than the snow.So do shovel.

    • Teresa February 4, 2019 (11:43 am)

      Just went out and did it, thanks for the reminder!   👍🏻👍🏻

    • Teresa February 4, 2019 (11:51 am)

      AMD – I just finished it, thank you for the reminder!

  • Mj February 4, 2019 (10:37 am)

    AMD agreed, and I believe SMC requires it be done.

  • Happy Trails February 4, 2019 (10:42 am)

    Why does Metro operate their articulated buses on our snowy days?  Just wondering.

    • QwertyCats February 4, 2019 (6:37 pm)

      I was wondering the same thing. A search led me to this page, but no answer.

  • mmarie February 4, 2019 (10:46 am)

    was california ave de-iced?

  • coldoutthere February 4, 2019 (10:56 am)

    I waited over an hour for the 56/57, on Admiral near California.  No bus.  The scheduled 8:50 and 9:20 didn’t show.   After I made a trip for coffee (open) and to the library (closed till noon) and was trudging back, I saw a #56 drive through!   At 10:05, which is 45min after the scheduled last bus.  So my 10:05 sighting notwithstanding – no, the 56/57 never did run at all.

  • Mj February 4, 2019 (10:59 am)

    Seattle Municipal Code 15.48.010 Snow and ice removal requires the owner/occupant of private property to remove snow and ice on the sidewalk abutting their property.   

    • East Coast Cynic February 4, 2019 (12:06 pm)

      Regardless of what the Municipal Code says, way too many homeowners, landlords, and businesses neglect to clear their sidewalks of snow and ice. 

  • AlkiChurchLady February 4, 2019 (11:26 am)

    Any chance someone has an update on Erskine Way … in the 47th/48th Street neighborhood?Iwas sliding around something fierce this morning.Thanks.

  • &1n&3r February 4, 2019 (11:43 am)

    KC Metro did an AMAZING job during the 99-closure. Commute times improved, it was nimble when needed, and communication was excellent. I hope that this snow day piggy-backing at the end of the three weeks doesn’t shadow the terrific feat the agency pulled off.  It seems no one predicted how big this storm actually turned out to be and many were caught off-guard.

  • Loretta February 4, 2019 (11:45 am)

    West seattle heath club also closed. Super bummed.

    • sb2780 February 4, 2019 (1:19 pm)

      Thank you! Was wondering this as well, and assumed as much since they weren’t answering their phone.

  • Betsy Wharton February 4, 2019 (11:48 am)

    Can anyone tell me how the high rise and Admiral Way are at this point? Coming back into WS from the south/Renton and trying to decide on best route…

    • AlkiChurchLady February 4, 2019 (11:56 am)

      Admiral Way was pretty clear this morning at about 8 am. Fair amount of traffic.

  • wsn00b February 4, 2019 (12:03 pm)

    @ WSB / others: Is California plowed and de-iced on Gatewood hill? 

    • WSB February 4, 2019 (12:09 pm)

      The SDOT response map (linked upthread as well as in the story list above) as updated info on treatment but in the short run: Co-publisher Patrick has been on the California hill between here & Thriftway and says it’s OK. – TR

      • wsn00b February 4, 2019 (12:30 pm)

        Thanks. I missed the map earlier; good to know. I’m thinking of a Thriftway run mid-afternoon.

        • WSB February 4, 2019 (12:42 pm)

          P is back from the Thriftway run and confirms California is in good shape. Side streets, however, are not. Also, while I don’t have the backup to compile a business list, we can report firsthand that much to our 19-year-old cat’s future dismay (whenever he takes a break from his all-day nap and looks for his next pouch of food), Pet Elements is closed.

  • Michael Ostrogorsky February 4, 2019 (12:05 pm)

    If you like snow there’s a WHOLE LOT MORE coming end of the week according to U Dub climatologist Cliff Mass. Yikes! Me, I moved to Seattle to get away from this crap. Bring Back Summer! https://cliffmass.blogspot.com/2019/02/snow-post-mortem-and-view-to-next.html

    • HD February 4, 2019 (1:14 pm)

      Don’t fret too much. It’ll be gone in a day or two after if falls. It doesn’t stick around for months on end around the Sound. 

  • Trickycoolj February 4, 2019 (1:15 pm)

    Drove over to Madison & Broadway around 10:30 and came back around noon. 35th is bare and wet. High bridge is mostly wet with some slush on the sides and between lanes. I-5 North needed plowed. Tire tracks in every lane with a lot of slush. If your tires are questionable in slick conditions skip it. Madison was really slushy on the way in but was cleared in the time I was at my appointment. High Point is compact snow and ice. Sylvan from 35th to Morgan was pretty slushy but passable. If you’re comfortable with sloppy slush on Snoqualmie Pass then you’ll probably do fine today. 

  • Ham February 4, 2019 (2:00 pm)

    Busses were not reliable this morning due to the conditions.   Can anyone report on current condition of bus service from downtown to West Seattle?     Thanks! 

  • flimflam February 4, 2019 (4:39 pm)

    i love the advice of “stay home” – could you maybe speak to my employer? lol i wish it were that easy…

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