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TRAFFIC/TRANSIT/WEATHER TODAY: Wednesday AM updates

February 6, 2019 5:31 am
|      31 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts | West Seattle weather

(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!

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31 Replies to "TRAFFIC/TRANSIT/WEATHER TODAY: Wednesday AM updates"

  • newnative February 6, 2019 (5:44 am)

    I got an alert at 4:30am stating three #55 aren’t running; 6:31,6:48 and 7:30. 

    • WSB February 6, 2019 (5:52 am)

      Thanks, I have a ton of alerts but perhaps didn’t scroll far enough through them and Twitter to get past the very long list of groups of routes that are off snow routing…. (added) There’s also a 55 group. Will add that and the 37.

  • Scott February 6, 2019 (6:00 am)

    Anyone know what part of the 37’s route is so icy that they have had to cancel today and yesterday?  

    • herongrrrl February 6, 2019 (11:51 am)

      Curious about this too…I was thinking maybe Alaska west of the Junction but I drove it myself this morning and it was fine. That’s the steepest part of the route. For the area of WS served by the 37 that doesn’t overlap with the water taxi shuttle, not having even the little bit of bus service the 37 normally provides really blows. 

  • Lisa February 6, 2019 (6:12 am)

    Also the Route 116 to downtown Seattle due to leave Fauntleroy area at 6:33 AM, 7:13 AM & 8:00 AM will not operate this morning.

    • WSB February 6, 2019 (6:28 am)

      Thanks, missed that one too, adding

      • newnative February 6, 2019 (8:18 am)

        FWIW, I saw a 116 in downtown just before 8am.

  • Lauren February 6, 2019 (6:14 am)

    Does anyone know if the 131 is on the same schedule or still on a snow route?

  • John February 6, 2019 (6:59 am)

    The 6:43 #56 didn’t show.  Grabbed a 50 to the junction.  

  • ElnoraH February 6, 2019 (7:14 am)

    The 6:55 125 at 16th and colverdale no show. Neighbor texted the metro # which said the next one wouldn’t be till 7:36 which also skips the 7:15 pickup. Not on regular schedule if you ask me! We walked downhill to the 120, which is also showing a slight delay. 

  • NW February 6, 2019 (7:16 am)

    When we get some snow I like to enjoy it with a trip in a metro bus Monday I took the 50 eastbound into Columbia City and Seward Park one of the route 50 drivers mentioned Monday afternoon on the trip back home some 200 incidents and or stalled busses that day county wide. My observation from yesterday waiting for the bus is drivers are either off work reprimanded or shoring up other busier routes then our local commuter routes. Also school bring out Seattle Public Schools last 2 days. 

  • WS Resident February 6, 2019 (8:02 am)

    My 120 took the tunnel to Mercer, by mistake.  It actually worked out fairly well, just took Westlake and back south down 3rd.  Now I can say I’v taken the tunnel.  

    • ElnoraH February 6, 2019 (8:30 am)

      I was on that same bus, was super confused at first since I usually take the 125 which never came this morning. 

  • West Seattle Hipster February 6, 2019 (8:10 am)

    Most of the traffic concerns this morning seem to be regarding late or non existent buses.  Since a good transit system means less cars on the road, Metro needs to become more efficient.

  • cloverdo February 6, 2019 (8:19 am)

    Has anyone driven Admiral today?  Or Hudson/Jacobson to Beach Drive?  Thanks!

    • JMN February 6, 2019 (9:16 am)

      I am also very interested how Jacobsen is .

      • cloverdo February 6, 2019 (9:46 am)

        My husband just drove Jacobsen and shared that it was fine. 

  • Olivist February 6, 2019 (8:56 am)

    Metro commute today a total joke. About 60 people waiting for C lines that come every 15 minutes completely full. Way to deliver metro. 

  • Joe Z February 6, 2019 (9:47 am)

    What happened to the bus-only lane on 99 NB between the West Seattle Bridge and the new Alaskan exit? Looks like it disappeared. And around the stadiums the “bus lane” is just a narrow shoulder that will barely fit a bus. If changes are not made this will severely degrade the morning bus commute from West Seattle. I would rather keep using the 4th/SODO busway detour if this is going to be the new route. 

    • CAM February 6, 2019 (11:46 am)

      That’s very disappointing to hear. I was intending to continue taking the C vs the 21 after the new exit was opened because it seemed like it would be faster despite the added walking distance once in the city. I’d hate to have to go back to sitting in traffic on 1st Ave for extended periods. 

      • WSB February 6, 2019 (11:59 am)

        I checked with WSDOT. The 99 bus lane continues.

        • KBear February 6, 2019 (12:20 pm)

          Perhaps they are waiting until the buses are actually rerouted onto 99 before they re-designate the bus lane. There are connecting surface streets that still need to be reconfigured.

          • WSB February 6, 2019 (3:23 pm)

            Further clarification on this from WSDOT: That bus lane was temporarily shortened some time back so they could fix the ‘dip’ in the road. It has not yet been restriped to its full length, which will continue onto the new exit ramp. And then in a year or so when buses continue onto the new Alaskan Way, that will have a bus lane. – TR

  • Mj February 6, 2019 (10:00 am)

    Arterials and freeways are clear.  Drive safe too slow and too fast are not appropriate.  

  • ktrapp February 6, 2019 (11:12 am)

    Yesterday there was a somewhat understandable delay on buses on 35th.  We waited 50 minutes at Thistle for just one bus to arrive, and there were people who had been there longer than us.  This morning, 35th was bare and dry, yet it was still a 20 minute wait (again, with a bunch of people there before me) just for any bus to arrive.  It was a normal 21 rather than the express that should have arrived.  I feel really bad for all the people who either have to jam themselves in the aisle, or wait for some unknown amount of time for the next bus, simply because they live further north than I do.Are the buses just way delayed getting to their routes from their prior runs?  Are they still running with fewer buses?  Are there not enough drivers?  For a service that’s supposed to be a reliable alternative to driving, especially in adverse conditions, I’m finding myself thinking that it’s a whole lot more practical to just drive myself in, when it takes Metro days after the legitimate adverse conditions to even begin to recover their service level.

    • AMD February 6, 2019 (12:08 pm)

      A driver shortage wouldn’t be surprising.  Many drivers live in areas outside the city where roads aren’t yet clear and getting into work is harder.  I’m sure there are also those with school-aged children who, unable to find last-minute child care after school closures, had to stay home and take care of kids.  I don’t know that it’s reasonable to expect the same level of service reliability when there’s the odd region-wide weather event.  The good news is, these storms don’t happen often.  And when they do, now you know to plan extra time to get places.

    • CAM February 6, 2019 (2:00 pm)

      I don’t know about the accuracy of the report but a comment above referenced somewhere around 200 bus related incidents or break downs on Monday. That could potentially take buses (or drivers) out of service for a period. I don’t know that Metro could handle unexpected maintenance on that many vehicles at one time. 

      • WSB February 6, 2019 (2:36 pm)

        The 200 stuck buses is from a Metro website post. Sorry I don’t have the link handy, out in the field right now.

  • RayWest February 6, 2019 (4:11 pm)

    This extended cold snap appears to be affecting commercial deliveries. I went to the Jefferson Safeway today and a lot of items like milk, eggs, etc. are definitely in short supply.

    • WSB February 6, 2019 (4:45 pm)

      That was another interesting memory of the 2008 days-of-snow … in addition to trash-truck trouble, delivery vehicles had trouble maneuvering West Seattle side streets, and that was calamitous for pre-holiday deliveries a decade ago … for those who are reliant on deliveries for everyday life these days, I can’t imagine the challenges now. – TR

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