SLOW BUSES: Metro, SDOT to unveil plan Thursday

As promised at Monday’s tunnel-toll announcement, Metro and SDOT have come up with a plan to address the slowness of West Seattle (etc.) bus routes, and plan to unveil it at a media briefing at midday tomorrow. They “will detail efforts to improve transit travel times and reliability for West Seattle bus riders on routes 21x, 37, 55, 56, 57, 113, 120, 121, 122, 123, 125, and the RapidRide C Line,” according to the preview. And they “will also discuss lane changes and signal-timing improvements to keep people and goods moving through this chapter of the Seattle Squeeze.” We’ve been covering the bus trouble here for more than a month, since readers started pointing out the worsening downtown jams, particularly during the southbound pm commute.

DAFFY August 28, 2019 (11:21 pm)

Will be interesting to see how this latest plan coordinates with (a) the start of tolling on the SR-99 Tunnel and (b) the end of demolition and site restoration of the southern portions [south of Columbia Street, at least] of the Viaduct.

WSB August 29, 2019 (12:01 am)

The start of tolling is still 2+ months away. The Dearborn demolition closure, 2 weeks.

Mike August 29, 2019 (6:19 am)

There will be two times this fall where the Lightrail will not operate between Capitol Hill and SODO, so be prepared as all those riders will be attempting to take other options downtown or if they need to get to UW or SeaTac https://www.capitolhillseattle.com/2019/08/sound-transit-plan-for-three-weekends-this-fall-with-no-light-rail-between-capitol-hill-and-sodo-in-preparation-for-2020-blue-line-construction/

Tom August 29, 2019 (6:54 am)

What ever happened to the director of citywide mobility operations and his $195k salary? “With his decades of experience in planning, operations and fast-changing periods of uncertainty, General Worden will help ensure we are meeting the challenge for the public, freight mobility and critical services like public safety.” Mayor Durkan, January 2019.

Peter August 29, 2019 (8:46 am)

That’s a very good question. We’ve never heard boo from that office on any transportation or mobility issue. Just another case of Durkan funneling our tax money to her cronies.
- WSB August 29, 2019 (8:54 am)
  
  Recent update on The General from independent journalist Erica C. Barnett:
  https://thecisforcrank.com/2019/08/21/where-is-durkans-195000-cabinet-level-general-out-and-about-according-to-his-schedule/
  - Quora August 29, 2019 (9:11 am)
    
    Unreal. “General Worden”??? Give me a break. And he makes nearly 200k with a schedule like that? This is what infuriated me about this city. A 7 billion dollar budget which is higher than the GDP of about 40 countries. Why are we paying these people so much money? And to be “out and about”??? Government waste at its finest. But hey, when your budget is north of 7 billion, that money has to go somewhere, right? Glad this clown is getting paid 200k to fix traffic issues; yeah things have been great around here and are getting better.
Jort August 29, 2019 (11:33 am)

Apparently he prefers to be called “General” by his employees. Cool, cool, bringing in some of that military protocol realness to City Hall. I’m sure that goes over super cool. Oh yeah. “General, sir, intelligence is reporting that there’s still too many cars in Seattle, sir, General-sir.”