ROAD WORK, TRANSIT, TRAFFIC: Thursday 10/29 watch

6:03 AM: Welcome to Thursday – the 220th morning without the West Seattle Bridge.

WATER TAXI

No West Seattle service this morning because of a dock problem. We’ll update separately when there’s a decision for pm. P.S. The shuttles ARE running.

ROAD WORK, ETC.

*Delridge project: SW Alaska is scheduled to remain closed east of Delridge all week. Here are this week’s other details.

CHECK THE TRAFFIC BEFORE YOU GO

New cameras! In addition to the West Marginal Way/Highland Park Way cameras we mentioned last week, there’s now a Highland Park Way/Holden camera too – see it here:

Meantime – here’s the 5-way intersection camera (Spokane/West Marginal/Delridge/Chelan):

Here’s the restricted-daytime-access (open to all 9 pm-5 am) low bridge:

The main detour route across the Duwamish River is the 1st Avenue South Bridge (map) . Here are two cameras:

The other major bridge across the river is the South Park Bridge (map). Here’s the nearest camera:

Going through South Park? Don’t speed. (Same goes for the other detour-route neighborhoods, like Highland Park, Riverview, and South Delridge.)

Check the @SDOTBridges Twitter feed for info about any of those bridges opening for marine traffic.

You can see all local traffic cams here; locally relevant cameras are also shown on this WSB page.

BUSES

Metro – Fare collection has resumed.

Trouble on the roads/paths/water? Let us know – text (but not if you’re driving!) 206-293-6302.

NW October 29, 2020 (7:09 am)

Ridership is low on route 55 and the 21 I take into sodo usually no more than 6 people. In the afternoon some c line buses full but minutes later another 1 or 2 c lines empty. Support transit take the bus.

Anne October 29, 2020 (12:00 pm)

No-not riding in enclosed busses -COVID Petri dishes -with virus on uptick going into Fall/Winter -it’s definitely not happening-for our family anyway.
- AMD October 29, 2020 (1:09 pm)
  
  Buses have windows, everyone wears masks, and no one is talking so the amount of particles they’re putting out into their masks is very low. I respect whatever choices you want to make, but please base them on facts.
  - Anne October 29, 2020 (1:47 pm)
    
    They deep clean busses at night-or before first runs of day-as far as I’m concerned -as soon as the first round trip is done-the bus is no longer clean. Not just air -(will be sweet sitting in a frigid bus with all the windows open-or on a stormy/rainy day )but people touching everything. The more people who take the bus-the more crowded. Our kids can’t sit in a classroom with masks & social distancing -but you think a bus is safer? Ok-I respect your choice too-but until there is a vaccine-the bus is a COVID breeding ground -in my view.
    - AMD October 30, 2020 (6:09 am)
      
      They clean the buses at the end of each run. I’ve been asked to step off for a moment and back on again after cleaning on a route that makes a loop at the end before it gets to its waiting area. They sprayed down the bus and wiped down all of the doors and the handles on the doors and seats, the fare box, etc. The buses are also limiting the number of people that can ride them so even at the most crowded they get before the driver turns on the “bus Full” sign, you can still maintain proper distance. A key difference between classrooms and buses is the talking–again, people aren’t talking on the bus but in classrooms, the teacher HAS to talk, and often has to talk at higher volume so the kids can hear and to get their attention. Talking and talking at higher volume both produce more virus particles than just breathing normally and not talking. The extra chill on the bus from the open windows, admittedly, isn’t ideal, but the air flow is helpful and it’s nothing a scarf hasn’t been able to handle so far. I had concerns when I first had to take the bus during the pandemic but I think Metro has really knocked it out of the park in terms of instituting practices to keep transmission in check. Again, I respect whatever precautions you personally feel are necessary, but it’s hard not to wonder why there is so frequently a comment calling the buses dirty, but not the water taxi or the ferries when the same protocols are in place for all of them. Buses are not inherently dirtier than other transport options and if someone is looking for a faster way to get downtown, I think they would like to know the reality of Metro’s COVID regime.
  - psps October 29, 2020 (2:14 pm)
    
    In other words, stay stuck in the “denial” stage. It’s the thing now! Pretend buses are safe because … well, they “have windows!” That’s a fact!
NW October 29, 2020 (5:28 pm)

I understand people’s concern regarding riding the bus I have mine also and am glad I don’t have to take some routes or buses that at specific time of day are full. The 120 route for example though I see a full 120 then some 5 minutes later another which is not full and or empty my experience is however if you observe overtime which I have there are alternate routes to be taken going on the direction I am or you are they parallel 21 and the 120 for example with a mile of one another. My 55 I took home today “the big long bus” total of three people each wearing masks. The inbound bus in the am different route 8 to ten total same long bus or articulated masks on each rider. I feel safe taking the bus and if I don’t I wait and take another or get off the next stop though that is rare.

Ray October 29, 2020 (10:20 am)

Any news on the new 1st Ave South bridge problems?

WSB October 29, 2020 (10:30 am)

That’s NOT new. The Times is reporting what we reported already *three weeks ago*
https://westseattleblog.com/2020/10/followup-whats-next-for-southbound-1st-avenue-south-bridge-after-temporary-repairs/
- Ray October 29, 2020 (10:38 am)
  
  Shoot, I mixed that one up with the panel metal decking replacement.

Sorry, comment time is over.