TRAFFIC, TRANSIT, ROAD WORK, WEATHER: Tuesday watch

6:02 AM: Good morning. It’s Tuesday, April 19th.

WEATHER

ROAD WORK

*Second day of the two-week WSDOT closure of the West Seattle Bridge/Spokane Street ramp to northbound 99 for pavement repair.

*SPU‘s pavement-restoration work on California SW in the SW Myrtle could start this week – it hadn’t by day’s end Monday, but the no-parking signs are out.

BUSES, WATER TAXI, FERRIES TODAY

Metro is on its regular weekday schedule. Watch @kcmetrobus for word of reroutes/cancellations. Note that you’re still required to wear a face covering on the bus despite Monday’s federal-court ruling – as explained here.

Same goes for the West Seattle Water Taxi, which is operated by Metro. Also, no midday service again today, because of training. Check its status via Water Taxi Vessel Watch. Summer schedule – adding later evening runs on Fridays and Saturdays – starts at the end of this week.

Ferries: WSF is still using the two-boat schedule for Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth. Check here for alerts/updates. And note that WSF *is* dropping its mask mandate, while noting they’re still recommended.

BRIDGES AND DETOUR ROUTES

757th morning without the West Seattle Bridge.

Low Bridge: Automated enforcement cameras remain in use; restrictions are in effect 5 am-9 pm daily – except weekends; the bridge is open to all until 8 am Saturday and Sunday mornings. (Access applications are available here for some categories of drivers.)

1st Avenue South Bridge:

South Park Bridge:

West Marginal Way at Highland Park Way:

Highland Park Way/Holden:

The 5-way intersection (Spokane/West Marginal/Delridge/Chelan):

Are movable bridges opening for vessels? Check the @SDOTBridges Twitter feed; 1st Ave. S. Bridge openings are also tweeted by @wsdot_traffic.

All city traffic cams can be seen here; West Seattle and vicinity-relevant cameras are also on this WSB page

Trouble on the roads/paths/water? Text or call us (when you can do so safely) – 206-293-6302.

Mj April 19, 2022 (7:12 am)

The CDC and TSA dropped the masking requirement on airplanes and transit late yesterday. WSF dropped it’s requirement thus begging the question why Metro is not following suit? The masking was based on Federal Law that no longer applies.

Bus April 19, 2022 (1:25 pm)

Metro mandated masks before it was federally required and they’re allowed to mandate them even after the federal mandate is rescinded.
zark00 April 20, 2022 (12:04 pm)

CDC and TSA are both federal agencies. WSF made their own judgement call. Metro can also make their own. The judge who shot down mask mandates is a joke. She was deemed “unqualified” by the bar assc, she has NEVER tried a single case, she is a complete embarrassment in in the legal community. Our judicial system has some flaws – a major one being that we allow legislation from the bench which is exactly what this is. We didn’t vote for Mizelle to make national policy decisions, we didn’t vote for her at all, yet she’s literally pushing the GOP agenda from the bench. The GOP legislates from the bench, and makes a mockery of of our judicial system and laws regularly.

Peter S. April 19, 2022 (8:46 am)

The *stated* reason was waiting to see if the ruling would be overturned on appeal, thus forcing another policy reversal.

bill April 19, 2022 (10:13 am)

Lawyers and judges operate in their own fantasy universe, largely uninformed by science. Case counts are rising again locally and nationally. Feel free to catch covid if you want.

East Coast Cynic April 19, 2022 (12:59 pm)

The mask mandate judge was a Trump appointee operating in her own fantasy universe who happened to be rated unqualified by the ABA.
newnative April 19, 2022 (3:16 pm)

Some of us caught it despite wearing masks and getting boosted. It’s the people not wearing masks who are SPREADING it. I didn’t want it.
- Lisa April 19, 2022 (4:44 pm)
  
  @Newnative – you can still spread it if you’re wearing a mask. But it’s great that you were wearing a mask and boosted to limit your exposure (and hopefully symptoms). Take care.

Mj April 19, 2022 (1:11 pm)

Per the ST audio messages at the SODO station it stated masks required by Federal Law that no longer applies. My understanding is that the Metro Policy was also per Federal Law.