6:16 AM: Good morning! Time to start transit and traffic watch as people start heading downtown for the Seahawks‘ Super Bowl victory parade. Infolinks to start:
PARADE MAP/INFO
TRANSIT PLANS
EXTRA WATER-TAXI SHUTTLES
WATER TAXI VESSEL STATUS (note: Spirit of Kingston, extra boat, is running as of 7:45 but not showing)
WEST SEATTLE TRAFFIC CAMS
ALL CITYWIDE TRAFFIC CAMS
Updates to come as the morning unfolds! The 4th/Cherry cam downtown shows some staked out at curbside already, and some vehicle traffic still.
6:44 AM: The 4th/Washington cam toward the start of the parade route also shows paradegoers already staked out, and police in the street instead of traffic. We’re heading to Seacrest soon for Water Taxi updates; the real-time map shows M/V Sally Fox on the West Seattle run and M/V Doc Maynard serving Vashon.
7:08 AM: Above is the scene at the start of the parade route three minutes ago. We’re monitoring a variety of emergency and transit services; all’s well so far.
7:30 AM: Our crew has arrived at the Water Taxi dock and just sent the photo above. No line/crowd yet. Lots of room on sailing that’s just leaving. … A few minutes later, the extra WT boat, Spirit of Kingston, just pulled up (it’s not showing on the real-time site, though). … SoK left at 7:45, ~75 aboard.
8 AM: Things are starting to pick up at Seacrest, where Sally Fox has just returned. … Moments later, Spirit of Kingston (the smaller “spare” boat) returned. Meantime, our first report from buses – one rider says her bus is already full and skipping stops.
8:10 AM: We’re told Sally Fox left at capacity, 277. SoK (about half the capacity) loaded up and left minutes later. Meantime, a photo from West Seattle resident Ian in the parade zone:
8:30 AM: The boats really are leaving as fast as they fill up. Spirit of K headed out at 8:21, Sally Fox is back already, lines but not for long. … Parking is maxed out near the dock, though, a newly arrived reader tells us. They also sent this pic looking back at the line stretching out along Harbor:
8:55 AM: If you aren’t at the dock yet, you might be in for a wait – our crew estimates the line could be enough people to fill the next runs of both boats. Otherwise, no major traffic/transit problems reported – we’re continuing to monitor. … Spirit of K is headed out again at 8:56 am, so it should be back in about half an hour.
9:06 AM: Line estimated at 700 people; the two boats’ combined capacity is 450. Here’s an overhead view, from Nora McGee:
9:18 AM: Sally Fox is leaving again. … Here’s the latest view from the start of the parade route at 4th/Washington:
And from a reader who’s NOT going to the parade, we just got bus-stop views – not too jammed – including California/Findlay:
In comments, though, Meg reports, “Bus delays are pretty backed up too, been at the C line at Junction for 30 minutes without a single bus going downtown yet.”
9:38 AM: Water Taxis keep churning – SoK just left, Sally Fox is arriving. The line is still out to Harbor Ave. … Meantime, on board, a reader photo of the fan jerseys:
9:52 AM: Sally Fox is heading out again, as SoK comes in:
The outbound arrivals are slowing down, our crew reports.
10:07 AM: Now the larger M/V Doc Maynard – which has been on the Vashon run this morning – is at Seacrest, to pick up more people who will get downtown just barely in time. We’ll be leaving the dock soon; we’ll start a separate report once the parade begins, and welcome your pic at 206-293-6302 or westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
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