(SCROLL DOWN FOR UPDATES)
We’re going to go ahead and start the afternoon/evening commute coverage, since there’s new news:
RACHEL MARIE BACK ON THE WEST SEATTLE WATER TAXI RUN: WSB’er SK sent word of this – and moments later, we also got word from Michelle Allison in KC Councilmember Joe McDermott’s office: “Apparently the problem was a ‘faulty turbo charger on the starboard engine” which has since been repaired, tested and given the go ahead.” So if you’re coming home on the Water Taxi – here’s the special schedule for this week – you’ll be on Rachel Marie.
TREE BLOCKING FAIRMOUNT: Some park-and-ride Water Taxi commuters might be affected if this isn’t cleared soon – a big tree is blocking Fairmount just north of the bridge:
(Later note – We haven’t heard yet if it’s been cleared – let us know if you’ve gone through there.)
3:56 PM UPDATE: Multiple reports of bus slowness, particularly on 1st Avenue South. And lots of reports of, just like other days, getting stuck waiting for trains. We’re adding cameras relevant to the commute home – 1st and 4th, for example.
4:30 PM UPDATE: The Royal Brougham onramp to NORTHBOUND 99 did reopen as promised, by the way, in case you need to head north. (added) A commuter headed home from Beacon Hill says the backup’s not too bad to get to the bridge from there, but “many lights” to wait through.
4:59 PM UPDATE: Just talked to County Councilmember Joe McDermott about the Water Taxi – as he walked up to the line at Pier 50 to head home to West Seattle. (He shared the photo just added above – he says he’s #74 in line for the 5:15 pm run.) That reminds us, this morning’s ridership is now posted on the WT website – see it here.
5:15 PM: Via Twitter, @matinay reports, “I’m on a 55, 1st ave S & Lander. All SB buses on 1st are being rerouted further south to E Marginal to avoid a long train.”
5:31 PM: We have just driven east on the low bridge to check out the westbound traffic. Counted NINE buses on the low bridge (and a bit east of it) – from west to east, it was 120, a 55, a 21, and a 56, a 116, and another 120, two 54s, and a 21. We were then briefly on the eastbound high bridge – it’s slow going between 99 and 5.
5:43 PM: Another Water Taxi update from Joe McDermott – he estimates about 30 people who were in for the 5:15 pm sailing had to wait for the next one. (Added above, another view of that line, from Josh Sutton.) Meantime, we’ve just taken 4th Avenue South to the 1st Avenue South Bridge. A little backup in the final stretch before the bridge, and we’re now in a short backup on the onramp, but not bad at all.
6:19 PM: Still seeing tweets from people in buses experiencing slow going home. We’ll be asking Metro if they plan to do anything differently tomorrow.
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