Comments on: Snow Day Open Thread http://seattletransitblog.com/2008/12/18/snow-day-open-thread/ Transit in the Greater Seattle Area Thu, 24 May 2012 16:55:01 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Metro Unveils New Snow Information System - Seattle Transit Blog http://seattletransitblog.com/2008/12/18/snow-day-open-thread/#comment-33500 Metro Unveils New Snow Information System - Seattle Transit Blog Sun, 08 Mar 2009 00:28:21 +0000 http://seattletransitblog.com/?p=1457#comment-33500 [...] To solve this problem, Metro is going to leverage the  King County alert blog for this purpose.  The idea is that riders can comment on blog entries, thus alerting other riders to what’s going on with their route.  After all, the bandwidth of commercial cellular systems far exceeds what Metro has, and it’s probably best to have a more official place for this than an STB snow day thread. [...]
[...] To solve this problem, Metro is going to leverage the  King County alert blog for this purpose.  The idea is that riders can comment on blog entries, thus alerting other riders to what’s going on with their route.  After all, the bandwidth of commercial cellular systems far exceeds what Metro has, and it’s probably best to have a more official place for this than an STB snow day thread. [...]

]]> By: Andrew Smith http://seattletransitblog.com/2008/12/18/snow-day-open-thread/#comment-22046 Andrew Smith Sat, 20 Dec 2008 01:13:27 +0000 http://seattletransitblog.com/?p=1457#comment-22046 It was "defered" so we may see it someday.
It was “defered” so we may see it someday.

]]> By: Matt the Engineer http://seattletransitblog.com/2008/12/18/snow-day-open-thread/#comment-21984 Matt the Engineer Fri, 19 Dec 2008 16:40:32 +0000 http://seattletransitblog.com/?p=1457#comment-21984 [Sam] Yesterday the #2 wasn't running at all, but Bus View told me it was on time. So it seems like a case where wrong information is worse than no information at all.
[Sam] Yesterday the #2 wasn’t running at all, but Bus View told me it was on time. So it seems like a case where wrong information is worse than no information at all.

]]> By: ericn http://seattletransitblog.com/2008/12/18/snow-day-open-thread/#comment-21956 ericn Fri, 19 Dec 2008 08:19:29 +0000 http://seattletransitblog.com/?p=1457#comment-21956 True, not to mention Metro removed almost all of their articulated buses from service even if they weren't stuck—that's got to be at least a third of their fleet, and the higher-capacity one at that.
True, not to mention Metro removed almost all of their articulated buses from service even if they weren’t stuck—that’s got to be at least a third of their fleet, and the higher-capacity one at that.

]]> By: News Round-Up « Seattle Transit Blog http://seattletransitblog.com/2008/12/18/snow-day-open-thread/#comment-21950 News Round-Up « Seattle Transit Blog Fri, 19 Dec 2008 06:40:58 +0000 http://seattletransitblog.com/?p=1457#comment-21950 [...] snowpocalypse upon us, it’s difficult to make time to post on all of these, so here’s a news [...]
[...] snowpocalypse upon us, it’s difficult to make time to post on all of these, so here’s a news [...]

]]> By: News Round-Up « Seattle Transit Blog http://seattletransitblog.com/2008/12/18/snow-day-open-thread/#comment-21951 News Round-Up « Seattle Transit Blog Fri, 19 Dec 2008 06:40:58 +0000 http://seattletransitblog.com/?p=1457#comment-21951 [...] snowpocalypse upon us, it’s difficult to make time to post on all of these, so here’s a news [...]
[...] snowpocalypse upon us, it’s difficult to make time to post on all of these, so here’s a news [...]

]]> By: seagull http://seattletransitblog.com/2008/12/18/snow-day-open-thread/#comment-21947 seagull Fri, 19 Dec 2008 06:10:55 +0000 http://seattletransitblog.com/?p=1457#comment-21947 Where do the extra buses come from? Metro is maxed out in the peaks, and losing many buses to accidents or getting stuck means there are even fewer. This is generally what the routes that Metro ran in the late pm were designed to do - get you in the general direction.
Where do the extra buses come from? Metro is maxed out in the peaks, and losing many buses to accidents or getting stuck means there are even fewer. This is generally what the routes that Metro ran in the late pm were designed to do – get you in the general direction.

]]> By: seagull http://seattletransitblog.com/2008/12/18/snow-day-open-thread/#comment-21946 seagull Fri, 19 Dec 2008 06:07:47 +0000 http://seattletransitblog.com/?p=1457#comment-21946 The 4:20 SB Sounder had very long delays... it didn't arrive in Tukwila until after 5 pm after sitting for a half hour just north of Boeing field to let a freight train and Amtrak go by. Probably why they just cancelled the last train.
The 4:20 SB Sounder had very long delays… it didn’t arrive in Tukwila until after 5 pm after sitting for a half hour just north of Boeing field to let a freight train and Amtrak go by. Probably why they just cancelled the last train.

]]> By: Mark http://seattletransitblog.com/2008/12/18/snow-day-open-thread/#comment-21938 Mark Fri, 19 Dec 2008 03:38:12 +0000 http://seattletransitblog.com/?p=1457#comment-21938 One thing I've seen in a snowy east coast city: when the snow gets bad enough to seriously disrupt traffic, they'll add extra buses to ensure there is frequent service along major roads. (Not regular numbered routes, they were just labelled "SNO*BUS".) I assume the idea is that if your regular bus is late, you can at least get somewhere in the general area of where you're going.
One thing I’ve seen in a snowy east coast city: when the snow gets bad enough to seriously disrupt traffic, they’ll add extra buses to ensure there is frequent service along major roads. (Not regular numbered routes, they were just labelled “SNO*BUS”.) I assume the idea is that if your regular bus is late, you can at least get somewhere in the general area of where you’re going.

]]> By: Joshua Kelley http://seattletransitblog.com/2008/12/18/snow-day-open-thread/#comment-21936 Joshua Kelley Fri, 19 Dec 2008 02:59:29 +0000 http://seattletransitblog.com/?p=1457#comment-21936 There are good reasons that the general public dislikes taking the bus. Metro, in many cases, contributed to that today. When a driver does something out of the ordinary, passengers get confused or worried that they won't make it where they're going. Especially on a day like today, drivers NEED to communicate what is going on to the passengers. As I was waiting for the NB 150 in Kent, I expected it to be late. It was 10 minutes late. No big deal. Although it's not posted anywhere, the 150 does have a re-route to avoid the Southcenter hill. When our driver turned onto Strander Blvd. as he was approaching the mall (which is out of the ordinary), I heard many passengers asking each other if the bus was still going to Seattle. Not once did the driver make an announcement about the re-route, even after several people asked him. To make matters worse, we sat at the Tukwila Park and Ride for 15 minutes without any indication as to why. Again, a few passengers asked why, but he made no PA announcement. Apparently, he was waiting for his relief. That in itself doesn't bug me, but the fact that he didn't simply let us know really bugs me. That and the fact that his relief driver was not waiting for us when we were already 15 minutes late. Enough of this rant. I like Metro and most of the drivers, but come on...just let us know what's going on!
There are good reasons that the general public dislikes taking the bus. Metro, in many cases, contributed to that today. When a driver does something out of the ordinary, passengers get confused or worried that they won’t make it where they’re going. Especially on a day like today, drivers NEED to communicate what is going on to the passengers.

As I was waiting for the NB 150 in Kent, I expected it to be late. It was 10 minutes late. No big deal.

Although it’s not posted anywhere, the 150 does have a re-route to avoid the Southcenter hill. When our driver turned onto Strander Blvd. as he was approaching the mall (which is out of the ordinary), I heard many passengers asking each other if the bus was still going to Seattle. Not once did the driver make an announcement about the re-route, even after several people asked him.

To make matters worse, we sat at the Tukwila Park and Ride for 15 minutes without any indication as to why. Again, a few passengers asked why, but he made no PA announcement. Apparently, he was waiting for his relief. That in itself doesn’t bug me, but the fact that he didn’t simply let us know really bugs me. That and the fact that his relief driver was not waiting for us when we were already 15 minutes late.

Enough of this rant. I like Metro and most of the drivers, but come on…just let us know what’s going on!

]]> By: Sam http://seattletransitblog.com/2008/12/18/snow-day-open-thread/#comment-21935 Sam Fri, 19 Dec 2008 02:41:40 +0000 http://seattletransitblog.com/?p=1457#comment-21935 Metro makes the same mistakes every time it snows. They never learn. One thing I think they should do is redesign their snow routes. Streamline them. Get them off most secondary roads and hills. They often just get stuck there anyway. Another thing I think they should do is have a few of their own sanders. They don't need to sand, plow, or salt hundreds of miles of roads, like the DOT does, but they should at least identify the areas where buses are most like to get stuck, then target sand those areas with their own sanding vehicles. Also, relax the accident standards for drivers. From what I understand, drivers who slide into a car or post are still penalized by Metro for getting in an accident, even if they just lightly brush against a sign post. Metro's accident rules are not lessened for severe winter weather. What that has the effect of doing, from what drivers have told me, is to make many of them them stop and park the bus as soon as they can. There is no penalty for parking the bus and stopping service for the day. The driver avoids getting charged with an accident, and he has the incentive of accruing overtime.
Metro makes the same mistakes every time it snows. They never learn. One thing I think they should do is redesign their snow routes. Streamline them. Get them off most secondary roads and hills. They often just get stuck there anyway. Another thing I think they should do is have a few of their own sanders. They don’t need to sand, plow, or salt hundreds of miles of roads, like the DOT does, but they should at least identify the areas where buses are most like to get stuck, then target sand those areas with their own sanding vehicles. Also, relax the accident standards for drivers. From what I understand, drivers who slide into a car or post are still penalized by Metro for getting in an accident, even if they just lightly brush against a sign post. Metro’s accident rules are not lessened for severe winter weather. What that has the effect of doing, from what drivers have told me, is to make many of them them stop and park the bus as soon as they can. There is no penalty for parking the bus and stopping service for the day. The driver avoids getting charged with an accident, and he has the incentive of accruing overtime.

]]> By: Brian Ferris http://seattletransitblog.com/2008/12/18/snow-day-open-thread/#comment-21933 Brian Ferris Fri, 19 Dec 2008 02:37:39 +0000 http://seattletransitblog.com/?p=1457#comment-21933 No. BusView will not accurately show the bus taking an alternate route or even list it as off route. See explanation here: http://code.google.com/p/onebusaway/wiki/AdverseWeatherReroutes
No. BusView will not accurately show the bus taking an alternate route or even list it as off route. See explanation here:

http://code.google.com/p/onebusaway/wiki/AdverseWeatherReroutes

]]> By: Nicholas Barnard http://seattletransitblog.com/2008/12/18/snow-day-open-thread/#comment-21932 Nicholas Barnard Fri, 19 Dec 2008 02:25:13 +0000 http://seattletransitblog.com/?p=1457#comment-21932 I think Metro did a piss poor job of managing their resources. I understand that frequencies can't be kept up, but between 3:50 and 5:50 today there was only one 36. This is for one of the highest frequency busses during the normal schedule. But there were two 76s and two 3s during that period. I have no expectations of superb service during these conditions, but somebody wasn't monitoring the damn system.
I think Metro did a piss poor job of managing their resources. I understand that frequencies can’t be kept up, but between 3:50 and 5:50 today there was only one 36. This is for one of the highest frequency busses during the normal schedule. But there were two 76s and two 3s during that period. I have no expectations of superb service during these conditions, but somebody wasn’t monitoring the damn system.

]]> By: Chris Stefan http://seattletransitblog.com/2008/12/18/snow-day-open-thread/#comment-21929 Chris Stefan Fri, 19 Dec 2008 02:14:57 +0000 http://seattletransitblog.com/?p=1457#comment-21929 Yea, just thinking of all the people who get on/off the 41 north of northgate or the 72 north of 65th.
Yea, just thinking of all the people who get on/off the 41 north of northgate or the 72 north of 65th.

]]> By: Andrew Smith http://seattletransitblog.com/2008/12/18/snow-day-open-thread/#comment-21925 Andrew Smith Fri, 19 Dec 2008 01:46:44 +0000 http://seattletransitblog.com/?p=1457#comment-21925 Coming back from the post office, I saw a charter bus stuck, then a tow truck come to pick it up, and the tow truck slide down the hill too. It was freaky, dozens of people scrambling. I guess an even bigger tow truck is going to have to come now.
Coming back from the post office, I saw a charter bus stuck, then a tow truck come to pick it up, and the tow truck slide down the hill too. It was freaky, dozens of people scrambling. I guess an even bigger tow truck is going to have to come now.

]]> By: ericn http://seattletransitblog.com/2008/12/18/snow-day-open-thread/#comment-21922 ericn Fri, 19 Dec 2008 01:24:20 +0000 http://seattletransitblog.com/?p=1457#comment-21922 You could try transferring to the 372 or 75 at Campus Parkway. They're both on reroute around campus, but should still stop there.
You could try transferring to the 372 or 75 at Campus Parkway. They’re both on reroute around campus, but should still stop there.

]]> By: Oran V http://seattletransitblog.com/2008/12/18/snow-day-open-thread/#comment-21921 Oran V Fri, 19 Dec 2008 01:22:46 +0000 http://seattletransitblog.com/?p=1457#comment-21921 I mentioned it above but here it is again. GPS bus location will be coming soon. Metro’s Smart Bus program will feature GPS tracking technology according to the contractor. This will allow Metro to display the locations of all coaches accurately on a GIS-based map. The new mobile data terminals that we’ve seen on buses for the past year will be used to their full potential. Smart bus technology will be implemented beginning in late 2009 with automated stop announcements and displays on buses. The ORCA readers are also controlled from that terminal. [Spam filter didn't like my links]
I mentioned it above but here it is again.

GPS bus location will be coming soon.

Metro’s Smart Bus program will feature GPS tracking technology according to the contractor. This will allow Metro to display the locations of all coaches accurately on a GIS-based map. The new mobile data terminals that we’ve seen on buses for the past year will be used to their full potential. Smart bus technology will be implemented beginning in late 2009 with automated stop announcements and displays on buses.

The ORCA readers are also controlled from that terminal.

[Spam filter didn't like my links]

]]> By: Oran http://seattletransitblog.com/2008/12/18/snow-day-open-thread/#comment-21920 Oran Fri, 19 Dec 2008 01:16:53 +0000 http://seattletransitblog.com/?p=1457#comment-21920 I mentioned it above but here it is again. GPS bus location will be coming soon. Metro's <a href="http://transit.metrokc.gov/am/vehicles/smartbus/smartbus.html" rel="nofollow">Smart Bus</a> program will feature GPS tracking technology according to the <a href="http://www.initusa.com/share/reference_english/Seattle_Reference__2_.pdf" rel="nofollow">contractor</a>. This will allow Metro to display the locations of all coaches accurately on a GIS-based map. The new mobile data terminals that we've seen on buses for the past year will be used to their full potential. We should be seeing smart bus technology implemented <a href="http://your.kingcounty.gov/kcdot/aboutus/intransit/InTransit_08Jul-Aug.pdf" rel="nofollow">beginning in late 2009</a> with the automated stop announcements on buses. The ORCA readers are also controlled from that terminal.
I mentioned it above but here it is again.

GPS bus location will be coming soon.

Metro’s Smart Bus program will feature GPS tracking technology according to the contractor. This will allow Metro to display the locations of all coaches accurately on a GIS-based map. The new mobile data terminals that we’ve seen on buses for the past year will be used to their full potential. We should be seeing smart bus technology implemented beginning in late 2009 with the automated stop announcements on buses.

The ORCA readers are also controlled from that terminal.

]]> By: Chris Stefan http://seattletransitblog.com/2008/12/18/snow-day-open-thread/#comment-21918 Chris Stefan Fri, 19 Dec 2008 01:01:37 +0000 http://seattletransitblog.com/?p=1457#comment-21918 Crikey, 72 to 65th & 15th only 41 to Northgate only. That is going to screw over a bunch of people. You are SOL if you are trying to get to lake city from anywhere but downtown.
Crikey, 72 to 65th & 15th only 41 to Northgate only. That is going to screw over a bunch of people. You are SOL if you are trying to get to lake city from anywhere but downtown.

]]> By: Craig http://seattletransitblog.com/2008/12/18/snow-day-open-thread/#comment-21917 Craig Fri, 19 Dec 2008 00:56:00 +0000 http://seattletransitblog.com/?p=1457#comment-21917 No more 164. Glad I came home when I did. That route was fine earlier. James Hill would seem to be the only thing I would have concern with and with the 168 not even on snow route that doesn't seem to be an issue. Keep it like that and I won't have to do the show tomorrow WOO!
No more 164. Glad I came home when I did. That route was fine earlier. James Hill would seem to be the only thing I would have concern with and with the 168 not even on snow route that doesn’t seem to be an issue. Keep it like that and I won’t have to do the show tomorrow WOO!

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