Comments on: Monday Morning Snowpocalypse Open Thread

By: Metro’s New Reroute Notification System - Seattle Transit Blog

Metro’s New Reroute Notification System - Seattle Transit Blog — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 12:31:25 +0000

[...] New Reroute Notification System by Martin H. Duke One criticism of Metro’s response to last year’s snowpocalypse was the ad-hoc way in which reroutes were improvised. That was addressed by Friday’s [...]

By: Bernie

Bernie — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 00:27:54 +0000

KOMO news just did a spot on Metro’s new snow policy. Rather than try to put out as many buses as possible they have identified core routes which they will concentrate on. Basically Kevin Desmond said there will be some 70 routes but if they can’t operate those safely and reliably they will cut back even further. No bus left behind :=

By: Metro’s Emergency Routing Plan - Seattle Transit Blog

Metro’s Emergency Routing Plan - Seattle Transit Blog — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 23:27:20 +0000

[...] of last winter’s “snowpocalypse” will recall the basic impossibility of adhering to any sort of schedule. Indeed, [...]

By: Oran

Oran — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 07:33:09 +0000

I usually see ST Coach 9200 (the 40-ft low-floor hybrid) operate on Route 560 (Bellevue-Airport-West Seattle). Possibly the low floors have trouble with chains or snow?

The reason why ST hasn’t purchased any more of these is because of the low seating capacity.

By: Mike

Mike — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 06:38:13 +0000

I saw a 40-ft diesel ST bus in the tunnel on my way to work. I was wondering why ST isn’t using it’s (one and only) low floor 40-ft hybrid bus in this case. I saw this bus once in 2006 and thought I was seeing things. Any one know where this bus is and where it operates?

By: cuyahoga

cuyahoga — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 03:11:05 +0000

Or how about providing service to the bottom of the hill on the other (east) side of Queen Anne? I live on the east side of Queen Anne and it would be nice to have some bus service over here. At least run the 3/4 to 5th & Aloha.

Also, at some points this weekend the 3 was running to the top of the hill but the 4 wasn’t. They run pretty much the same route until you get to Boston & Queen Anne Ave (by Safeway). Can anyone explain why the 4 was turning around at 5th & Aloha but the 3 was running all the way up the hill?

By: Cam

Cam — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 02:36:02 +0000

I noticed that the standard and articulated diesels were running in the tunnel. Is it equipped to handle all of that exhaust?

By: Oran Viriyincy

Oran Viriyincy — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 01:11:24 +0000

This from the latest RPIN update:

Difficult driving conditions and ten straight days of snow operations are beginning to take their toll on Metro’s bus fleet. The number of buses available for peak service has decreased each day over the past week due to difficulties some coach models experience in the deeper snow or in prolonged icy conditions.

That doesn’t sound very good.

By: Oran Viriyincy

Oran Viriyincy — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 01:08:53 +0000

I think Metro parks most of their fleet outside anyway. They still need a way for mechanics to work under the bus, though.

By: L. Smith

L. Smith — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 01:05:13 +0000

The 900 routes are DART, yes.

By: Scott

Scott — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 00:48:22 +0000

Does anyone know how the Community Transit “Double Tall” is doing? Seems to me Metro & Sound Transit should be ordering a bunch of double deckers. Park them outside if the maintenance barns aren’t tall enough!

By: Patrick

Patrick — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 00:40:05 +0000

Yes, the maintaners work Sunday…. 7 days a week…..
Streetcar isnt running because of a bad switch……

By: Ryan

Ryan — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 22:38:56 +0000

Walked into work at 7:45am without a care in the world. The snow did not even make my work (office) shoes wet. The streets were nice and quiet, and the SOV commuters I did see were sliding all over the place, but did not hit anything. I even get some extra time for my projects because so many people could not get here.

Go Capitol Hill!

By: Chris Stefan

Chris Stefan — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 21:07:59 +0000

DOH! Didn’t realize there was a re-route. The 66 and 67 were on their normal routing when I rode them late Friday.

Best I can figure is the driver didn’t know they were supposed to pick people up on the re-route or didn’t feel that stop was safe to stop at.

By: Andrew

Andrew — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 19:35:30 +0000

Is it just me or is ths:
http://busview.org/busview_launch.jsp

The most useful thing in the world right about now?

By: Michael O'Brien

Michael O'Brien — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 19:29:41 +0000

Apparently the snow is here until at the weekend.

By: Donovan

Donovan — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 19:24:52 +0000

http://transit.metrokc.gov/up/rr/adverseweather.html

It is still up there today saying the re-route is in effect. Can anyone verify this?

By: Chris Stefan

Chris Stefan — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 19:02:19 +0000

Just in from WSDOT twitter:
Edmonds/Kingston Route Cancellations: Extreme weather conditions have delayed fuel service to the Hyak. There will be no 10:50am, 12:10p

Is WSF running out of diesel?

By: Tim Whittome

Tim Whittome — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 18:55:17 +0000

I am amazed at how bad some of the secondary arterials still are such as East Marginal Way.

As I said in a post to Brian in his other message, we are moving towards a ‘blame game’ right now. I don’t think ST needs to cancel so many of the routes it has done or put Sounder on a holiday schedule. Predictability is key to the success of mass transit – not that it necessarily has to be on time, but if you are timetabled to run 8 trains on the south line to Tacoma, then you should try and run 8 trains. If trains can work a holiday schedule, they can work a full schedule surely? More kudos to ST if they tried!

As for Amtrak, the railroads need to start freeing up the line of debris or frozen switches. I am sure they are trying and all and all credit to them, but we lose the mass transit argument if we start to lose the predictability and resilience of the alternatives we all hope for our region on this blog.

Tim

By: Chris Stefan

Chris Stefan — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 18:43:54 +0000

Sounds more like the 68 which was canceled Friday though it was running Saturday. The 66/67 don’t serve Roosevelt North of NE 80th even on normal routing.