The promise of an eastbound bus lane on Denny Way made waves last month, but the September deadline has come and passed, with not a hint of red paint on the street’s asphalt. So, what gives?
Mike Lindblom at The Seattle Times reports ($) that the announcement was premature and came about due to a misunderstanding between the department and Seattle City Light (SCL). SCL’s Denny Substation, which occupies most of the block between Minor and Yale, has not been completed. One of Denny’s westbound lanes is used by the project’s contractors, and would have been eliminated with the center bus lane in place. Recently, SCL tore up and repaved Denny Way, which SDOT saw as an opportunity to install the new bus lane with minimal disruption. A SCL manager approved of SDOT’s proposed work, mistaking it for mere restriping and not a full lane conversion. SDOT’s original announcement was pulled, and a new schedule for the bus lane pushes back installation until spring of next year.
Anybody who’s worked in any large organization-Government at any level, corporation…is this kind of miscommunication par for the course? In Seattle, not likely alcoholism or corruption. But maybe short-handed?
Is it because Seattle hasn’t had a Mayor in Lord knows how long? Because absolute worst thing about this matter is the question it raises: The management of what else is in exact same condition? Thoughts?
Mark Dublin
Yes, large organizations have trouble moving together. Good organizations catch these mistakes and fix them before paint is applied.
Boo! This was needed years ago at this location where buses are regularly delayed as much as 45 minutes. More SOV congestion to clog up the packed 8 bus.
As welcome at that bus lane would be, the ST article says it would save 1-2 minutes per trip. That’s nothing to sneeze at, but a little perspective is in order too!
Is that an average, though, where the huge peak-hour savings are averaged across the midday, evening, and weekend?
Is that a savings over scheduled run time? For example, the Tacoma bypass will save only 10 minutes over scheduled Seattle – Portland train time, but it will also dramatically increase reliability. If the reliability of the 8 increases, even if the time savings for any given run is minimal it is a very good thing. One has to do with how long it takes once you’re on the bus; the other with how long you might have to wait for one. All else being equal I’d rather spend the time on the bus than waiting…and waiting…and waiting….
I wait at that bus stop often and regularly it waits multiple cycles to pull into the stop and thats normal Denny traffic. Then there’s the major delays on Denny…
https://www.flickr.com/photos/78175613@N00/37056242200/in/pool-seatrans/