ST/LRT kicks Metro's butt in the snow Options

[Sloan]

http://blogs.seattleweekly.com/dailyweekly...tros_butt_i.php

[EvergreenRailfan]

Judging from the TV news here tonight, looks like I have to agree. Although I will admit, SDOT is doing a good job trying to keep Seattle's roads open, but they at least will not plow the side streets. We normally don't get much snow, so we can't go out and buy 100 plows and have them ready to go. 25 seems good enough. Last year, we got lucky, little snow, and the switch heaters had not been installed yet.

[KevinKorell]

And the same has been proven time and time again in other cold weather cities. Seattle should not be surprised that the LRT is doing so much better than Metro's buses. Of course both ST and KC Metro both have rail and bus routes to worry about. Metro runs the Seattle Streetcar in addition to buses, and Sound Transit has buses too.

I'm sure in weather like this, they are glad they have the downtown transit tunnel, although obviously both LRT and bus have to run outside once they get to the portal(s). Of course delayed buses might mean delays for LRT as well, since they only have one lane in each direction to share in the tunnel. The LRT might remain on schedule, but the buses are out of their normal operating windows and would thus cause delays.

[EvergreenRailfan]

THe last time, SDOT plowed snow onto the Streetcar right of way, but things have changed this year. They applied a brine solution to many roads before the snow happened. In 2008, the city was no longer using salt. So far, rail has been safer today. In Tacoma, a Pierce Transit bus flipped over, but the injuries seem to be minor. 2008 was a bad year, and the Mayor paid for it the next. There have been microclimates in the city in the past. When I was in High School, sometimes I would get there on a snowy day, when there was not much in the city, and find it closed, because the administration decided that people coming from the North had a tougher commute, and wanted them to stay safe.

[KevinKorell]

When crews are plowing snow on streets that cross a rail line, I've seen where they just keep on going and plow snow over the tracks. Their job is, after all, to plow the street and keep traffic moving. I suppose most trains can just go through it if it's not too high, but if it's particularly icy I suspect it could cause problems, even damage to a train that hits it, especially LRT or a streetcar.

[EvergreenRailfan]

Normally there is not a Round 2 when it comes to snow here, but this being a La Nina year. Forecasters have Round 2 on the way, allegedly.

MyNorthwest.com

So far, not much info on ST or Metro being ready, on their website, but I have seen one sign tonight that buses might be on snow routes soon. Normally the trunk route in my Neighborhood, Metro's No.7, rates 60ft buses all day. regardless of the day of the week, except for the Night Owl runs(the two round trips between 3 and 5AM), but tonight I saw just 40ft buses on it.

[EvergreenRailfan]

The next round of LINK vs. the Snow is happening this week. ST has put out the press release warning bus and train riders to prepare for snow.
ST Press Release

In response to weather forecasts predicting snow tomorrow and Thursday, Sound Transit is reminding its riders to take proactive steps to increase their "snow-how" for riding Link light rail, Sounder commuter rail, and ST Express regional buses.

The best way for transit users to plan ahead for snow is to sign up to receive rider alerts by e-mail or text message. Rider alerts offer a great way to stay informed since weather impacts vary by transit service. Riders have the option of choosing which specific updates to receive, such as alerts for specific bus routes, Sounder north line, Sounder south line, or Link light rail. Sound Transit posts updates as information becomes available.