Week of Dec. 15, 2008

5 things you should know about winter travel in King County

Between noon Friday and noon Monday, Dec. 12-15, the King County Road Services Division responded to 1,017 calls from residents and put 150 people and 41 pieces of equipment on the road for each 12-hour shift. Metro Transit also called in extra people to work extra-long shifts over weekend to respond to the weather and prepare for Monday morning’s commute.

Here are a few transportation things to know that may help you cope with this current spate of cold weather that is predicted to bring more snow and ice to King County later in the week:

1. The four corners of the earth are only just a little bit farther apart than the distance between Enumclaw, Vashon, Skykomish and Shoreline.

Covering 2,134 square miles, King County is nearly twice as large as the average county in the United States. Or to put it in concrete terms, King County is bigger than either the states of Rhode Island or Delaware.

That means the King County Department of Transportation has a vast territory to serve with roads in the unincorporated areas and transit service to urban, suburban, and even some rural communities.

It spreads  KCDOT crews far and wide, and forces them to prioritize  which roads to plow first, which bus routes to chain up, and where to close streets or cancel bus service –  sometimes before the storm even hits.

That is why the county relies on patience during bad weather. While one person’s street may be snow covered and in need plowing, crews are coming to another person’s rescue by removing downed trees that have been blocking emergency vehicles or isolating an entire community. And yes, the bus might be late, but dicey travel conditions may have slowed all traffic.

2. If your car can’t stop on that hill, chances are the bus can’t either.

Imagine driving a 4,000-lb. car with four wheels that is slipping down a slope. Now imagine driving a 40,000-lb. bus with six wheels up or down that same hill. Metro Transit drivers are extremely skilled and well trained, but that much weight going downhill produces a lot of energy that can’t always be controlled by a steering wheel.

Despite their heft, Metro buses do not have four-wheel drive. Passenger and operator safety is always going to be first consideration for Metro. During inclement weather, the agency will err on the side of caution which means buses can go into snow routes with little notice.

This can be frustrating for passengers waiting in the cold, so the best bet is to wait for buses at major transit centers, bus stops on flat arterials roads, or at the top or bottom of hills. Even then, the buses might not be able to pull to the curb because they have to stay on the cleared portion of the roadway.

3. Anti-icer only buys you time, not traction.

The anti-icing materials used by the King County Road Services Division work best when applied to dry pavement and when the temperature is 34 degrees and falling. That’s a pretty narrow window of opportunity, especially when there’s 1,795 miles of road and 185 bridges to maintain.

The anti-icer prevents ice from forming to a certain point, and also helps break the bond between snow and the road surface. That makes it easier for snowplows to clear the road.

But once the ice has formed or the snow falls on the road, it’s too late to apply the anti-icer. Also, it can be easily washed off by rain. So, that’s when the Road Division switches to a mixture of sand and salt to melt the ice and provide better traction in slippery areas.

4. Sometimes the wheels on the bus don’t go round and round as well when they’re chained.

Chains work best in snowy conditions, but once the snow compacts into ice the advantages start slipping away. Another disadvantage is that buses cannot travel over 35 mph on dry pavement with chains without damaging the roads and the buses. So, chaining up can greatly impact Metro’s ability to stay on schedule.

That’s why Metro puts a lot of advance thinking into chaining up its fleet of 1,300 buses. The best-case scenario is when snow falls overnight and in all parts of the county. Then the entire fleet can be chained up while the buses are at the bases. One person can chain up a single bus fairly quickly in the shop. Out is the field, it can take a small crew to control traffic and install chains on buses stopped on the street.

Another thing that most people don’t realize is that many Metro routes are very long. So, it can be snowy or icy on one end of the route – like it was in West Seattle this weekend – but clear and dry on the other end. In these cases, chained buses would be an advantage for one area and a disadvantage for another.

5. Boy Scouts aren’t the only ones who should “be prepared.”

Winters in King County can bring torrential rains, gale winds, ice storms, and snow squalls. Each brings its own travel challenges, but there are some common preparation tips.

1) Whether you’re a motorist or a bus rider, dress for the weather – including appropriate footwear; 2) Give yourself plenty of time to arrive at your destination; 3) Plan in advance by checking road closures and transit reroutes on the King County website or Regional Public Information Network; and 4) Be patient – it’s better to be late than be in an accident.

More partial holiday schedules for Metro Transit Bus riders should plan ahead for different schedules during the Christmas and New Year’s holidays. Metro will be operating with Sunday schedules on Dec. 25 and Jan. 1, and then using the new “partial holiday” schedule on Dec. 26 and Jan. 2. The partial holiday schedule features more bus service than on weekends, but less than normal weekdays. Many routes that will not run on Christmas and New Year’s Day will be in operation on the days after – but with fewer trips than a regular weekday. Both the printed and online bus schedules indicate whether each trip on each individual Metro route will operate on a partial holiday. Look for the “H” symbol next to individual trip times to see if a specific trip is cancelled on Dec. 26 and Jan. 2. Passengers should check the schedules for their bus routes in advance and plan accordingly. The partial holiday schedules are incorporated in Metro’s Online Trip Planner, or you can get additional information by calling Metro’s Customer Information Office at (206) 553-3000.

Distribution of Puget Passes delayed Due to production problems, the distribution of January 2009 Puget Passes to transit riders has been delayed. The problems only affect the Puget Passes, and not other pass products. Metro expects to receive its supply of passes the week of December 22. Once the passes are received, every effort will be made to expedite delivery to customers. Pass holders who have questions can call the Metro Customer Information Office at (206) 553-3000. Snow bowl for Sunday? The Seattle Seahawks play their last home game of the 2008 season this Sunday, Dec. 21 against Brett Favre and the New York Jets. With more snow forecast for the weekend, the game could be bone chilling in more ways than one.   Riding Metro is a great way to get to the 1 p.m. kickoff at Qwest Field, with special shuttles both before and after game. It's a great way to cut through the traffic surrounding the stadium. Metro's shuttles travel to the stadium from four local park-and-rides. Another transit provider will handle service from the Kent Park-and-Ride. The Metro shuttle fare is $4 each way. Or, check the Trip Planner to see if there is regular bus service to the stadium from your starting location. See Metro Online for details on service to Sunday’s game.

Subscribe to DOT Dash

Sign-up to receive an e-mail text version of "Transportation Today," along with other significant DOT news by sending an e-mail to us with subscribe King County DOT Dash in the subject line.