by According to The Olympian, on Tuesday (March 2), a federal judge dismissed a lawsuit alleging that 18 Washington cities, including Burien, were charging too much for traffic violations caught by red light cameras.
This means that all Washington state cities with red light cameras will be able to continue charging their current fines, many of which are set at $101 and above.
The “order of dismissal” was issued by U.S. District Court Judge John C. Coughenour in Seattle, and this ends a lawsuit in which more than 40 drivers claimed that fines issued from red light cameras exceeded the amount intended by state law.
As we’ve previously reported, attorneys for the plaintiffs were seeking class-action status over a 2005 law that says traffic-camera fines “shall not exceed the amount of the fine issued for other parking infractions within the jurisdiction,” according to the complaint.
Burien has five red light cameras, which have been up and running since last March, and according to a city e-newsletter, were averaging “around 540 infractions per month” back in October 2009 – equaling a projected gross of over $654,000 in its first year of operation.
Burien currently sends out a $101 fine for red light infractions, with five cameras operating at these three intersections (see map below):
- 1st Avenue South at SW 148th Street
- 1st Avenue South at SW 152nd Street
- 1st Avenue South at SW 160th Street
View Red Light Cameras in Burien WA in a larger map
The camera earning the most money currently is the westbound one at SW 148th Street and 1st Ave South, which (as of Oct. 2009) generated about 35% of the total infractions, or 189 per month (just over 6 per day), equals to a monthly gross of $19,089 – or more than $229,000 annually, which on its own surpasses the original citywide $200k projection.
The cameras operate 24 hours a day and capture still photos and video of every vehicle that runs a red light at the intersection. After being processed by manufacturer RedFlex, the videos are accessed by Burien police through a website, where they are analyzed by an officer who decides whether or not to send out a ticket.
Other cities named in the lawsuit included:
- Auburn
- Bellevue
- Bonney Lake
- Bremerton
- Federal Way
- Fife
- Issaquah
- Lacey
- Lake Forest Park
- Lakewood
- Lynnwood
- Puyallup
- Renton
- SeaTac
- Seattle
- Spokane
- Tacoma
So, to all your speeders out there – don’t expect any reduction in red light camera fines.
And to the City of Burien (and all other cities with these device$) – let’s hope you put the massive revenues from this semi-automatic “cash cow” to good use during these economic times.
PREVIOUS COVERAGE:
- Class Action Lawsuit Filed Against 19 Cities, Including Burien, Over Red Light Camera Fines
- Burien’s Red Light Cameras On Track To Gross Over $654,000 In First Year, Nearly 3x Projected Revenue
- Burien’s Red Light Camera Citations Are “In The Mail”
- City Official Addresses Red Light Camera Concerns
- Red Light Cams Go Live Sun.;To Bring In $200k In 1st Year?
- Burien Speeders Beware: Red Light Cameras Start Mar. 1st
The Washington State Department of Transportation wants folks to be aware that all lanes of northbound I-5 at SR-599 in Tukwila will be closed tonight (Tues., Jan. 19th) beginning at 11:30pm and continuing until 4:30am Wednesday morning.
Drivers will be detoured off I-5 onto SR-599 and will return to northbound I-5 via the Boeing Access Road.
The following ramps will also be closed from 11:30pm to 4:30am:
- Eastbound SR 518 to northbound I-5
- Interurban Avenue S. to northbound I-5
The closure will allow crews to install a new sign bridge.
Here’s a map of the area:
Beginning this Friday (Dec. 18th) and continuing through New Year’s Eve, law enforcement in King County will join other local police to conduct “X-52″ patrols around the area, including the general Burien and Normandy Park areas.
“X-52″ stands for extra patrols 52 weeks per year, and the goal of the program is to reduce speeding and DUI-related traffic fatalities and serious injuries on the roads.
Other areas where the X-52ers will be out on Dec. 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, and 31 include:
- Des Moines
- Federal Way
- Kent
- Federal Way
- SeaTac
- Algona
- Bellevue
- Black Diamond
- Carnation-Duvall
- Clyde Hill
- Covington
- Issaquah
- Kirkland
- Maple Valley
- Mercer Island
- Newcastle
- North Bend
- Pacific
- Port of Seattle
- Redmond
- Sammamish
- Seattle
- Snoqualmie
- Woodinville
- Washington State Patrol
Officers will look for people who drive after drinking or using drugs and arrest them, so if you tend to drink and drive…DON’T!
Washington Traffic Safety Commission is releasing $450,000 worth of grants to local law enforcement agencies to help them provide additional impaired driving and speed patrols every week of the year.
These sustained enforcement patrols will specifically target speed and DUI offenders, as well as look for other traffic violations. The program is being administered statewide through a network of community traffic safety task forces.
The X-52 program also includes initiatives designed to let the public know that these extra patrols are happening in Washington every week. $450,000 is budgeted for paid radio advertising and alternative messaging. Earned media efforts will be spearheaded by community traffic safety task forces.
“Traffic crashes kill or seriously injure hundreds of people in King County each year,” said Dr. David Fleming, Director and Health Officer for Public Health – Seattle & King County. “By driving sober or planning safe rides home, you can protect yourself, family and friends.”
A total of 94 people died in King County traffic crashes in 2008, and an additional 669 people were seriously injured. In a 2006 survey of Seattle drinkers, the Harborview Injury Prevention and Research Center found that one out of five drinkers admitted to driving after drinking too much at least once in the past month.
Officers who participated in 2008 – 2009 X-52 patrols in King County made 5,061 contacts with dangerous drivers, wrote 3,619 traffic citations or infractions, and arrested 105 motorists for driving under the influence of alcohol or other drugs. Officers also made 14 arrests for felony crimes.
The Washington Traffic Safety Commission funds all X-52 DUI patrols as one strategy delineated in “Washington’s Strategic Highway Safety Plan, Target Zero.” The goal of “Target Zero” is zero traffic deaths and serious injuries in Washington State by 2030.
Burien long has wanted an interchange connecting State Route 518 with Des Moines Memorial Drive to improve access to businesses that, city officials hope, will move into the Northeast Redevelopment Area (NERA).
Now an interchange from SR 509 to NERA, located under flight paths from Sea-Tac International Airport north to S. 138th St., is also under consideration.
Burien City Manager Mike Martin said recently that any interchange on SR 509 would provide access to the Northeast Redevelopment Area.
“No one has agreed to a 509 interchange,” Martin stressed. “This is just a concept. There are only draft plans (at the city) now.” And it’s not on any to-do list at the Washington State Department of Transportation or the Puget Sound Regional Council.
Both the Port of Seattle, which owns much of the property in the area, and the city anticipate business and commercial development here within a few years. Business parks, technology and light industry, and auto sales – perhaps an auto mall, to which dealers now on 1st Ave. S. would relocate, all could play a role in the economic development of the NERA.
“This property has been blighted by the second runway and now the third runway,” Martin said. “What we are doing (by planning for a new interchange) is trying to make NERA more accessible so we can put this property back into use.”
He added that the area “is large enough to accommodate small box stores and retailers of construction materials.” But the market will determine what kind of businesses locate here. In the meantime, “we need to prepare the area to be ready for certain types of activities.”
The cost of a new interchange, including planning, design and construction, has yet to be determined, Martin said. Most of the financing probably would come from federal and state funds.
So far, he’s talked with local state legislators, “who have received the idea very warmly.”
by Burien City Manager Mike Martin on Tuesday (June 23rd) was granted a deferred prosecution (download court doc as a PDF here) on a DUI charge (driving under the influence) by King County District Court Judge Eileen Kato.
Martin, 55, must complete a two-year alcohol treatment program at Highline Medical Center, and will remain on probation and under court supervision for five years.
In petitioning the court for the deferred prosecution, Martin agreed that police reports of an April 19 one-car accident in which he was the driver included “sufficient evidence” to establish probable cause that he was impaired at the time. He also agreed to participate in alcohol treatment.
Martin must attend at least two meetings a week in the treatment program for two years, follow all prescribed programs, totally abstain from alcohol and non-prescribed drugs for five years, and not refuse to take Breathalyzer or blood-alcohol tests on request.
He will be allowed to drive if he has a valid driver’s license and car insurance, but only with an interlock device in any vehicle he operates that will prevent the engine from starting if he has been drinking alcohol.
Court costs and program fees that he must pay total about $2,500.
If Martin successfully completes alcohol treatment and complies with all other mandates of the deferred prosecution as ordered by Judge Kato, this infraction will be removed from his record.
“I am optimistic that you will successfully complete the program,” the judge told Martin upon granting the deferred prosecution.
According to Pierce College’s Chemical Dependency Studies program website:
The legislature finds that the deferred prosecution program is an alternative to punishment for persons who will benefit from a treatment program if the treatment program is provided under circumstances that do not unreasonably endanger public safety or the traditional goals of the criminal justice system. This alternative to punishment is dependent for success upon appropriate treatment and the willingness and ability of the person receiving treatment to cooperate fully with the treatment program. The legislature finds that some persons have sought deferred prosecution but have been unable or unwilling to cooperate with treatment requirements and escaped punishment because of the difficulties in resuming prosecution after significant delay due to the absence of witnesses at a later date and the congestion in courts at a later date. The legislature further finds that the deferred prosecution statutes require clarification. The purpose of sections 4 through 19 of this act is to provide specific standards and procedures for judges and prosecutors to use in carrying out the original intent of the deferred prosecution statutes.”
“Deferred prosecution is a true intervention initiative. It recognizes that crisis is often the best incentive to motivate changes in behavior or confront dysfunctional or unhealthy life-styles. It also recognizes the disease nature of chemical addictions, and the “loss of control” that accompanies chemical dependency and many mental health diagnoses.
However, because it is unique, deferred prosecution is also controversial. It has evolved over time, changing to reflect public values, and many times facing the prospect of repeal. Today, deferred prosecution remains one of the primary policy tools for encouraging alcoholics and other drug addicts to seek treatment, accounting for over one-third of the referrals resulting from an arrest for Driving While Under the Influence (DUI).”
Martin was arrested for DUI on April 19th after his vehicle left the road and struck a ceramic pot in a yard in Burien. He has been city manager since November 2006, and his yearly salary is $135,180.
On May 11th, his contract was amended by the city of Burien with strict “alcohol-related conditions” (download and view the PDF here). The City Council approved the contract revision on a 5-1 vote.
Under the terms of Martin’s revised contract, he “will not report to work at the city or remain at work or on duty while under the influence of alcohol,” which is defined as a blood alcohol level of .02 percent or above.
Martin is also required by the city to submit to random alcohol testing without prior notice to ensure compliance with this condition. In addition, he is to submit to alcohol testing at the request of the mayor (or deputy mayor in the mayor’s absence) and one other council member if there is a good-faith “articulated suspicion by any person that the manager has reported to work or remained at work under the influence of
On May 15th, he entered a plea of not guilty to the DUI charge and Judge Kato then scheduled Tuesday’s pretrial hearing.
PREVIOUS COVERAGE:
- Citizens Mount Protest Against City Manager Mike Martin
- BREAKING: Mike Martin Enters “Not Guilty” Plea To DUI
- OPINION: What Mike Martin Should Have Said About His DUI
- City Keeps Mike Martin On, Requires Amended Contract
- City Manager Mike Martin Formally Charged With DUI
- OPINION: Mike Martin Must Tell The Truth Or Resign
- Burien City Manager Mike Martin Arrested For DUI
This map highlights the Goat Hill neighborhood where residents are upset about speeding cars.
Burien city officials recently decided on a combination of solutions designed to alleviate safety concerns of local residents by mitigating speeding through the Goat Hill neighborhood over the ridge west of Ambaum Boulevard at SW 130th Street.
Goat Hill residents have complained for over a year about motorists speeding along the corridor that, heading west, follows SW 130th as it curves into 16th Avenue SW to SW 131st Street, then goes to Shorewood Drive where it continues in a northwesterly direction through the subdivision.
Repeated complaints and requests for action from the neighborhood led to a meeting about the speeding problem on May 25 between city staff, Burien police and community representatives. Following that discussion, City Manager Mike Martin invited Goat Hill residents to submit a list of their preferred solutions, and told them the city then would respond by selecting which of those suggestions it would adopt.
From the Goat Hill residents’ recommendations, the city has agreed to:
- Relocate speed limit signs to more visible locations, in particular the sign closest to Ambaum as motorists head west. But the city will not reduce the speed limit, as also requested, which will remain 25 mph throughout the neighborhood.
- Make SW 131st Street and Shorewood Drive a new three-way stop sign intersection that will include crosswalks.
- Install new warning signs that indicate the presence of bicycles, pedestrians and children. The city will provide standard signs available within King County. The “Driveways” warning sign near 14th Avenue SW will be replaced by one of these signs.
- Add striping that “narrows” the roadway through sharp corners that lead into Shorewood.
- Paint fake speed bumps at various locations on the corridor through the neighborhood, and remove rumble strips on SW 130th Street and 14th Avenue SW.
- Provide a radar speed trailer to the neighborhood once the improvements are made.
The city did not consider recommendations to reduce the speed limit to 15 mph, to install additional stop signs and temporary or permanent speed bumps, and to build a traffic roundabout in the arterial.
A traffic study conducted for the city last October found that the mean speed of vehicles at five of six check points along the Goat Hill/Shorewood Drive route was “less than 25 mph with the exception of location 2 (the curve where SW 131st turns into 16th Ave SW) where the mean speed is 26 mph in the northbound direction and 29 mph in the southbound direction….
“All of the locations are shown to have less than 15 percent of vehicles exceeding the speed limit with the exception of the southbound direction of location 2. At this location 35 percent of the vehicles are exceeding the speed limit by at least 5 mph. When considering the posted advisory speed of 20 mph at this location, 84 percent of the vehicles are exceeding the speed limit by at least 5 mph.”
The study concluded that “location 2 is the only location where speeding is of potential concern.” Collision data since 2000 revealed that only one accident had been reported on the roadways studied, which “does not indicate a significant safety problem exists.”
It concluded, “Speeding was only found to be an issue at one location along the corridor. Specifically, vehicles traveling in a southbound direction ten to travel faster most likely due to the combination of a downhill grade, a super elevated (slightly banked) curve, and lack of conflict points that make it comfortable for drivers to travel fast.” Basic speed mitigation measures were recommended.
Goat Hill residents, however, expressed concerns about the traffic study, including the location of speed sensors and the time it was conducted – in generally cool and/or wet weather conditions.
“Specific data points in the study show that speeding does occur and include a significant number of cars going between 30 and 35 mph and a group of speeders going between 36 and 40 mph,” they noted.
Following the May meeting, the neighborhood group thanked city staff and police for their interest and input, but added they “remain concerned that the city does not believe we have a speeding problem in our neighborhood in sharp contrast to what we observe every day, particularly during nicer weather.”
Also at the May meeting, Martin told the Goat Hill neighbors, “I respect the fact the neighborhood has an issue” and has continued to bring it to the city’s attention. Now, he said, “let us try … to get this done.”
Burien Police Sgt. Henry McLauchlan complimented the neighborhood group for their proactive approach – and for putting their money where their mouth is. “I have never been in a situation where a community group offered to spend its own money” to solve a local problem, he noted. “I applaud you.”
| Jun ’09 | Jun |
| 15 | 26 |
North-South thoroughfare Ambaum Blvd. SW will be closing at SW 120th Street beginning at 7am Monday, June 15th, through 5pm Friday, June 26th, as crews replace a drainage pipe underneath the road.
Motorists can detour via 12th Ave SW to SW 116th Street, then return back to Ambaum.
This is a joint project between the City of Burien and King County.
Burien will be one of ten areas in King County targeted by law enforcement for seatbelt violators starting Thursday night May 21st and continuing through June 7th.
The operation will be a cooperation between Burien Police and the Washington State Patrol, with assistance from the King County Traffic Safety Coalition.
According to the Washington Traffic Safety Commission, though the number of people killed at night is about the same as the number of people killed during the day, the death rate at night is four times higher because traffic volumes are much lower at night. Research shows that at least 80% of Washington traffic occurs during the day and between 12 and 20% of all vehicle travel takes place at night. The traffic death rate is a calculation of deaths per 100 million vehicle-miles traveled.
Research shows that over three-fourths of all traffic deaths involving drinking drivers occur at night. The drinking driver-involved death rate is about 13 times higher at night than during the day.
Drivers who are more likely to not wear seatbelts tend to be male, have less education, have prior traffic violations, and have no health insurance, according to a University of North Carolina study the commission cited.
The fine for a “Click-it or Ticket” violation is $124.
Here’s a video explaining this special patrol:
An Editorial by Jim Branson
Imagine how quickly and simply this fiasco might have been solved if Mike Martin had said the following:
“I would like to apologize to the citizens of Burien for my actions on the night of April 19th.
As anyone who read the news reports must know, I was clearly intoxicated, and the decision to drive that night put myself and others at risk. Drunk driving kills more than 200 people in Washington every year and ruins the lives of countless others, and it is not something to be taken lightly, ignored, or denied.
I want to take this opportunity to accept full responsibility for my actions, not only because the citizens of Burien deserve the truth, but also because admitting that I have a problem is the only way I will be able to work toward living a healthy life again. I have entered into counseling for alcoholism, and I am following the recommendations of experts on the best way to overcome this disease. I will immediately and voluntarily install an ignition lock on my car to prevent me from ever driving while intoxicated in the future.
If, in spite of these measures, I ever drive under the influence again, or if I am ever intoxicated at work or in public, I will immediately resign and forfeit any severance package I might have received.
I feel the best way to deal with a problem is openly, honestly, and quickly, and I want to assure the citizens of Burien that I am capable and willing to deal with this problem, put it behind me, and do the best job I can as City Manager of Burien.
Thank you for your patience and understanding.”
That’s what Mr. Martin should have said on the morning of April 20th.
If he were the pillar of society that some people claim he is, he would have taken responsibility right away. Instead, he resorted to legal weaseling to save his job and avoid telling the truth about what happened.
He has stated, in a legally binding contract (download/view the PDF here), which he signed:
“…[he] denies that he committed any wrongful or criminal act….”
It doesn’t matter what Mr. Martin says now. He has already shown that he refuses to tell the truth, and he cannot be trusted.
Further, he is willing to drag others into his deception. Mayor Joan McGilton’s signature is also on the document that denies the facts of April 19th.
The motto of Burien government, displayed prominently in conspicuous places, is:
I guess by “innovative” they mean they are willing to resort to lawyerly tricks to avoid telling the truth.
Very innovative indeed.
[EDITOR'S NOTE: Jim Branson is a longtime area resident and activist.
Previously, he's written editorials on Mike Martin, Earth Hour, and Burien's claims of being a "Tree City".
What do you think of his opinion on Mike Martin? Please Comment below...
If YOU have an opinion about a local issue and would like to share with our Readers, please email us.]
The photos above were taken Thursday afternoon at the intersection of First Avenue South and SW 160th, the home of one of three new Red Light Cameras installed by the City of Burien that will go live on Sunday, March 1st.
The intersections are:
- 1st Avenue South at SW 148th Street
- 1st Avenue South at SW 152nd Street
- 1st Avenue South at SW 160th Street
The cameras will operate 24 hours a day and capture still photos and video of every vehicle that runs a red light at the intersection.
After a 30-day warning period, the registered owner of a vehicle that runs a red light will receive a notice of infraction in the mail, which carries a $101 penalty.
According to the city:
The primary goal of the traffic safety cameras is to reduce red light violations. The Photo Enforcement Program has been very successful in communities throughout Washington and the rest of the United States in changing the driving behavior of motorists. It has been shown that the cameras make drivers slow down and stop for red lights, preventing collisions. The cameras also contribute to the safety of pedestrians.
We sent the city several questions about these new “Gotcha Cams” and here’s what we got back from Public Information Officer Steve Botkin:
Q: Was the goal of installing the cameras to generate more revenue?
A: The goal was improving public safety by reducing accidents at those locations.
Q: How much revenue does the city expect to generate from these cameras?
A: As for expected revenue, the City budgeted $200,000 in 2009 and $250,000 in 2010; these estimates were based on what the revenue generated in other cities by similar red light enforcement programs. The City anticipates that in 2011 the revenues will start to decrease. This trend is consistent with other jurisdictions.
Q: Is there a plan to install additional red light cameras in the future? If so, where and why?
A: No plans to install more at this time.
Q: Were the three intersections chosen because there was an abundance of red light running?
A: They were chosen based on accident report data and being some of our busiest intersections.
Q: Will the camera enforcement be strictly for red light running, or will it also apply to “rolling right turn” violations (not stopping fully on a red light right turn)?
A: The camera will catch those who do not slow down and blatantly do a rolling right turn on a red light.
Q: Will the city be changing the duration of the yellow light times on any of these 3 stoplights?
A: The duration of the yellow light times is set by national standards and will comply with those.
Q: Does RedFlex (the cam mfg.) get a cut of each ticket fine? If so, how much?
A: The City pays Redflex a flat monthly amount. The fixed fee ranges from $4,870 to $6,870 per month depending on the number of violations.
Q: Iis there any clause in the contract with them that prohibits any engineering changes being made to the intersections where the cameras are placed?
A: The contract does not prohibit engineering changes being made to the intersections.
There’s some controversy about red light cameras out there (ie: do they help stop accidents or are they just revenue generators?), but we’d like to know what YOU think – please leave your Comment below…
PREVIOUS COVERAGE:
If I do say so myself…ahem, I am an unusually calm and cool driver.
Even in the calm and cool snowstorm we just survived.
Unforeseen curbs, sidewalks and even an errant jaywalker rarely cause me any distress.
However, this last week, I cannot contain myself any longer – Burien drivers (and you know who you are!) are summarily grounded when the snow falls!
RANT: DO NOT drive in the snow unless you know what the ‘H-E-Double-Toothpick’ you are doing!
Snow accumulation of one-inch or more constitutes a universal ”inept snow driver stay at home” grounding. This rule must be enforced by all police officers on patrol. I don’t care if you are having a much-needed coffee break in U.U. office at Starbucks, get out there and control the mayhem! Underwood-Undercover is willing to make a Citizen’s Arrest whenever her services are needed. No need for the errant driver to know that she officially deputized herself, like some arrogant female Barney Fife (a great role model if ever there was one).
RANT: A slick tire is a type of tire that has no tread pattern; these tires are used on RACECARS, not your Volvo! DO NOT attempt to drive in the sleet and slush with worthless wheels on your ancient Volvo, dude.
RANT: Under no circumstances can a weak driver with the dribbles back down (more like slide sideways) a giant hill to try again and “get a run at it.” Other competent, strong forces are trying to get up the hill.
RANT: Plan ahead you boofus, especially if Grandpa Joe is driving in geezer gear ahead of you. Use the horn man, and slip-slide your way around him. Oncoming traffic can be flashed off with multiple blinks of headlights. Again – it’s every (snow)man for himself.
RANT: Pedestrians – get the ‘H-E-Double-Toothpicks’ off the main road. Put on your freakin’ snow boots and walk (trudge) on the non-existent sidewalk. I know it’s hard going but it’s better than being run over by “Mr. Volvo Slick Tire.”
RANT: Do not stop in the middle of the already very narrow plowed main road to “help” a motorist stuck in the snow bank in the center of the road. For Gawd’s sake man, how are the other drivers supposed to: first of all stop, and second of all, get around you? Being an upstanding citizen does not negate using common sense!
Underwood-Undercover cannot think of any actual Raves with regards to driving in the snow; but sledding in the snow = plenty of raves.
RAVE: To U.U.’s daughter, who found an awesome steep driveway with plenty of trees to dodge (more exciting) and zero sledders competing for the steepest path. Way to go!
RANT: The very steep hill of Tuffie’s 1 and 2 (an aforementioned columnist’s favorite neighborhood dogs) is awesome for sledding, but dude! Where is the lookout on the bottom of the hill? U.U. has twice narrowly missed snow-blind boarders sliding right onto Maplewild.
As I look at my column now, I see that I have only one Rave.
Sad but true, but remember a Driver (especially a lame-o snow driver) is a “club with a wooden head.”
Twenty-five years of living in Burien gives Humorist Shawn Underwood much fodder for her writings.
All of her stories are true, or at least have a grain of truth with no added embellishments.
Or something like that.
Read more of her humor at her website here.
The National Weather Service issued the following Advisory Monday morning at 6:01am, with the biggest news being that Burien is now Brrrien, last night’s low ties the record (yay team! 20 degrees!), and there’s an 80% chance of snow on Wednesday:
… Snow expected in The Lowlands on Wednesday…
… Cold weather in store for the remainder of the week…Snow is forecast for The Lowlands of western Washington Wednesday. A developing weather system along the northern British Columbia coast Tuesday will move south over western Washington on Wednesday. This system will draw moist air off the ocean which will override the cold air mass in place over western Washington producing snow. At this point… it is difficult to say how much snow this system will produce. Small changes in the track of the system can effect the amount of snow over the area greatly.
Cold Arctic air will remain over western Washington this week. Daytime highs will have a hard time getting above freezing and nighttime lows could drop into the single digits in some places. Record lows have already been set for today. Previous cold spells this time of year will make the record lows harder to break for the next couple of days.
Since 1990 the low temperature at Seattle-Tacoma Airport has dropped to 15 degrees or less only twice… January 30, 1996 and December 20,1998. Both days the low was 15 degrees. In December 1990 the low temperature at Seattle Tacoma Airport dropped to 15 degrees or less on 5 days.
The record for consecutive days with highs freezing or below at Seattle-Tacoma Airport is 10 set January 21-30, 1969. Here is a list of the top five streaks of high temperatures freezing or below at Seattle Tacoma Airport.
1. 10 days January 21-30, 1969
2. 9 days December 4-12, 1972
3. 7 days January 27 to February 2, 1950
4. 7 days January 12-18, 1950
5. 6 days December 19-24, 1990In January 1950 the average daily high temperature for the month was 30.7 degrees. This is the only month in the official Seattle weather records that the average daily high temperature was below freezing.
If you have to drive today, be aware that back roads and side streets will be even slicker than yesterday, as what landed and melted has re-frozen even worse; here are a few webcams worth checking out (TIP: Refresh this page to get latest images):
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| Dec ’08 |
| 15 |
| 5:00 pm |
It plays a huge role as part of Burien’s “secret passageway” to downtown Seattle, and it often allows one to get into town within 15-20 minutes.
We’re speaking of course about the Alaskan Way Viaduct, which will be the topic of a public meeting on Monday, Dec. 15th, from 5pm to 7:30pm in downtown Seattle.
Everyone has an opinion on how best to deal this aging behemoth, and this meeting will be a good opportunity to not only learn about the final options for replacing the viaduct and seawall, it’ll give you a chance to speak your mind and propose your amazing ideas.
There will be a presentation, question and answer session, and opportunity for public comment on scenarios being considered. No word yet on what kind of donuts will be served.
According to a press release we received:
WSDOT, King County and the City of Seattle want to hear from you.
You can learn more about the options or provide comments at www.alaskanwayviaduct.org.
WHAT: Alaskan Way Viaduct and Seawall public meeting/discussion
WHEN: Dec. 15, 2008, 5pm-7:30pm
WHERE: Town Hall Great Hall, located at 1119 Eighth Avenue in downtown Seattle
INFO: 1-888-AWV-LINE or viaduct@wsdot.wa.gov
According to the Kitsap Sun, an 18-year old Burien man lost control of his Ford Taurus on Highway 16 around 1am Tuesday morning and crashed into a manufactured home display building.
The man and his two passengers, 22 and 17, were all hospitalized at Harrison Medical Center in Bremerton, and the Burien driver, whose identity has yet to be released, is believed to have been driving under the influence.
Full story here.
| Sep ’08 |
| 24 |
| Sep ’08 |
| 25 |
According to the Port of Seattle website, a road construction project, needed to bring Link light rail to Sea-Tac Airport in 2009, will cause significant detours and closures beginning Wed. morning, Sept. 24th and continuing through 7am Thurs. Sept. 25.
So…if you’re planning on going to SeaTac Airport between then, expect traffic delays, detours, lots of signs and of course, potential road rage.
All of the following will be affected:
- Lower Airport Drive (Baggage Claim/Arrivals level). Access to the Lower Drive will be reduced to one rerouted lane. The detour route will be clearly marked.
- North Entrance to the Airport Parking Garage. The north entrance to the garage will be closed and parkers rerouted to the south garage entrance. Drivers coming to Sea-Tac from the north will be detoured from SR 518 to south I-99 and the south garage entrance. Traffic leaving the garage will not be affected and will exit to the north as always at S. 182 Street.
- Cell Phone Lot. Traffic heading from the Cell Phone Waiting Lot to the terminal will follow a detour route at S. 182 Street.
- Public Transportation. All public transportation buses (Metro Transit, Sound Transit, Pierce Transit) will both pick up and drop off passengers on I- 99. Public transit buses will not have access to the Lower Drive during this period.
The exit and entrance to the Rental Car area will not be affected by these changes. It is expected that all traffic at the Airport, even on unchanged routes, will be slowed by these detours and closures. Please allow extra time, drive slowly and cautiously, and pay close attention to highway message signage.
As it is with most construction projects, weather may play a factor, so if it rains, there’s a chance the work will be delayed.
Found on seattle-tacoma craigslist > seattle > rants & raves, this nicely-worded “call for help” from a Burien-area habitual drunk driver:
I’m looking for advice.
My friends and I party about 3 times a week, sometimes downtown, sometimes at one of our houses.
Its no fun being the “designated driver” so none of us do it, and cabs are too expensive.
We have all had our share of taking out mailboxes, cats/dogs, or curb shots, etc.
So does anyone have any ideas of how to sober up long enough to drive home?
I heard that Alka Seltzer mixed with club soda and a little vinegar followed by massive tums will sober you up long enough to get home.
Has anyone tried this?
Email your advice to: pers-617631298@craigslist.org
UPDATE: It appears that the traffic mess has cleared, so you can come home now!
Just learned of the apparent aftermath of a major accident jamming up traffic on Northbound I-5 near Southcenter, so you might want to avoid that area if you’re reading this and thinking of commuting home towards Burien anytime soon.
The Seattle P-I reports: A messy collision on Interstate 5 near Westfield Southcenter Mall, involving 13 cars, a jackknifed semi-truck and injured people, is jamming traffic near the Interstate 405 exit.
The accident — actually a series of three collisions — was reported just after 3 p.m. in the northbound lanes of the freeway, the Washington State Patrol reported.
The HOV lane and two others are opened, and crews are working to open the other lanes, said patrol spokesman Curt Boyle.
Boyle said some people were taken to hospitals and one transported to Harborview Medical Center. Most appeared to have minor injuries, he said.
According to WA DOT:
* CLEARED 4:20 PM: I-5 NORTHBOUND AT SOUTHCENTER ACCIDENT BLOCKING RIGHT LANE VERIFIED WITH CAMERA 2:50 PM – TOW , FIRE DEPT , AID , AND INCIDENT RESPONSE TEAM ON SCENE
Updated WA DOT webcams:
| Mar ’08 |
| 2 |
| 3:00 am |
We here at the B-Town Blog are as sick and tired of these ding-dang traffic construction nightmares as you are, so we’re passing along this critical, headache-avoidance advisory:
Avoid driving I-5 Southbound near Southcenter this weekend!
Crews will conduct a rolling slowdown on southbound I-5 near S. 178th Street at 3 a.m. this Sunday morning, March 2nd to install the replacement bridge girder.
S. 178th Street over I-5 has been narrowed back to one lane of alternating traffic using a smart signal that detects traffic back-ups and automatically adjusts signal timing to ease congestion.
S. 178th Street over I-5 will also be completely closed Saturday night from 10 p.m. to 8 a.m. the following morning.
On Dec. 13, 2006 a truck struck the S. 178th street overpass. The impact damaged a girder underneath the structure. Bridge inspectors found the bridge safe for drivers but decided to restrict traffic to prevent more damage to the girder.
Crews must replace the girder to return traffic to normal on this highly traveled overpass between Tukwila and SeaTac.
Crews will replace the damaged girder under the S. 178th street overpass. The bridge deck will also be repaired.
Completing repairs will return the overpass to normal capacity for drivers traveling between SeaTac and Tukwila.
Replacing the girder will ensure that the overpass remains safe for drivers on S. 178th and on I-5 in the future.
SOURCE:
