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County prepares in advance for safe winter traveling
 So
far, November is living up to its reputation as one of the stormiest
months in the Pacific Northwest. With snow in the mountains, and wind
and rain in the lowlands, King County residents know winter is on its
way. But the King County
Department of Transportation doesn’t wait for stormy weather to
arrive to prepare for winter. Both the
King County Road Services
Division and Metro Transit
begin wintertime prep months in advance.
With more than 1,200 buses on the road serving almost 100 million
passengers within a 2,134 square mile area, King County Metro Transit
operators are used to driving over hills, through valleys, and across
water. In winter, they face that same terrain – only now it’s wetter, or
icy and snowy. Advance preparation is the key to delivering Metro’s
passengers safely when the weather makes driving dangerous.
“Because we serve all of King County, Metro has to be prepared for every
weather condition imaginable,” said Metro General Manager Kevin Desmond.
“There could be snow or ice on the road when the Route 152 leaves
Enumclaw at 5 a.m., but when that bus reaches downtown Seattle the roads
might be dry and clear. That’s why we prepare in advance for the worst.”
By this time of the year, Transit’s vehicle maintenance crews have made
sure all the buses in the fleet are winter ready. And, communications
and rider information staff have updated their plans to keep bus
passengers informed about weather-related changes to bus service.
 In
the Roads Division, the preparations are equally comprehensive. Well
before the bad weather hits, snow and ice removal equipment has been
positioned at ten maintenance offices throughout the county. The
county’s inventory of equipment includes nine graders and 27
truck-mounted snowplows/sanders, which also includes a new set of “swaploaders”
that should improve response times when crews need to remove snow and
ice from county roadways.
Each swaploader has a chassis with an open bed that allows multiple
types of equipment to be mounted on the truck. Equipment attachments
include a water tank, dump box, anti-icer, and sander. The quick-change
nature of the equipment allows the attachments to be loaded by a single
individual in record time. It also makes the inventory of equipment at
each of the county’s maintenance yards much more versatile, and
eliminates some of the time waiting for specialized pieces of equipment
to be moved around the county.
 “Our
road maintenance crews have a great track record of keeping roads clear
of snow, ice and fallen trees during stormy weather,” said Linda
Dougherty, Road Services Division director. “Now, we have some new gear
that will help them get the right equipment and materials out of the
yard and on the road more quickly. This will make our 24/7 response
efforts even better, whether we’re dealing with floods, ice, snow, or
wind.”
Staying on top of winter road conditions is a team effort that involves
a variety of public agencies. Last week, local agencies launched their
annual “Taking Winter by Storm”
campaign to educate the public, and work together on improving their
overall operations and response efforts.
This year, the National Weather Service says King County could see
highly variable weather patterns and significant storm events, such as
flooding, high winds, and lowland snow. While no one can predict how
many storms will come this way, King County, the City of Seattle and the
Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) say their winter
response plans have been finalized – and interagency coordination is
complete.
 In
addition to operational readiness, technology is once again proving to
be a powerful information tool. Earlier this fall, the newly redesigned
Regional Public Information Network (RPIN)
hosted by King County was launched and is now providing more news and
information to citizens. More than 60 government, transportation,
utility, health and emergency response agencies in King, Pierce and
Snohomish counties have partnered to offer the web-based news and
information service. Residents can sign-up to receive traffic alerts and
news about local and regional disruptions and emergencies at the RPIN
website.
Local residents can also do their part to prepare in advance for safe
winter travel with these tips:
Bus riders
• Keep timetables handy for quick reference when you hear Metro is
modifying service because of snow or ice;
• If you do not normally ride the bus, check timetables ahead of time
for
routes serving your area and the adverse-weather information for those
routes;
• Be patient. Buses are not always on schedule in snowy or icy
conditions;
• Dress warmly for the walk to the bus stop and possible delays, and
wear appropriate footwear for the weather;
• Head for bus stops on main arterials or at major transfer points such
as malls, colleges, park-and-ride lots, or transit centers;
• Riders should wait at bus stops at the very top or very bottom of
hills,
because buses are often unable to stop for passengers on inclines.
Motorists
• Allow ample time to reach your destination;
• Equip your vehicle with all-season tires and carry tire chains;
• If you must abandon your vehicle, park it clear of travel lanes to
allow
sanding trucks to get through. Cars left in travel lanes may be towed
and impounded;
• Dress for the weather in case you become stranded and have to walk;
• Use caution when following a snowplow or sander by allowing at least
two car lengths distance;
• Caution children about the dangers of sledding on hilly streets.
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