A crushing day on freeways, trains and buses

An estimated 700,000 people descended on downtown Seattle on Wednesday, and it seemed as if half of them came from Snohomish County.

At one point during the morning commute, the Everett-to-Seattle drive time was more than 90 minutes. In light traffic, it usually takes 33.

By late afternoon, with all those people trying to come back north after Seahawks parade day and festivities at CenturyLink Field, the drive time from Seattle to Everett was 73 minutes.

Transportation agencies had warned of a long and late commute, but traffic dissipated to normal levels in the early evening.

Many anticipated a traffic nightmare Wednesday and packed buses and trains for the trip to Seattle and back. Sound Transit reported unprecedented numbers of passengers, malfunctioning ticket machines and people left standing on train platforms as already-full trains pulled out.

“Today has far exceeded what we call crush capacity,” said Sound Transit spokeswoman Kimberly Reason. Sound Transit estimated at least 20,000 people rode Sounder trains between Everett and downtown Seattle, based on the capacity of all the trains the agency ran during the morning commute.

In the morning, Sound Transit added extra cars to Sounder commuter trains and did so again for the northbound commute. It also planned to add additional buses to the 510 and 511 routes from downtown Seattle to Snohomish County.

Sound Transit had urged travelers via Rider Alerts, Facebook and Twitter to expect similar packed buses and trains during the evening commute, and that perhaps they should plan to stick around downtown Seattle after the events, maybe have dinner there before going home.

Community Transit planned to add six to eight buses in addition to the regular schedule of northbound express service from Seattle.

Community Transit also planned to add buses to Swift service on Highway 99 north from Aurora Village.

Despite extra train cars during the morning commute, there was at least one report of a Sounder train leaving passengers on the platform, at the Edmonds station. On the south line, running from Lakewood to Seattle, that happened several times during the morning runs.

In each case, extra buses were sent to those stations to try and get passengers downtown, Reason said.

Train platforms were so packed in the morning that Sound Transit employees were simply trying to usher people onto the train as quickly and safely as possible, even if they hadn’t bought a ticket.

“We are saying, ‘Get people on that train as soon as you can.’ Trying to collect fares will slow down that process,” she said.

That’s if the ticket machines were even working. There were reports of machines malfunctioning as well, Reason said.

Sound Transit’s bus capacity saw similar epic traffic. Extra buses were sent out on some routes, and drivers were trying to make sure passengers stayed on their best behavior.

“We’re just trying to encourage people to use their best Northwest manners and get through the day,” Sound Transit spokesman Bruce Gray said.

Chris Winters: 425-374-4165; cwinters@heraldnet.com.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Local News

A firefighter stands in silence before a panel bearing the names of L. John Regelbrugge and Kris Regelbrugge during the ten-year remembrance of the Oso landslide on Friday, March 22, 2024, at the Oso Landslide Memorial in Oso, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
‘Flood of emotions’ as Oso Landslide Memorial opens on 10th anniversary

Friends, family and first responders held a moment of silence at 10:37 a.m. at the new 2-acre memorial off Highway 530.

Julie Petersen poses for a photo with images of her sister Christina Jefferds and Jefferds’ grand daughter Sanoah Violet Huestis next to a memorial for Sanoah at her home on March 20, 2024 in Arlington, Washington. Peterson wears her sister’s favorite color and one of her bangles. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
‘It just all came down’: An oral history of the Oso mudslide

Ten years later, The Daily Herald spoke with dozens of people — first responders, family, survivors — touched by the deadliest slide in U.S. history.

Victims of the Oso mudslide on March 22, 2014. (Courtesy photos)
Remembering the 43 lives lost in the Oso mudslide

The slide wiped out a neighborhood along Highway 530 in 2014. “Even though you feel like you’re alone in your grief, you’re really not.”

Director Lucia Schmit, right, and Deputy Director Dara Salmon inside the Snohomish County Department of Emergency Management on Friday, March 8, 2024, in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
How Oso slide changed local emergency response ‘on virtually every level’

“In a decade, we have just really, really advanced,” through hard-earned lessons applied to the pandemic, floods and opioids.

Ron and Gail Thompson at their home on Monday, March 4, 2024 in Oso, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
In shadow of scarred Oso hillside, mudslide’s wounds still feel fresh

Locals reflected on living with grief and finding meaning in the wake of a catastrophe “nothing like you can ever imagine” in 2014.

Kelli Littlejohn, who was 11 when her older sister Melissa Lee was murdered, speaks to a group of investigators and deputies to thank them for bringing closure to her family after over 30 years on Thursday, March 28, 2024, at Snohomish County Superior Court in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
‘She can rest in peace’: Jury convicts Bothell man in 1993 killing

Even after police arrested Alan Dean in 2020, it was unclear if he would stand trial. He was convicted Thursday in the murder of Melissa Lee, 15.

Ariel Garcia, 4, was last seen Wednesday morning in an apartment in the 4800 block of Vesper Dr. (Photo provided by Everett Police)
Everett police searching for missing child, 4

Ariel Garcia was last seen Wednesday at an apartment in the 4800 block of Vesper Drive. The child was missing under “suspicious circumstances.”

The rezoned property, seen here from the Hillside Vista luxury development, is surrounded on two sides by modern neighborhoods Monday, March 25, 2024, in Lake Stevens, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Despite petition, Lake Stevens OKs rezone for new 96-home development

The change faced resistance from some residents, who worried about the effects of more density in the neighborhood.

Rep. Suzan DelBene, left, introduces Xichitl Torres Small, center, Undersecretary for Rural Development with the U.S. Department of Agriculture during a talk at Thomas Family Farms on Monday, April 3, 2023, in Snohomish, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Under new federal program, Washingtonians can file taxes for free

At a press conference Wednesday, U.S. Rep. Suzan DelBene called the Direct File program safe, easy and secure.

Former Snohomish County sheriff’s deputy Jeremie Zeller appears in court for sentencing on multiple counts of misdemeanor theft Wednesday, March 27, 2024, at Snohomish County Superior Court in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Ex-sheriff’s deputy sentenced to 1 week of jail time for hardware theft

Jeremie Zeller, 47, stole merchandise from Home Depot in south Everett, where he worked overtime as a security guard.

Everett
11 months later, Lake Stevens man charged in fatal Casino Road shooting

Malik Fulson is accused of shooting Joseph Haderlie to death in the parking lot at the Crystal Springs Apartments last April.

T.J. Peters testifies during the murder trial of Alan Dean at the Snohomish County Courthouse on Tuesday, March 26, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Bothell cold case trial now in jury’s hands

In court this week, the ex-boyfriend of Melissa Lee denied any role in her death. The defendant, Alan Dean, didn’t testify.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.