Glitch identified in billing system for 520 tolls

Glitch identified in billing system for 520 tolls

WSDOT is looking into a weather related glitch with the SR 520 pass reader. Turns out the glitch may have resulted in some incorrect charges on "Good To Go" pass accounts.

During last week's snowstorm, engineers came across the glitch when the equipment's internal clock was intermittently losing time and re-syncing to the correct time.

It's been fixed now but - "People with a "Good To Go" pass, their pass may not have been read and they may be getting a 25-cent pay by plate charge incorrectly," said Pete Briglia, 520 Operations manager.

Briglia says the glitch occurred between January 17th and January 25th. He says "Good To Go" accounts will either be credited back or not charged that 25-cent fee at all.

If you pay full price by mail, you're not affected.

Tonight: Seattle Channel tackles the future of tolling

Tolling on the 520 Bridge started a month ago, so what's changed?

It's the question being asked during tonight's 'City Inside/Out with Brian Callanan.' on the Seattle Channel.

The focus of the show is to look at driver behavior, traffic pattern changes, lessons learned from 520, and discuss the future of tolling throughout the state.

Guests for the show include:

  • Craig Stone, Tolls Director for the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT)
     
  • Mark Hallenbeck, Director of the Washington State Transportation Center
     
  • Richard Ford, Chairman of the Washington State Transportation Commission
     
  • Doug MacDonald, former State Transportation Secretary (2001-2007)

You can catch the show on Cable channel 21 at 7:00p.m.

You're invited to the city hall open house on Saturday

You're invited to the city hall open house on Saturday

Neighbors grab your coats, your hats, your kids - and get on down to the city's Open House this Saturday.

This is the third year the city has hosted an open house event.

During the event folks can learn about city resources, meet local elected officials, ask questions and offer ideas on things you think can be improved throughout the city.

The open house runs from 10-2:00p.m., at 601 5th Ave.

Here's what organizers say you can expect if you're planning to come:

  • Tours of the Mayor's Office and City Council Offices
  • Q&A session with the mayor
  • Workshops on the legislative process and interpreting credit reports
  • Tabling by City departments and the City Attorney's Office
  • Live music
  • A farmer's market

Anyone and everyone is invited to stop by and check it out.

City beefs up pothole patrol following storm

Seattle Mayor Mike McGinn says he is deploying more crews to fix the city's ever-deepening pothole problem.

Last week’s winter storm left some streets looking like a minefield of craters. But the mayor is promising to get the city’s roads back in shape as fast as possible.

"We're just starting, so the public should call them in when they see them," said McGinn. And the cities says it will respond.

“We are going to increase our forces from our standard three crews to four crews in the north end of the city, (and) two in the south end,” said Seattle Department of Transportation spokesman Steve Pratt.

The mayor added Mother Nature alone isn’t to blame for the wrecked roads.

“The number of potholes we're seeing and the condition of our streets is a reflection of the fact that declining revenues and statewide initiatives that have taken away funding sources for us. (It) means we don't have the resources we need to do the job," he said.

McGinn wants the state to help fill the revenue gap to help cities repave damaged streets.

Community Sponsors

Greenways walk and talk set for Friday morning

How about a morning walk around the Montlake neighborhood?

Bob Edminson is inviting all neighbors to drop by Fuel coffee shop at 7:30 a.m. Friday for a 90 minute get-together and walk.

From the invitation circulating on the neighborhood email list:

This is an opportunity for Bob to explain to us what the Neighborhood Greenways is about and for us to introduce ourselves, compare ideas for improving slow foot and bike traffic off the main avenues. The Neighborhood Greenways is a great opportunity to enhance our neighborhood for our daily enjoyment and the safety of cyclists and pedestrians of all ages and most importantly ability. It aims to make changes to our streets and intersections so that kids and adults not comfortable with car traffic and concerned with ease and safety of the streets start using the streets on bike and on foot on a regular basis. It is kicking off at a critical time taking into account the work that will occur at the 520 interchange and the mayhem it will cause in terms of construction and post-construction traffic.

See you on Friday Jan 27 at 7:30 AM at Fuel.

City looking for storm-response stories from people with disabilities

City looking for storm-response stories from people with disabilities

Last week’s snow storm was challenging for drives, homeowners, parents and everyone else trying to manage day-to-day activities, but the challenges can be even more difficult for people with disabilities.

The city wants to know how people with disabilities coped during the storm, says the Seattle Commission for People with Disabilities, which has a group working on the City’s emergency planning and disaster management and response.

The commission is looking for recent weather-related experiences from people with disabilities, on topics including:

What happened to you during our recent week of snow and ice, as you tried to deal with the weather and all its challenges?

Did you use City information resources?  Were they helpful?

Is there anything the City could have done better?

What went well, what needs improvement? 

Were you – and your neighborhood - prepared?

The commission says it will work with city staff on the issues and feedback, to help improve the way the city assists the community.

Arboretum and Audubon collaborating on Garden Show exhibit

From the folks at the Arboretum:

Each year, the Washington Park Arboretum creates a unique display garden for the Northwest Flower & Garden Show. For its exhibit in the 2012 show (February 8 to 12, at the Washington State Convention Center, Seattle), the Arboretum is joining forces with the Seattle Audubon Society, a non-profit organization working to protect regional birds and nature through conservation advocacy. Entitled “Birdsong,” the display will educate viewers about some of the beautiful bird habitats and bird species found in the Arboretum’s 230 acres.

The display will depict three distinct bird habitats—marshland, woodland edge, and deeper forest. A pathway composed of wood chips will pass alongside the marsh component of the display. Native flowering currants, mahonias, dogwoods, and other edge-habitat plants will grade up from the marsh to a woodland backdrop. A madrone snag will provide nesting cavities and food for insect-feeding birds. A bird blind will be the only structure, offering shelter to view wildlife and a place for docents to sit.