Event is followed by 12:40 p.m. Mariners Game

Motorists traveling in the SODO area Wednesday, June 5, should plan ahead for traffic congestion. 

As early as 8:00 a.m., 4800 students will begin arriving from around the state for the annual Weather Education Day at Safeco Field.  Some 70 to 80 buses, of varying sizes, will be transporting the students and will park in the Safeco Parking Lot, along the Occidental Avenue S east curb next to the plaza, and along the Third Avenue S east curb between S Royal Brougham Way and S Holgate Street.  Access to Occidental and to Third Avenue will be restricted.  The students will also be dropped off by private cars and vans.  At 9:30 a.m. the gates will open to the stadium and at 10 a.m. Steve Pool will make an educational weather presentation.  Most of the students will stay on for the Mariners game against the White Sox at 12:40 p.m., but some buses may begin leaving as early 1 p.m.

Adding to the traffic mix will be some 18,000 fans arriving during the lunch hour before the 12:40 start of the game. 

In addition Terminal 46 activity is expected to be heavy, per usual for a Wednesday, so drivers are advised to avoid Edgar Martinez Drive South all day.  Alternate routes include:

·         Motorists can take the Forest Street exit from I-5 southbound to Sixth Avenue S to access SODO and parking locations east of the ballpark .

·         Northbound I-5 drivers coming into SODO can also take the exit to Spokane Street westbound,  then take the ramp to First Avenue S to access parking locations south        of the ballpark.

·         To access the International District and parking locations to the northeast of the ballpark, motorists can take the Dearborn Street exit from I-5 north or southbound.

·         Another access point to the International District is to take the Rainier Avenue exit from I-90.

·         To access Pioneer Square, downtown, and parking locations north of the ballpark, motorists can take the James Street exit  from I-5 southbound and northbound.

As the game wraps up around 4 p.m., just as the peak afternoon traffic is getting underway, traffic will likely be extra heavy throughout SODO and downtown Seattle.  To help alleviate traffic congestion, the Seattle Department of Transportation encourages motorists to park their cars and try one of the many alternate modes of transportation available such as Metro Transit, the West Seattle Water Taxi, the Sounder commuter train, Link light rail, car pool, bicycle or walk, if feasible. 

Contact: Peg Nielsen 206-684-8114