Metro chief: Poor communication with Seattle DOT hurt bus service

King County Metro General Manager Kevin Desmond said today that communication between his agency and Seattle transportation officials was poor at the height of the recent snowstorms.

When Metro officials requested roads be cleared, for example, there was no way to know the Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) had actually cleared them.

"The lesson learned is that to have much more aggressive, ongoing communication between the different levels would have been helpful," Desmond said.

Metro found itself with half its buses out of service, Desmond said, and had to make up an emergency snow plan on the fly. Once buses went off their usual routes, Metro couldn't keep track of them, and had trouble telling riders where they could catch a bus and when it would arrive.

The information came out during a second meeting between the Seattle City Council and various city department heads.

Seattle City Council President Richard Conlin said he is concerned after hearing from other city officials that there isn't enough flexibility in departments' emergency plans.

SDOT Director Grace Crunican said her department did not really have a plan for such a severe storm.

"We plowed the streets, and that wasn't enough. So what do we do then?" she said.

Conlin the city doesn't deserve the "B" grade Mayor Greg Nickels gave it Christmas Eve for its storm response.

"I feel the grade is 'needs improvement,' " he said. And after two half-day meetings of questioning from the City Council, he said department heads are starting to acknowledge that, too. "I'm hearing now some recognition that there does need to be improvement."

Emily Heffter: 206-464-8246 or eheffter@seattletimes.com