Todd Herman, WSDOT get into hours-long Twitter battle

KTTH’s Todd Herman thinks an “entertaining interaction” with the Washington State Department of Transportation is a prime example of how broken government is in this area.

Herman started a back-and-forth with WSDOT’s social media department when he got stuck behind the First Avenue South bridge, causing about a 25-minute delay.

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“This is a story more about government thinking of ways to not do than to do, because we’ve got these bridges all around our area and it’s just one sign, and such an easy thing government could do to make our commutes easier,” he said.

Herman said it would be great if commuters could get warnings when the bridge will be lifted.

Herman said he appreciates the responses from WSDOT’s social media department but still wishes more was being done.

“To their credit, there is a sign right before the First Avenue South bridge, but not before you have to get trapped on side streets,” Herman said. “It could go up at the earlier freeway. You have state employees up there. They are going to open the bridge. There’s going to be thousands of people who are going to wait. In my case, my 20-minute drive became a 45-minute drive. They could simply click a button. But the coast Guard doesn’t make the boats call ahead saying they need the bridges open.”

Here is how the interaction transpired:

FACT: if @wsdot_traffic gave a damn about commuters they would warn on last highway merge about bridge openings. pic.twitter.com/NR4UXdiE5A

— Todd Ξ Herman (@toddeherman) August 10, 2016

@toddeherman Per Federal Law marine traffic has rt-of-way https://t.co/abZm6gQWE8 we give you as much notice as we can, know it isn’t much

— WSDOT Traffic (@wsdot_traffic) August 10, 2016

Yep! Not hard to do, @wsdot_traffic https://t.co/FCDxAWnSsz

— Todd Ξ Herman (@toddeherman) August 10, 2016

@toddeherman The problems is we don’t know soon enough to get that info up/do any good for many. Vessel shows up, we need to raise bridge.

— WSDOT Traffic (@wsdot_traffic) August 10, 2016

$15.00 wifi web cam, feed into your offices, click a button & report. I bet I can get a fix for less then $2,500 @wsdot_traffic

— Todd Ξ Herman (@toddeherman) August 10, 2016

Are employees in Bridge Tower WDOT or Coast Guard? @wsdot_traffic

— Todd Ξ Herman (@toddeherman) August 10, 2016

@toddeherman There are only WSDOT employees in the bridge tower.

— WSDOT Traffic (@wsdot_traffic) August 10, 2016

Huh. So – wait – you are telling me that @wsdot employees cannot call @wsdot_traffic to warn of approaching boat?? https://t.co/Ly80BnoEW8

— Todd Ξ Herman (@toddeherman) August 10, 2016

@toddeherman @wsdot_traffic We don’t know if a boat needs a bridge opened until it requests it, which is usually when it’s already at bridge

— Washington State DOT (@wsdot) August 10, 2016

Make them call ahead. This really isn’t hard. It would even help to alert people when the yllow lights come on. @wsdot @wsdot_traffic

— Todd Ξ Herman (@toddeherman) August 10, 2016

@toddeherman @wsdot_traffic Making them would be up to the Coast Guard, as they set those regulations and requirements.

— Washington State DOT (@wsdot) August 10, 2016

1 We ignore Federal law everyday, here. 2 @wsdot in bridge tower can tweet, text, call, email, FB post, etc .. @wsdot_traffic IF wsdot cares

— Todd Ξ Herman (@toddeherman) August 10, 2016

@toddeherman @wsdot_traffic As soon as it’s requested, they call it in. But again, that’s not usually until they’re already at the bridge.

— Washington State DOT (@wsdot) August 10, 2016

When they decide to open the bridge, the bridge tower team from @wsdot can *inform all of us* — truly, this is NOT hard. @wsdot_traffic

— Todd Ξ Herman (@toddeherman) August 10, 2016

@toddeherman @wsdot And we do with tweets like this one today: https://t.co/dbnhA86zp4 & on electronic signs on NB SR 509 & SR 599.

— WSDOT Traffic (@wsdot_traffic) August 10, 2016

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