Tap to pay: Puget Sound region transit systems to accept credit and debit cards, and digital wallets as fare payment
Crossposted from Metro Matters
On Feb. 23, ORCA is launching a new Tap to Pay feature allowing riders to use credit and debit cards, and digital wallets, to pay for transit across the Puget Sound region.
Riders can simply tap their contactless Visa, Mastercard, Discover® Network, or American Express credit or debit cards, or cards in digital wallets, using Apple Pay™, Google Pay™, or Samsung Pay™ to ride. This new feature expands access to public transportation and supports seamless travel experiences for both daily riders and visitors alike.
This new feature also comes as Seattle and the Puget Sound region prepare to host several large events in 2026. With many international visitors expected to travel across the region, Tap to Pay simplifies transit and aligns with global expectations for convenient payment options. Read more.
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Executive Zahilay visits staff at Chinook Wind project in Tukwila
King County Executive Girmay Zahilay recently visited the Chinook Wind project in Tukwila to learn more about the project and see the habitat restoration work of employees from the Department of Natural Resources and Parks’ (DNRP) Water and Land Resources Division.
“Yesterday I visited the hard working staff of King County’s Water and Land Resources Division at DNRP to see the Chinook Wind project in Tukwila. What used to be a rundown hotel site is now transformed back into natural habitat that will support salmon recovery for generations to come,” Executive Zahilay said. “Salmon are essential to our ecosystem, our economy, and to Tribal nations whose cultures and treaty rights are deeply connected to healthy fish populations. When we restore habitat, we improve water quality, reduce flood risk, strengthen climate resilience, and protect biodiversity across our region.” See the full post on Facebook.
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Major ‘Revive I-5’ repairs continue for Ship Canal Bridge
The Revive I-5 project is designed to extend the life of the aging Ship Canal Bridge and improve safety and ride quality for years to come. While the short-term traffic impacts will be challenging, the long-term payoff will be smoother, safer travel through this critical stretch of I-5. Get the latest updates about this work from WSDOT.
As part of the project, two northbound lanes across the Ship Canal Bridge will close while crews repair and resurface the bridge deck. To minimize impacts during major events, work zones will be removed in June for World Cup soccer matches in Seattle, then reinstalled when games conclude in July.
The WSDOT schedule of northbound I-5 includes:
To help support ridership demand during Revive I-5, Metro is planning to add up to 17 buses on key routes on weekdays and 12 buses on weekends to help riders avoid travel delays due to highway construction. These buses will be able to be deployed flexibly by Metro staff to locations and routes where there is crowding or delays. For more information, view this King County Metro blog post.
Additional resources are available here:
- Revive I-5 Informational Poster
- Revive I-5 Informational Flyer
- Revive I-5 Key Dates and Maps
- Revive I-5 Express Lanes Guidelines
The Employee Transportation Program is an additional resource for employees that highlights commuter benefits, resources, and other supportive options available.
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Celebrating Government Communicators Day, Feb. 20
Crossposted from the DES Express
In recognition of Government Communicators Day, coming up on Feb. 20, take a moment to meet the professional communicators in the Department of Executive Services (DES) and learn about what they do.
Whether they communicate primarily with employees or the public, or a mix of the two, these are the folks who spend their days juggling deadlines, responding to inquiries, producing content and informing people about the good work that DES divisions do every day! A typical day might involve posting information on the web, writing a media release or newsletter article, working on a video, or drafting a strategic communications plan. Often their work is behind the scenes, writing speeches for leadership, working out the logistics of an upcoming event or announcement, or making sure key constituents are aware of developments on big projects. In the case of Emergency Management, it’s sharing information about how to stay safe in emergencies, from floods and other severe weather to earthquakes.
Public information officers and other professional communicators play a crucial role in local government. Government Communicators Day, held annually on the third Friday of February, highlights them and their work. The day is sponsored by the City-County Communications and Marketing Association (3CMA) and the California Association of Public Information Officials. Read more.
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Recognizing Metro’s Operators of the Month, November-December 2025
Crossposted from Metro Matters
They style hair and coach soccer. Cheer for Real Madrid and travel. Launch rockets and cook. They also “handle problem people with class and grace,” are “patient, friendly, and went above and beyond to help an older rider,” and make passengers “feel like I’m in good hands.”
They’re operators with more than two centuries of transit driving experience who enjoy meeting with their riders and giving back to their communities.
Meet your Operators of the Month for November and December 2025. Read more.
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Celebrating Black history, arts and culture with Attorney General Nick Brown
Washington State Attorney General Nick Brown talked about key milestones in Black history and discussed his personal journey into public service at “For Us, By Us: Transformational Conversations,” a Town Hall event on Feb. 3. This was Attorney General Brown’s first address to county employees.
Cecelia Hayes, Equity, Social Justice and Engagement Senior Practitioner for the Department of Executive Services, worked several months to organize the event, which was executed in partnership with other “For Us, By Us” (FUBU) leaders.
Transformational Conversations is a series of Black employee-led community forums designed to lift up topical issues of importance to Black community, by Black community members who also happen to be King County public servants. Hayes began organizing the online forums in June 2020 in response to the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis. Read more.
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Executive Zahilay visits and thanks Water Taxi staff
King County Executive Girmay Zahilay recently visited the King County Water Taxi to learn more about their operations and see the staff in action.
“Our marine division teams help thousands of people get across the Puget Sound from downtown to West Seattle and Vashon Island and back,” Executive Zahilay said. “And soon they will be expanding this service to include more weekends and more hours so more people can get to work, to the hospital, to see friends, and more.” See the full post on Facebook.
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Employee Discount at FragranceNet.com: Save $20 on all orders $50 or more
King County employees get access to exclusive discounts and deals through ticketsatwork.com. Use the company code KingCounty to begin receiving discounts and extra special offers on your go-to brands and most-loved experiences, including brand new offers on cruises, just in time for spring travel.
This month, save on fragrances, skincare, makeup, hair care, aromatherapy, candles, and gifts at prices far below retail. Shop and save at discounts up to 80% off department store prices. You can save even more by buying testers. Click here to log in and use code PERK20
See all available discounts on the Employee Discount intranet page.
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Use Form W-4 to change your tax withholding
If you want to change the amount of federal income tax withheld from your pay, use Form W-4 in PeopleSoft to update your payroll. The IRS recommends completing a new Form W-4 when your personal or financial situation changes, but this can be done any time. Go to the IRS website for information about Tax Withholding, including a Tax Withholding Estimator.
To adjust the amount of federal income tax withheld from your King County paycheck, update your W-4 in PeopleSoft:
- Sign in to PeopleSoft
- Select the Payroll tile
- Select W-4 Tax Information
- Enter your choices and make note of your selections
- Review and Submit
For additional instructions, check out the W-4 Withholding Certificate video or the Updating Your W -4 training document, both available in the PeopleSoft Knowledge Center.
Use Form W-4 to claim federal income tax exemption
If you claimed exemption from federal income tax withholding for 2025, remember to review your status. If you plan to continue claiming exemption for the 2026 tax year, you must submit a new Form W‑4 by Feb. 17, 2026. IRS rules require a new form each year to maintain exempt status.
If your W-4 is not updated in Peoplesoft by Feb. 17, 2026, Payroll is required to adjust your withholding automatically.
If you no longer qualify for exemption—or you’d like to make changes to your withholding—complete a revised W‑4 as soon as possible. Submitting updates early helps ensure accurate payroll processing and prevents unexpected tax issues later.
If you have payroll-related questions, please reach out to your department’s Payroll team or contact Benefits, Payroll and Retirement Operations at 206-684-1556, Option 2, or main.payroll@kingcounty.gov.
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CSO speaks at elementary school about importance of kindness
Crossposted from the King County Sheriff’s Office Employee Newsletter
Shoreline Community Service Officer (CSO) Dahlia Corona was invited to speak at the Echo Lake Elementary’s annual Great Kindness Challenge on January 21, where this year’s theme was “Kindness Is Our Superpower!”
The event highlighted everyday superheroes in the Shoreline community and invited local professionals to share how kindness plays a role in their work.
Guest speakers included the Shoreline School District superintendent, Shoreline Deputy Mayor Eben Pobee, a neonatal nurse practitioner, and CSO Corona, who spoke with students about her role with the Shoreline Police Department and serving the community with kindness. She talked about how simple acts can create significant, positive changes in the community we serve. She shared an incident where kindness helped her deescalate a woman who was in crisis.
Echo Lake Elementary fifth-grade teacher Karen Nicholson shared her appreciation for CSO Corona’s presentation, noting, “We were happy the students were able to meet a kind face from the police,” and added that the students loved meeting her.
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