First phase of new shelter project underway
Crossposted from Tails from RASKC
Work has begun at the new Regional Animal Services of King County (RASKC) shelter location. The new shelter project will be completed in a phased approach, with the first phase focused on the offices and second floor of the building.
In this first phase, the county’s Facilities Management Division (FMD) will partner with other county agencies and external contractors to remove carpet, demolish select walls and fixtures, build out a new information technology (IT) room, install security infrastructure, update flooring, and update the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system. FMD has started painting, patching, flooring preparation, and carpet removal in the office spaces. Read more.
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Victory vibes: Over 330,000 Metro boardings on Seahawks parade day
Crossposted from Metro Matters
Long before the sun peeked over the horizon on Super Bowl victory parade day, Seahawks fans started their journeys to downtown Seattle, leaving their cars behind and boarding buses, trains, water taxis and streetcars to stake out their front-row view.
With clear blue sky and sunshine, hour by hour, tens of thousands of people arrived downtown, and families and fans wearing 50 years of different team jerseys lined the streets with grins. The typical sound of downtown traffic was replaced by the buzz of fans waiting for the Seahawks stars to travel past.
Before long Metro’s vintage bus crawled into view, leading the parade to the roar of fans throughout the downtown. Read more.
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Department of Local Services celebrates Black History Month in Skyway by showcasing impacts of Participatory Budgeting
Crossposted from King County Local
To honor Black History Month, the Department of Local Services traveled to Skyway, an unincorporated community that’s home to the largest percentage of black community members in the state.
The event was an opportunity to celebrate figures and leaders whose impact is felt today. That included recognizing King County Councilmember Rhonda Lewis – the first black woman to serve on the County Council, as well as Civil Rights-era icon and longtime former Councilmember Larry Gossett. Read more.
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Profile in Service: Deb Wilson
Crossposted from For the Defense
Welcome to the King County Department of Public Defense’s Profiles in Service, a series that will highlight the contributions of our committed public servants and provide a platform for attorneys and professional staff to share their insights on the evolving practice of public defense. For our inaugural interview, recently retired attorney supervisor Deb Wilson sat down to reflect on her nearly 40 years as a public defender.
Deb began her career as an investigator at The Defender Association (TDA), nearly 30 years before the four nonprofits that had historically provided public defense in King County were combined to become DPD. She then went to law school at the University of Washington, returning to public defense as an attorney at the Associated Counsel for the Accused for the remainder of her career. Read more.
Pictured: Deb Wilson, right, and co-counsel Kell Brauer, left, preparing for their client’s trial.
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Metro wins national award for ‘Where To?’ campaign
Crossposted from Metro Matters
When King County Metro launched its “Where To?” ridership campaign, the goal was straightforward: inspiring more people to ride transit by showing the real-world adventures in King County that are just a bus ride away.
That effort has now earned top national honors — a first place APTA AdWheel Award for Best Comprehensive Campaign to Increase Ridership — in recognition of its blend of creativity, strategy, and real-world impact.
The Where To? campaign invited people to reimagine transit as a gateway to life in the region. By transforming Metro’s iconic electronic bus reader boards into destination “thought bubbles,” the campaign spotlighted real riders and real moments, from bike meetups to waterfront adventures, live music, and game days. Read more.
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Submit 2025 FSA claims by March 31, 2026
If you have any remaining funds in last year’s Health Care or Day Care Flexible Spending Account (FSA), take the following steps to get reimbursed for expenses incurred in 2025.
- Check your FSA balances: Go to Navia Benefits and log in as a participant.
- Learn about eligible expenses incurred Jan. 1—Dec. 31, 2025: Health Care FSAs cover a variety of medically necessary expenses for you and your eligible family members, including deductibles, coinsurance, and copays, and other Eligible Health Care Expenses. Day Care FSAs cover a range of services for your child, disabled spouse, or dependent parent that allow you to work, such as day care, preschool, day camps, before and after school care, elder care, and other Eligible Day Care Expenses.
- Gather supporting documents: Proper documentation to substantiate a claim includes the date of service, type of service, and cost of service. Day Care claims also need the provider tax ID, name of dependent, and age of dependent.
- Submit 2025 FSA claims by March 31, 2026: Watch the 6 Ways to Submit Claims video:
- Pay health care providers directly using your FSA debit card. (Use this method only for 2026 FSA claims.)
- Submit a claim form and documentation by email.
- Use Navia’s online claim submission tool.
- Use the MyNavia mobile app on your mobile device.
- Fax your claims to 866-535-9277.
- Send claims to Navia by mail.
Up to $660 of unused Health Care FSA funds carry over for use in 2026; any other remaining funds are forfeited. The Day Care FSA does NOT have a carryover feature; any unused funds are forfeited. If you have questions about your FSA, contact Navia at 800-669-3539 or Navia Customer Service.
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Brighter, safer stop signs are coming to King County roads
Crossposted from the Department of Local Services Newsletter
King County Road Services is making roads in unincorporated King County safer by replacing old stop signs at 17 intersections with new LED signs. These signs are easier to see, especially at night or in bad weather. Construction for this project began in November 2025, and today most of the new signs are already in place.
Many of these LED signs use solar power, which saves energy and lowers costs. Some signs are still being switched to solar this spring. This upgrade is part of King County’s plan to improve safety and protect the environment.
Learn more about this project on the King County website.
Pictured: This stop sign at Vashon Highway SW and SW Burton Road on Vashon Island was upgraded to a solar powered LED Sign in December 2025.
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Turn your clocks ahead one hour this Sunday
Crossposted from Metro Matters
Daylight Saving Time officially starts at 2 a.m. on Sunday, March 8, 2026.
If you ride the bus Saturday night, including very late-night trips that operate from downtown Seattle or designated terminals up until 4:15 am, wait to set your clocks ahead one hour until after you are done riding buses for the night.
All trips leaving bases on Sunday morning operate on Daylight Saving Time.
Access Transportation users should contact the call center at 206-205-5000 with any questions about how the time change may affect their rides. TTY users only should call 206-749-4286. If you have to dial “1” first to reach those numbers, call 1-866-205-5001 or, for TTY users only, 1-877-749-4286.
For information about bus service, call Metro Customer Information at 206-553-3000, Monday through Friday from 6 a.m. until 6 p.m. TTY users, please dial the Washington State Relay Service at 711 or use our online Trip Planner.
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NEWS: King County International Airport becomes first in the United States to earn new certification for environmental sustainability
King County International Airport-Boeing Field (KCIA) is again receiving recognition for its environmental efforts. KCIA is the first airport in the United States to earn the International Air Transport Association (IATA) Environmental Assessment (IEnvA) Certification, a significant milestone.
“At King County, we’re committed to reducing our environmental impact, especially for the people who live and work near the airport,” said King County Executive Girmay Zahilay. “Earning this recognition reflects the dedication of King County employees who are doing the day-to-day work to protect nearby communities and build a cleaner future for the next generation. We’ve made real progress, and we’re going to stay focused on doing the work to reduce our carbon footprint.” Read more.
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Thank you to King County employees who helped make the Annual Giving Drive a success
Thank you to everyone who joined us for the King County Employee Giving Program Annual Giving Drive (AGD) Celebration on Thursday, Feb. 26. The gathering brought together enthusiastic colleagues from across the county as we recognized the outstanding Ambassador teams who championed the 2025 AGD. Nearly 150 employees attended the celebration on the 13th floor of the Chinook Building, creating a warm and energetic atmosphere.
Employees across King County participated in the campaign, helping make the 2025 AGD a record-breaking success with $2.53 million raised to support nonprofits doing vital work in our communities.
“Intentionally gathering to celebrate our employees’ hard work is so important, especially in a program that has become such a cherished community tradition. Year after year, our people show what it looks like to come together with purpose, joy, and care; and the celebration is a beautiful reminder of that,” says Junelle Kroontje, Employee Social Impact & Well-being Manager. Read more.
Pictured: From left to right, Patricia Mayorga Rodriguez, Project Manager, Employee Giving Program; Megan Pedersen, Chief People Officer; Junelle Kroontje, Employee Social Impact & Well-being Manager.
Employee News 