New King County Metro bus operators to benefit from improved training
Crossposted from Metro Matters Recruiting and training new bus operators allows our region’s transit network to continue to grow. On June 21, King County Metro celebrated the graduation of 54 part-time operators to full-time status. June also marked Metro’s highest number of full-time operators since 2021, although we still need to add many more to meet the high demand for transit service in the coming years. In addition, we recently began training our first class of external candidates seeking to become full-time bus operators. Metro has historically hired part-time operators who can… Read More
Vote by Aug. 6 and wear your I Voted sticker with pride
Tuesday, Aug. 6 is Election Day for the August Primary. This is your opportunity to help your favorite candidate make it to the General Election. The best way to return your ballot this close to Election Day is by using an official ballot drop box. Drop boxes close at 8 p.m. on Aug. 6 so don’t delay, return your ballot today. King County Elections will also have Vote Centers open this weekend for those who still need to register to vote, get a replacement ballot, or use an accessible voting device. After you’ve voted,… Read More
Coming this fall: New RapidRide G Line and more Metro bus service
Crossposted from Metro Matters King County Metro is increasing transit service this fall, including adding over 3,700 new bus trips each week, launching the RapidRide G Line in Seattle, connecting buses to new Sound Transit light rail stations, and expanding Metro Flex to Northshore. Starting Sept. 14, King County Metro is expanding evening and weekend transit service, and launching its eighth RapidRide – the G Line – which will provide fast and frequent service through downtown Seattle, First Hill, Capitol Hill, the Central District, and Madison Valley. Read more.
King County launches first extreme heat strategy to prepare region for more intense heat waves caused by climate change
King County and local partners recently announced a new countywide strategy to prepare for and respond to the impacts of extreme heat. Development of the Extreme Heat Mitigation Strategy began two years ago following the unprecedented heat wave in 2021 that killed over 30 people in King County, marking the deadliest climate-related disaster in the region’s history. The strategy includes 20 immediate and long-term actions that range from increasing urban tree canopy and expanding access to parks and green space, to creating community cooling locations, making schools more resilient to heat, updating building codes… Read More
Emergency Management goes to the U.S. Olympic Team Trials
Crossposted from the DES Express Last month, two staff members from King County Emergency Management had the unique opportunity to join the University of Oregon incident management team which was supporting the U.S. Olympic Team Trials for track and field. Nathan Emory and Edan Edmonson, both Emergency Management Program Coordinators, spent three days observing and lending a hand to the emergency management team. The experience gave KCOEM staff the opportunity to see how the University of Oregon’s emergency management team connected with local first responders, facilitating a coordinated and effective response to… Read More
King County awarded $50 million EPA grant to cut greenhouse gas emissions from buildings
Today King County Executive Dow Constantine announced a $50 million grant from the Environmental Protection Agency to lower greenhouse gas emissions from buildings and construction throughout the region. King County will partner with local governments to help multifamily and community buildings across four counties — King, Kitsap, Pierce and Snohomish — transition to clean energy. The funding will also be used to reduce emissions in new building construction and create systems to reuse wood when a building is deconstructed to avoid emissions. “We’re leading on climate action by cutting emissions, creating resilient frontline communities,… Read More
Sheriff’s Communications Team brings awareness to Vehicle Theft Prevention Month
Cross-posted from the KCSO Newsletter As July is National Vehicle Theft Prevention Month, the King County Sheriff’s Office (KCSO) communications team thought this would be a great time to teach the community how to keep their vehicles – and everything inside – safe from would-be thieves. The team invited the media for something of a ‘show-and-tell’ where Sergeant Eric White (pictured above) provided great tips and tricks for protecting property. Three of the four local TV stations covered the event, resulting in some great stories and ‘news you can use’ for their… Read More
King County study of Lake Washington sediment shows decline in once-common dangerous chemicals, offering a roadmap to address newer health risks
A King County study of Lake Washington’s lakebed sediment shows levels of PCBs, the once common and dangerous chemical are expected to fall below currently detectable levels within the next two decades. Researchers say the findings reaffirm the effectiveness of regulations and personal actions and offer a strategy for addressing emerging environmental threats, including stormwater pollution. The pilot study, including lakebed coring conducted by scientists aboard the King County research vessel SoundGuardian, also showed how the techniques for collecting and analyzing samples could be used in other research projects to detect human-caused… Read More
Maple Valley Bike Rodeo teaches kids about safety
On the beautiful morning of Saturday, June 22, the Maple Valley Police Bicycle Rodeo at Lake Wilderness Park provided an excellent opportunity for new bicycle riders to hone their skills. Children ages 10 and under were able to practice essential cycling skills, such as navigating around distracted pedestrians in crosswalks and maneuvering around “boulders,” painted foam pieces on the road. Sixty-two kids took turns overcoming these obstacles under the guidance of Officer Baldwin and Master Police Officer Olmsted, along with the assistance of the Maple Valley Explorers, a volunteer program for young… Read More
Remembering DNRP’s Steve Bleifuhs
The Seattle Times recently published a tribute for Steve Bleifuhs, a longtime member of the Department of Natural Resources and Parks (DNRP) Water and Land Resources Division leadership team who died July 7 in a small plane crash in Eatonville. The article shares: Steve Bleifuhs worked as a bicycle mechanic while studying economics at the University of Wisconsin, and later in Seattle’s University District, where he moved to in 1994. He then started a nearly 30-year career working at the King County Department of Natural Resources and Parks, where he eventually managed… Read More
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