DCHS in 2024!
Crossposted from Cultivating Connections As the year comes to a close, the Department of Community and Human Services is taking stock in progress we’ve made throughout a year filled with both challenges and opportunities. This year was full of milestones and celebrations, and we look forward to building on these accomplishments for the people of King County in 2025. Read more.
A new landmark rises: Beacon Pacific Village opens on the historic Pacific Tower campus
Crossposted from Cultivating Connections Last month, the Seattle Chinatown International District Preservation and Development Authority (SCIDpda) hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the opening of Beacon Pacific Village, a new affordable housing community offering a blend of residential, mixed-use, and critical on-site services. Between 2016 to 2020, King County’s Housing Finance Program (HFP) awarded nearly five million dollars to SCIDpda, the owner and developer of Beacon Pacific Village, through Transit Oriented Development funding and other awards. Recognized by developers for its innovative design and sustainable architecture, Beacon Pacific Village provides connection to wellness, community, and healing for communities fragmented… Read More
King County Metro signs landmark deal to welcome new bus manufacturer to North America, expand zero-emission fleets
Crossposted from Metro Matters King County Metro has contracted with European bus builder Solaris to buy up to 16 zero-emission buses. This marks Solaris’ first contract with a U.S.-based transit agency and represents the company’s effort to expand its presence in the North American market. The partnership also reflects a broader push to diversify the number of transit suppliers in the region. Metro’s procurement will help increase the bus manufacturing competition in the U.S. market, where bus manufacturing shortages have created supply chain challenges for all transit agencies. Read more.
Wishing all employees a joyful holiday season
Happy Holidays to all our employees and their loved ones. May you enjoy time together with joy and laughter. A special thank you to our employees who are working over the holiday. King County is grateful for your service.
Heroism by King County Metro bus operators
Crossposted from Metro Matters Two King County Metro bus operators helped lead to the arrest of the suspect in the murder of Metro Transit Operator Shawn Yim on Dec. 18. While driving a northbound RapidRide E Line bus on the morning of Dec. 21, Metro bus operator Anthony “A.J.” Ross observed a passenger onboard with some similarities to the suspect, whom Ross had driven a number of times prior to Wednesday’s murder. However, there were differences between the passenger and the police description. After the trip terminated at Aurora Village Transit Center… Read More
Holiday closure reminders
Please note most King County government offices will be closed Wednesday, Dec. 25 for Christmas and Wednesday, Jan. 1 for New Year’s Day. Metro buses will operate on Sunday schedule. For other transit holiday information, please see Metro holiday schedules. All County transfer stations will be closed Dec. 25 and Jan 1. For garbage collection, please contact your hauler for details. District Court, Superior Court, and the Superior Court Clerk’s office will be closed Dec. 25 and Jan 1. For all other holiday closures and and service impacts, review the King County website.
King County Metro and regional transit agencies to help riders celebrate with free fares on New Year’s Eve
Crossposted from the Captain’s Blog King County Executive Dow Constantine announced today that Metro will join other regional transit agencies to provide free rides this New Year’s Eve. Riders can travel without paying fares on King County Metro, Sound Transit, Community Transit, Everett Transit, Pierce Transit, and the Seattle Streetcar as part of their celebrations. “The list of transit agencies participating in Fare Free New Year’s Eve continues to grow. From Tacoma to Everett, you can now leave your car at home and celebrate the start of 2025 without worrying about driving,” said Executive Constantine. “No matter… Read More
2024 Recap: A look at our work across King County this year
Executive Constantine highlights progress on building affordable housing, expanding behavioral health crisis care, protecting water quality, improving salmon habitat and more. 1. Helped build 1,248 affordable homes for families, seniors and veterans King County helped build 1,248 new affordable homes that opened their doors to families, seniors and veterans this year. We have also created 1,350 units of emergency housing and permanent supportive housing across 16 buildings in seven cities for people experiencing homelessness. More than 900 people are currently living in these Health Through Housing buildings. 2. Continued work to prevent… Read More
Airport’s Engineering Team volunteers at Food Lifeline
Crossposted from the Plane Talk Newsletter The King County International Airport’s Engineering Team volunteered at Food Lifeline recently, sorting and re-packing almost 2,800 pounds of food items in a two-hour period. The team dedicated part of their time on the Veterans Day holiday to help the non-profit, located just minutes west of the airport. Food Lifeline’s mission is feeding people facing hunger today and working to solve hunger for tomorrow. Food justice – the belief that everyone has a human right to equitably access nutritious and culturally relevant food that enables them to thrive… Read More
Elections and DAJD: Working together to ensure all eligible voters can make their voices heard
Last autumn, the Department of Adult and Juvenile Detention (DAJD) welcomed staff from King County Elections (KCE) to the Maleng Regional Justice Center and the King County Correctional Facility to assist minimum and medium security jail residents get registered to vote and get their ballots. This year was the third year staff from KCE have visited both juvenile and adult facilities to share voting information and get eligible voters what they need to make their voices heard. Ensuring both safety and access requires thoughtful partnership between DAJD and KCE. During just this past General… Read More
