A ‘New Energy’ arrives as Executive Constantine unveils new colors for Metro’s electric fleet
Crossposted from Metro Matters King County Executive Dow Constantine unveiled one of Metro’s next-generation battery-electric buses wrapped in the new colors of the fleet today at Metro’s South Base. Called “The New Energy,” the livery design is a mix of electric yellow and seafoam blue, is a visual representation of Metro’s commitment to helping combat climate change and will be outfitted on all the new vehicles joining the fleet. Along with Executive Constantine, Metro General Manager Michelle Allison, King County Councilmember Rod Dembowski, and Teague Livery Design Manager Katie Ryan, helped unveil… Read More
Staff commended for their life-saving work
Operations would like to recognize the professionalism of all involved in last weekend’s incident where a woman fell in between the cars of the train at Pioneer Square station and became pinned against the platform. Charles Dedrick was on North Control handling this incident simultaneously while managing the Mariner’s post-game trains. Abdi Ibrahim was the first field responder who kept the Link Control Center (LCC) informed on the first responders’ arrival and assisted with passenger transfers during the single track. And most importantly, the quick reactions of the operator, Naweedullah Payam, who… Read More
Greg Wilson receives award from Washington Alliance for Better Schools
Greg Wilson, a Program Manager within Public Health’s Environmental Health Services Division, won the inaugural Outstanding Leadership Award from the Washington Alliance for Better Schools (WABS). WABS is a collaborative of school districts and industry leaders working to support students. They give this award in recognition of a person or team who has demonstrated outstanding engagement with WABS over time. Greg was selected due to his collaboration with WABS for over a decade, providing instructor support and coordinating teacher externships, and for his consistent advocacy for partnerships between WABS and Public Health…. Read More
Public Health program transforms into collaborative troupe, empowering employees and engaging the community
The Employee Engagement Strategy (EES) Program at Public Health – Seattle and King County has recently undergone a remarkable transformation, evolving into a dynamic collective known as the EES Troupe. The Troupe brings together participants from various divisions and departments throughout King County, with the aim of fostering effective employee engagement and strengthening collaborative strategies. The EES Troupe has been working diligently to create a robust working environment that promotes teamwork, innovation, and productivity among colleagues internally. By encouraging employees to work together and leverage their diverse expertise, the Troupe aims to… Read More
Metro’s newest Bus Operator of the Year: Lisa Nault
Dear colleagues, On Thursday afternoon, I joined several King County employees and leaders at East Base to celebrate Lisa Nault—Metro’s 2022 Bus Operator of the Year. Metro awards Bus Operator of the Year annually to individuals who personify excellence, safety, and customer service. I have been fortunate to be part of these celebrations for many years and am honored to be able to recognize Lisa with this award for the first time as Metro’s General Manager. Our operators are the finest in the nation and no one embodies this more than Lisa…. Read More
Building community and wellness at Metro
King County Metro’s Wellness Team recently hosted the 2023 Metro Wellness Fair to provide in-person support and resources on wellness, safety, and workplace benefits to Metro employees. The Wellness Fair (formerly known as the Health & Safety Fair) took place at the Atlantic/Central Base over the course of three days and offered a fun and engaging experience that focused on the health and wellbeing of Metro employees. By hosting the Wellness Fair, Metro’s Wellness Team aims to bring awareness to the amazing health and wellness benefits that are available to employees and… Read More
Integrating health care systems to support and care for people with substance use disorders
Crossposted from Cultivating Connections Substance use disorders (SUDs) are complex conditions that continue to impact people from all walks of life. Like many communities across the nation, King County residents are seeing a rise in substance use disorders and overdoses, particularly with the tragic impacts of the fentanyl epidemic being felt across our communities. This summer, the Department of Community and Human Services (DCHS) published a blog series focused on what residents should know about King County’s SUD response. You can read more here: SUD Treatment Prevention and intervention The latest blog… Read More
Youth learn and develop community leadership skills through Metro Transit Equity Internship Program
Crossposted from Metro Matters This July, King County Metro hosted its second annual Youth Transit Equity Internship. The program provides a unique group learning and skill-building opportunity for young people interested in public transit and community leadership. Throughout the program, the Transit Equity Interns become peer ambassadors of transportation resources, explore career pathways within Metro, and build skills and knowledge of transit, urban planning, climate justice, and local government! Read more.
Metro wants to hear from people with disabilities about their mobility needs
Crossposted from Metro Matters Mobility for people with disabilities has always been a vital part of Metro’s mission and we work hard to remove barriers. Metro is currently developing a plan to further improve accessibility within our programs, services and activities. Our goal is to make it possible for everyone in King County to ride with us and get to the places they need to go. We invite you to complete our community survey by Oct. 15. Scroll down to learn more about Metro’s Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Transition Plan. Your input about your experiences riding… Read More
Lorre Wijelath named Chief Information Security Officer (CISO)
KCIT is pleased to announce that Lorre Wijelath has been selected for the permanent leadership role of Chief Information Security Officer (CISO). Lorre has served as the interim CISO for the past 11 months and was selected for the permanent position after a competitive recruitment process. Lorre joined King County in 2020 as a member of KCIT’s Security and Privacy team. Since then, Lorre developed King County’s first data privacy program, responded to critical security incidents, and led significant enterprise initiatives to improve cybersecurity. Previously, Lorre worked with the federal government to… Read More
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