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Holiday travel? Metro will help you get there
Emergency exercise tests communications ahead of World Cup
King County Wins 2025 Geospatial Professional Network Award for Innovative AI-GIS System
Recognizing the service of Metro veterans
News
John Parrott named Airport Director of the Year by WAMA
Crossposted from DES Plane Talk The Washington Airport Management Association (WAMA) named John Parrott the Airport Director of the Year at its annual conference last month. Parrott has served as director of King County International Airport since 2019. He has nearly 40 years of commercial airport, general aviation and military aviation experience from aviator to airport CEO. What’s his secret? “Hire great people and then get out of their way,” Parrott said upon receiving the award. Pictured: John Parrott, Director of King County International Airport, left, with Dave Decoteau, Deputy Director.
New data shows King County DCHS’ Health Through Housing initiative helps residents maintain stable housing and improve health
Crossposted from Cultivating Connections King County Department of Human and Community Services (DCHS) today released new data on the Health Through Housing (HTH) initiative, showing improved housing and health outcomes for people living in Health Through Housing buildings throughout last year. Health Through Housing transforms former hotels and other underutilized properties into permanent supportive housing with onsite services, including physical and behavioral health care, for people experiencing chronic homelessness. In 2024, Health Through Housing served 1,281 people across all 11 open locations in Auburn, Burien, Renton, Redmond, and Seattle. Encouragingly, 95% of permanent supportive housing residents were able to maintain a stable home. The vast… Read More
Building the local economy through clean water projects
When Georgetown Wet Weather Treatment Station went up in one of Seattle’s oldest neighborhoods, you could say it took a village to raise it. Among the tradespeople deployed to construct our newest clean water facility were electricians, concrete finishers, welders, and ironworkers. For four whole years, the site buzzed with power tools and expertise – in no small part from the surrounding community itself. The project generated hundreds of construction jobs and brought on more than 40 women-and-minority-owned businesses as subcontractors who did everything from installing underground utilities and pouring concrete walls to… Read More
Suggest an audit topic for the King County’s Auditor’s Office by July 1
Do you have ideas for how King County government could work better? The King County Auditor’s Office wants to hear from you! The King County Auditor’s Office is looking for input as it plans its work for the next biennium. To gather that input, they have launched a new website where employees and community members can share their experiences and suggest potential topics for future audits. The King County Auditor’s Office conducts oversight of county government through independent audits, capital projects oversight, and other studies. Every other year, the Auditor assembles a work program for approval by… Read More
Voices of Hope and Healing: King County’s inaugural Summit on Crime Survivors marks a pivotal moment
Crossposted from Converge Media June 13, 2025, will be remembered as a landmark day for King County, which hosted its first-ever Summit on Crime Survivors at the Sea Mar Museum of Chicano/a/Latino/a Culture. The event convened a broad spectrum of individuals—survivors of violent crime, families of victims, elected officials, law enforcement, victim advocates, community organizations, and mental health experts—to confront the profound impact of crime and the urgent need for robust community support. This inaugural summit was not merely a meeting; it was a poignant and transformative experience marked by raw emotion,… Read More
White Center Coffee with a Cop
Crossposted from the King County Sheriff’s Office newsletter Last week, we had a great time connecting with our White Center community during Coffee with a Cop! Community members showed up to talk with the Sheriff and other department members. Meanwhile, PCT 4 Captain Przygocki was in the back slinging drinks and working the drive-through window, to the surprise of customers. Overall, it was a successful event! We thank all the department members who showed up, and a special thanks to Starbucks and our White Center community members for the opportunity. We can’t wait… Read More
Sunday, June 29: Pride Parade!
Join us at the Seattle Pride Parade on Sunday, June 29. King County’s contingent will meet at 10:45 a.m. on 4th Avenue between Seneca Street and Spring Street. The parade begins moving at 11 a.m. and ends at 3:30 p.m. If you need assistance getting to the staging area you can meet Metro’s Pride bus on 6th Avenue, between S. Royal Brougham Way and S. Atlantic Street, across from the parking garage, at 9:30 a.m. on Sunday. The bus will leave at 9:45 a.m. and will return to 6th Avenue once it… Read More
Making the most of your P-card
Crossposted from the DES Express Standard P-Cards issued in King County come with a $10,000 single transaction limit and a $20,000 monthly transaction limit, but this can vary among departments and divisions based on different needs. Splitting purchases to bypass the transaction limits is not an approved use of your P-Card. Read more.
Meet KCSO’s dynamic duo father-daughter team
Crossposted from the King County Sheriff’s Office newsletter When Morgan Pavlovich became a King County Sheriff’s Deputy in 2023, the least surprised person of all was her father, a longtime member of the Sheriff’s Office himself. “I suspected she would end up right here,” said SeaTac Sergeant John ‘Jake’ Pavlovich. “She always had that drive to help people. Even when she worked in retail. Plus, she used to dress up like a police officer on Halloween.” The Pavlovich duo is the sole father-daughter team currently serving the Sheriff’s office. The Sergeant only… Read More
Recognizing Juneteenth
Crossposted from Metro Matters On Thursday, June 19, we recognize Juneteenth—a celebration of the freedom of enslaved African Americans in the United States. It’s a time to gather in community, reflect on our nation’s long and unfinished journey towards equity, and reaffirm our shared commitment to justice. As part of this year’s reflection, Transit Facilities Division Director Adé Franklin shares what Juneteenth means to him, how it shapes his leadership, and why it matters to the work we do every day at Metro. Following his foreword are reflections from a few Metro… Read More
Honoring Juneteenth: A day to learn, reflect, and act
Dear fellow King County employee, As we prepare to celebrate Juneteenth tomorrow, June 19, I want to take a moment to recognize the deep significance of this day, not only in American history, but also in our collective journey toward racial justice, equity, and freedom. Juneteenth commemorates June 19, 1865, when the last enslaved Black Americans in Galveston, Texas, were informed of their freedom — more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation was signed. It is a day that represents the long and ongoing struggle for true racial equity and freedom,… Read More
Juneteenth: A personal reflection on freedom, struggle, and pride as a Black man in modern America
By a Black man living in modern history -William Herbert, Human Resources professional with Metro Transit Mobility Division, and Water and Land Resources Division Foreword Every year, June 19th rolls around, and for many in America, it may pass like any other summer day. But for me—as a Black man, military veteran, husband, and father living in modern-day America—Juneteenth is not just a date in history. It’s a mirror. A memorial. A celebration. And a call to action. It’s a day that encapsulates the joy of freedom, the weight of delayed justice,… Read More
The Parent Champions Pilot Program receives BRG Innovation Award for Service
The Parent Champions Pilot Program has received the 2024 Best-Run Government (BRG) Innovation Award for Service. Congratulations to the Department of Community and Human Services (DCHS) and the Developmental Disabilities & Early Childhood Supports Division, and their partners for their commitment to Best-Run Government! A special thank you to the program’s project manager Juliette Escobar and group facilitators Ya’Vonne Hubbard and Fathia Hammad. The Innovation Award for Service recognizes workgroups and teams that have made progress on our customer service goals to prioritize customer-centered services, improve the customer experience, increase staff understanding… Read More
How to get a 2025 King County Pride t-shirt and volunteer for the parade, June 29
There are two ways to get your King County Pride shirt this year: Be one of the first 75 King County participants to arrive as part of the King County contingent at the Seattle Pride Parade on Sunday, June 29, and you can receive a free shirt. Or, if you want to ensure you get a shirt and in your preferred size, you can order in advance by following the steps below. This year’s Pride shirts range in cost from $16.89 – $22.89 (before tax), with sizes available to order from adult… Read More
King County Security Tips – How secure is your mobile device?
Most of us have a smartphone, but how many of us really think about the security threats faced by these mobile devices? Mobile devices are vulnerable to many different types of threats. The bad guys are increasing attacks on mobile devices and targeting your phone using malicious applications. Using these methods, they can steal personal and business information without you having any idea what’s going on. Even if you’ve downloaded a security or antivirus application, securing your smartphone goes beyond these services. Improving your mobile security practices is your best defense against… Read More
King County Metro to install operator safety partitions fleetwide
Crossposted from Metro Matters King County Metro bus operators are evaluating safety partition designs as part of the planning process for retrofitting up to 1,300 of the agency’s 1,400 buses. Existing buses not being upgraded will be replaced by a recent order for 89 new buses that have a partition already installed. From now through July 5, four buses, each with a different style of partition currently available on the market, will be touring Metro’s bases. The safety partitions, which riders will begin seeing on both new and existing buses later this… Read More
Supervisor Spotlight: Highlighting those behind the scenes who keep us moving
Crossposted from Metro Matters It takes a lot of people to keep a transit system running smoothly across 150 routes and over 300,000 boardings a day. Bus drivers are the most visible part of any transit system, and there are people behind the scenes who are just as vital in the day-to-day operation of King County Metro. Their responsibilities include training operators, planning the routes that run throughout the region, and literally being the “traffic controllers” who keep track of the buses on their daily runs. They’re also the former bus drivers… Read More
King County announces five-year plan for climate action
King County Executive Shannon Braddock announced the 2025–2030 Strategic Climate Action Plan today, partnering with the Executive Climate Office to send the proposal to the King County Council for consideration. The plan reinforces King County’s commitment to climate action that delivers measurable results — working across county departments and in collaboration with community partners. It builds off the significant progress King County has made in several areas and sets a bold course to cut greenhouse gas emissions, support climate-resilient communities, and invest in a sustainable and equitable region. “King County is staying true to… Read More
2025 Employee Engagement Survey results
A total of 8,524 King County employees shared their thoughts in the 2025 Employee Engagement Survey on what we’re doing well, where we can improve, and how we can build an even better workplace. Employees in the Executive Branch, and in King County Elections, King County Assessor’s Office, and King County Council were eligible to participate in the survey, which found that overall employee engagement is 69%, a 4-point increase from the last survey. Some of the key results include 75% of employees said that they apply equity, racial, and social justice… Read More
Earn free bike, scooter and transit rides this summer!
Crossposted from Metro Matters The popular “Bike and Scoot to Transit” program is back this summer and is even better than in previous years. This program lets people earn free bike, scooter and transit trips while they commute and explore our region. This summer, “Bike and Scoot to Transit” has been expanded to include even more transit hubs in Redmond, Seattle and Shoreline. The program began in 2022 and is a partnership between King County Metro, the Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) and Sound Transit, along with the companies Bird, Lime, Siemens and Velocia…. Read More
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