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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
Hot deals on cool pets this summer!
Crossposted from Tails from RASKC Summer is here, and what better way to spend those long, sunny days than with a new pet from Regional Animal Services of King County! Now through July 31, RASKC will have daily pet adoption specials, with a theme for each day of the week. Enjoy these pawsitively awesome discounts on dogs, cats, and all adoptable pets. Senior Sundays: $30 adoption fee for all pets over five years old, or for pet adopters 65 and older Mixed Breed Mondays: $30 adoption fee for all mixed breed dogs… Read More
Second 2025 Professional Development Scholarship application period is open
The second application period for the 2025 Professional Development Scholarship is now open! This application period will remain open from June 2 – July 3, 2025. This application period is to pay for training courses or programs that BEGIN in 2025, OR, for those in a self-paced online degree program, are both taking courses and have tuition and fees to pay during that period. To apply, visit the scholarship website and click the “APPLY HERE” button. Please familiarize yourself with the eligibility and application requirements before submitting. Previous applicants, please be aware that the application has… Read More
Recognizing Metro’s Operators of the Month, March-April 2025
Crossposted from Metro Matters They cook, take trips and root for their grandchildren’s sports teams. They collect comic books, watch retro TV, ride motorcycles, crochet, and work with worms. Some are traveling in the footsteps of relatives who work for transit systems across the county and country. Those who ride with them say “Thanks to the operator who greets me with a big smile,” that they are “always kind and patient,” and have “Such great compassion and understanding for others.” These operators—with a combined 175 years of transit driving experience—are as unique as you. They also enjoy… Read More
Construction to clog northbound I-5 this summer
WSDOT is launching “Revive I-5” work this summer to rehabilitate I-5 and the Ship Canal Bridge in Seattle. Major construction begins this July, lasting about four weeks. Work will continue over the next two years, ending in 2027. There will be significant northbound I-5 traffic disruptions this summer. During the northbound closures and lane reductions, Express lanes will stay open 24/7 in the northbound direction. 2025 key dates June 20 – 23 (Friday night to Monday morning): Northbound I-5 two-lane reduction across Ship Canal Bridge. July 18 – 21 (Friday night to Monday… Read More
Discounts for employees for Seattle Storm, The Lion King, and more
Several discounts are available for upcoming events this summer and later this year. Free admission to Emerald Downs on Sunday, June 22: King County employees can get free admission to King County Day at Emerald Downs on Sunday, June 22, by bringing their King County badge, displaying their King County email inbox on their phone, or displaying any other generally accepted proof of employment. Employees may bring up to five members of their family (six total free tickets). Tickets will be available for pick-up on Sunday, June 22, in front of the general… Read More
Recipient of Innovation Award for Cost recovered $5 million in delinquent tax revenue
The Personal Property Escalated Collection Team, part of Treasury Operations in the Finance and Business Operations Division of the Department of Executive Services, is the winner of the 2024 Best-Run Government Award for Cost. The award was one of eight announced by Executive Shannon Braddock on May 8. Through its Outreach to Businesses program, the team worked collaboratively with King County commercial businesses to recover $5.3 million of revenue and fees from 2023 and 2024 delinquent taxes – and reduce the portion of taxes which had become delinquent from 4.06% in 2023… Read More
June is National Safety Month, and helpful safety resources
Safety is everyone’s responsibility, and June is National Safety Month. According to Injury Facts, preventable workplace deaths totaled 4,543 nationally and serious work-related injuries totaled 4.07 million in 2023. Employer obligations include providing a safe working environment, as well as the financial support, management oversight, personal protective equipment, and tools and training staff need to do their jobs safely. Both management and workers need to do their part to make safety a core value. Together, these elements are part of a greater continuous improvement process that aims to identify safety hazards and reduce… Read More
DAJD’s Closing the Officer Vacancy Gap project receives Innovation Award for People
In recent years, law enforcement has been one of the most challenging industries for recruitment and hiring. Between 2019 and 2023, law enforcement hiring nationwide saw a 40% increase in job openings and a 39% decrease in applicants per job, creating unprecedented recruitment challenges. These trends deeply impacted King County’s Department of Adult and Juvenile Detention (DAJD), which experienced a rise in vacancies—from 19 in 2020 to 120 Corrections Officer (CO) vacancies by early 2024—despite record-setting hiring years in 2022 and 2023. The department also saw a high vacancy rate for Juvenile… Read More
Megan Pedersen appointed Chief People Officer for King County
King County Executive Shannon Braddock has appointed King County’s Director of Office of Labor Relations (OLR), Megan Pedersen, to the Chief People Officer role for the remainder of the Executive’s term. This follows Whitney Abram’s announcement that she is departing to Sound Transit. Whitney’s last day was June 2, 2025. We are fortunate at King County to have built a strong team with deep experience and talent, ensuring continuity, stability, and a seamless transition when employees and leaders depart. We continue to lead with our King County values, and our priority is… Read More
Support King County Parks at Cougar Mountain
The Cougar Mountain Trail Running Series, organized by the Seattle Running Club and Northwest Trail Runs, features exciting trail races in King County’s Cougar Mountain Regional Wildland Park. This year is the 22nd running of this event. Proceeds from the series support King County Parks, with more than $254,000 donated since the start of the series. Register here to join the monthly summer trail races at Cougar Mountain. King County employees can receive a 20% discount with the code KCPEmployee_25.
New Mental Health Access Guide available for King County employees
King County employees now have access to a new tool for navigating mental health resources. The King County Employee Mental Health Access Guide provides an easy-to-use, comprehensive overview of available programs, outlining services like mindfulness, counseling, psychiatric medication management, educational classes, and more. It clearly identifies which programs offer these resources and how to contact them, making it simpler than ever to find the right support. To download a copy of the Mental Health Access Guide, click here.
Tap your King County ID or ORCA card on transit
King County Metro has resumed fare inspection, which means that Fare Enforcement Officers will ask riders, including King County employees, for proof of payment. As a reminder, everyone—even riders with fully-subsidized transit benefits from an employer like King County—needs to tap their King County ID or use another payment method. As a reminder, King County employees can use their King County ID to travel anywhere, at any time, for free on transit. Tapping your card directly supports transit—and benefits you and Metro in other ways, too. For example, it lets Metro know how you… Read More
Second 2025 Professional Development Scholarship opens on Monday, June 2, 2025
The second application period for the 2025 Professional Development Scholarship Program opens on Monday, June 2, 2025, and runs until July 3, 2025. This opportunity is available for training that starts in 2025 and is exclusively for employees represented by a union in the 2025 Coalition Labor Agreement. This Scholarship Program is part of our commitment to Investing in YOU. It is to help eligible employees with the financial support needed for training, certificates, degrees, licenses, and certifications. Take the next step in your professional journey with King County! Visit the scholarship webpage to review the… Read More
Make sure your food vendor has a Public Health permit to avoid foodborne illness
Crossposted from Public Health Insider Summer is the perfect time to get outside and explore the 700+ incredible food trucks and other mobile food businesses serving cuisines from around the world to King County communities. Whether you’re buying a hot dog from a cart before a game or tacos from your favorite truck, we want you to be confident that the vendor is following proper food safety practices. The best way to protect yourself from foodborne illnesses when you’re eating out is to only buy food from businesses that have a food… Read More
Celebrating ‘Filipinotown’ addition to the Seattle Streetcar
Crossposted from Metro Matters On May 21, a new “Filipinotown” addition to the Seattle Streetcar First Hill Line Chinatown-International District vehicle design was officially unveiled. This new design highlights the important contributions of Filipino Americans to Seattle’s rich cultural tapestry. A celebration was held at SDOT’s Charles Street facility, bringing together community leaders, cultural advocates, and residents to participate in the meaningful milestone. Read more.
Distinguished community public health leader is King County’s new Health Officer
Crossposted from Public Health Insider Public Health – Seattle & King County is delighted to welcome Dr. Sandra J. Valenciano, a public health leader with both local and national experience in improving community health, as King County’s new Health Officer. Public Health Director Dr. Faisal Khan appointed Dr. Valenciano to serve as the department’s primary medical expert, provide leadership on scientific and medical matters that shape department policy and practice, and foster strong relationships with the healthcare community. Dr. Valenciano comes from DeKalb Public Health in metro Atlanta, Georgia, where she most… Read More
New law will strengthen statewide recycling, reduce waste and greenhouse gas emissions
Crossposted from Keeping King County Green King County’s longstanding leadership in recycling will become stronger through the recent passage of Washington’s Recycling Reform Act – a comprehensive law that modernizes the state’s recycling system and promises to slash waste while boosting recycling rates. At the center of the legislation is a policy approach called Extended Producer Responsibility, which requires manufacturers to take responsibility for the end of life of the packaging they produce. The law will provide sustainable funding for recycling services, increase recycling rates, and create consistency and transparency in recycling… Read More
Shuyi Hu awarded the 2024 Best-Run Government Leadership Excellence Award: People Leader
When a critical project to update King County’s court case management system faced a significant challenge, Shuyi Hu, Technology Division Director for the Department of Judicial Administration (DJA) – Technology Services Division, stayed focused and kept the project moving. His determination, tenacity, innovative approach, and leadership skills contributed to Shuyi winning the 2024 Best-Run Government – Leadership Excellence Award – People Leader. The Best-Run Government Leadership Excellence Awards recognize individuals who have made significant and tangible leadership contributions to developing Executive branch values in others, improving workplace culture, and leading organizational change… Read More
Free admission to Emerald Downs on Sunday, June 22
King County employees can get free admission to King County Day at Emerald Downs on Sunday, June 22. Employees may attend for free on Sunday, June 22, by bringing their King County badge, displaying their King County email inbox on their phone, or displaying any other generally accepted proof of employment. Employees may bring up to five members of their family (six total free tickets). Tickets will be available for pick-up on Sunday, June 22, in front of the general admission gates from 1 to 4 p.m. Emerald Downs’ address is 2300 Ron… Read More
Take Trailhead Direct to hiking trails starting May 24
Crossposted from Metro Matters Break out your hiking boots and get ready to explore Mount Si and the Issaquah Alps. King County’s Trailhead Direct, the transit-to-trails service on summer weekends and holidays, returns on Saturday, May 24. Trailhead Direct, King County’s transit-to-trails service, begins its eighth season on Memorial Day weekend. Trailhead Direct is operated by King County Metro in partnership with King County Parks and the Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT), with promotional support from Amazon. Trips to the Issaquah Alps and Mount Si trails will operate on weekends and holidays, starting Saturday,… Read More
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