Executive Braddock announces upgrades to Metro’s Access paratransit service, improving freedom and flexibility for riders with disabilities living in rural communities
Crossposted from Metro Matters
Recently, King County Executive Shannon Braddock and Metro announced an improved customer experience for Access paratransit service customers and seniors, especially in rural communities, delivering on one of the key priorities in the Executive’s 200-Day Plan. People with disabilities who live in rural communities and use Access will have an easier time making reservations and enjoy improved on-time arrivals. There are also pilot programs that range from grocery delivery to same-day reservations. These services – alongside new in-person support for Access paratransit, Community Van, and Hopelink – will offer more flexibility and independence.
Additionally, community transportation coordinators and navigators will deliver in-person support to help all customers with mobility challenges access the full range of Metro services. Read more.
Share this:
As surging utility costs make housing less affordable throughout King County, Executive Braddock brings together partners to develop a more sustainable future
With household costs for utilities projected to rapidly increase each year for the next decade – making housing even less affordable than it is today – King County Executive Shannon Braddock and Sound Cities Association on Friday brought together more than 150 elected officials, regulators, and public works managers from throughout King County to develop a path that both protects the natural environment and reduces the burden on homeowners.
A typical single-family household in King County currently pays an estimated $400 per month for utilities, including natural gas, electricity, solid waste, stormwater, sewer, and water. The combined monthly costs will likely continue to escalate over the next decade due to inflation in the construction industry, new environmental regulations, and the need to maintain and expand aging infrastructure to serve a growing population. Read more.
Share this:
Monitoring in Action: PHSKC responds to unpermitted food vending with an equity and data-driven perspective
Ava Michler, with the Performance and Strategy (PSB) team, spoke with Eyob Mazengia about how Public Health – Seattle & King County (PHSKC) responds to unpermitted food vending. The Food Safety team decreases barriers to receiving permits and uses data visualization to inform their operations.
As we see an increase of unpermitted food vending throughout the county, the Food Safety team’s work has been critical for protecting the health of county residents and upholding food safety standards. A key part of their approach is supporting vendor entrepreneurial goals, by providing guidance and resources to pursue a permit. Food Safety also gives meaning to their data and identifies trends using an innovative Power BI dashboard. Read the full story here.
Employees can take a moment to check out this story, and explore others in the PSB Monitoring in Action section to see how King County programs are turning data into impact. For more information about the portal, or to send your blog post idea, contact Sara Hospador at Sara.Hospador@kingcounty.gov.
Share this:
Employee notice about the KC Employee ID/ORCA pass
King County employees can now note that their ORCA pass will automatically renew at the start of the new year and disregard the expiration alert when tapping for use on transit.
For questions or concerns, please reach out to the Employee Transportation Program coordinator at ETP@kingcounty.gov.
For more information, visit the Employee Transportation Program SharePoint employee website.
Share this:
Support Hurricane Melissa relief through the Annual Giving Drive
In the wake of Hurricane Melissa, a devastating Category 5 storm that struck Jamaica and parts of the Caribbean, thousands of families are facing unimaginable loss. Homes, hospitals, and infrastructure have been destroyed. Many communities still remain without power, clean water, or access to basic necessities. Through the Annual Giving Drive, we have an opportunity to come together and support the nonprofits working tirelessly on the ground to provide emergency aid and long-term recovery.
Here are the Employee Giving Program (EGP) nonprofits that are responding to Hurricane Melissa relief efforts. Read more.
To see the full list and discover more, search online or review the 2025 Giving Guide of nonprofits by service category.
Start or renew your pledge through Employee Giving on PeopleSoft by Nov. 21. If you are renewing your pledge, remember to click “Continue” then “Confirm” in order to complete the process.
Share this:
Annual Giving Drive extended to Nov. 21
Good news: the Employee Giving Program is making a one-time extension to this year’s Annual Giving Drive (AGD), made possible by the early kick-off. The AGD was launched a week earlier than usual to meet an anticipated payroll processing deadline. We have since learned that we can stick to our usual timing. The new deadline will be Nov. 21. This includes Time Donations.
This is a special opportunity, during a busy time. Join us in coming together for an extra week of fun, joy, and community!
Learn more on the King County Employee Giving Program intranet.
Share this:
Recognizing the service of Metro veterans
Crossposted from Metro Matters
This Veterans Day, we recognized and thanked all of Metro’s military service members, past and present, for their service and sacrifice. Your continued commitment to public service strengthens our community.
On Monday, Nov. 10, we held a ceremonial flag raising at one of our facilities honor the courage and dedication of veterans and their families. In addition to this ceremony, we’re also continuing our annual tradition of highlighting Metro colleagues who have served in the military. This year, I’m pleased to share the stories of four veterans —Nicholas Warren, Ruy Diaz, Scott Peterson and William Herbert—whose experiences remind us of the many ways veterans continue to lead, serve and inspire across our organization. Read more.
Share this:
It’s the journey and the destination
Crossposted from Metro Matters
While I lead transit communications and marketing in Washington state, my earliest public transportation journeys were nearly 5,000 miles away in my birthplace of London, England.
As a toddler, my paternal grandmother—who exclusively took transit or walked—would take my sister and me on double-decker buses. I’d always ask to go upstairs. But my Granny, to avoid taking two small children up and down a windy staircase on a moving vehicle, creatively claimed that we couldn’t go up there because that’s where the bus driver lives. Read more.
Share this:
Welcoming Executive-Elect Girmay Zahilay
From Shannon Braddock, King County Executive
Dear fellow King County employees,
Following last week’s election, we now know that King County’s next executive will be Girmay Zahilay. I want to start by congratulating the Executive-Elect on his successful campaign! We look forward to working closely together over the next two weeks to help his new administration settle in and complete the transition process.
Executive-Elect Zahilay and I are announcing what some of those next steps will look like and who will lead his transition committee. That committee includes four co-chairs:
- Katie Garrow, Executive Secretary-Treasurer at MLK Labor
- Esther Lucero, Chief Executive Officer at Seattle Indian Health Board
- Brad Smith, Vice Chair and President at Microsoft Corporation, and
- Doug Baldwin, Chief Executive Officer at Vault89, founder of Family First Community Center
To get started, we created space in Chinook on the 3rd floor for the Executive-Elect and his transition team and committee. From here, current staff will work together with the Executive Office to coordinate next steps. Read more.
Share this:
How to apply for a permit to fix property damaged by storm, fire, earthquake or other natural disaster
Crossposted from King County Local
Storm season is underway. For some in unincorporated King County, that means storm damage to property.
The King County Department of Local Services Permitting Division reminds everyone that there are steps residents can take before a natural disaster occurs to help reduce property damage, including:
- Trim any potentially dangerous trees or branches
- Clean out all chimneys
- Winterize pipes
- Keep all potential sources of fuel, such as paper, clothing, bedding, curtains, or rugs at least three feet from space heaters, stoves, or fireplaces.
- Assure all smoke detector and carbon monoxide alarms are installed and working properly
For more information on how to prepare for potentially severe and winter weather, there are resources such as the International Code Council.
If property damage does occur from a storm, fire, earthquake or other natural disaster in unincorporated King County, our Permitting Division is here to help you recover as quickly as possible.
Watch the video to learn more about obtaining permits to fix property damage as a result of a natural disaster.
Employee News 