King County auctions used vehicles, including buses, Saturday
May 20, 2011
NEW — 10 a.m. May 20, 2011
Pick up a used bus Saturday as King County auctions surplus vehicles and equipment.
Bidding at the semiannual auction of surplus vehicles and equipment is scheduled to start at 9 a.m.
In addition to buses, the auction features pickups, vans, cars and dump trucks. Or, find bridge timbers and other miscellaneous equipment.
The county Department of Transportation manages the auction at 3005 N.E. Fourth St., Renton, near Renton Technical College. The bidding starts at 9 a.m.
Previews continue through 3 p.m. Friday and start again at 8 a.m. Saturday.
County sets $5 as maximum fee for vehicle recharging stations
May 19, 2011
NEW — 8 a.m. May 19, 2011
King County Council members set a $5 fee as the cap for motorists plugging in electric and hybrid vehicles for a charge at county recharging stations.
The ordinance adopted by the council Monday establishes a per-use fee, and directs the county Department of Transportation to set a fee up to $5 per use. The proposed maximum fee is based on maintenance costs, vendor costs and electricity.
“The $5 cap fee approved today should give the economic viability of electric cars a real jolt,” Vice Chairwoman Jane Hague said in a release. “‘Green’ vehicles are the future of transportation and providing commuters with a variety of practical options is definitely a good thing.”
Technological advances make electric vehicles — battery and plug-in hybrids — more economically feasible to own.
Surprising spring snow dusts city in white
April 12, 2011
Snowfall blanketed the Overdale Park neighborhood in Issaquah late April 7. By Larry Lohrman
Sure, spring started last month, but Old Man Winter returned last week.
Snowfall blanketed Issaquah and surrounding areas — especially neighborhoods in the Issaquah Highlands and on Cougar, Squak and Tiger mountains — late April 6 and early April 7. Surprised residents reported about 1 inch of snow accumulation in some places.
“We’re disappointed by the weather every April — and that can actually last into June, our disappointment with the weather,” said Chris Burke, a National Weather Service meteorologist in Seattle.
Roads remained clear for the April 7 morning commute, although the rain-soaked ground resulting from the increased precipitation snarled Issaquah-area traffic.
Crews cleared a fallen tree from Issaquah-Hobart Road Southeast near Issaquah at about 8 a.m., after the large maple clogged traffic and forced motorists to detour.
King County Sheriff’s Office deputies directed traffic. Crews cleared enough of the tree to reopen the road just after 9 a.m. and then remained on the scene to continue the cleanup Read more
Downed tree near Issaquah snarls morning commute
April 7, 2011
NEW — 9:05 a.m. April 7, 2011
Crews cleared a fallen tree from Issaquah-Hobart Road Southeast near Issaquah at about 8 a.m. Thursday, after the large maple clogged traffic and forced motorists to detour.
King County Sheriff’s Office deputies directed traffic. Crews cleared enough of the tree to reopen the road just after 9 a.m.
In the meantime, traffic backed up just south of Issaquah city limits. Motorists headed for Issaquah and Interstate 90 used May Valley Road Southeast and state Route 900 to reach the city.
The tree came down after springtime snowfall blanketed the Issaquah area late Wednesday night and early Thursday morning. Crews continue to clean up the tree.
“With the ground so saturated, it’s not uncommon for the roots to give way, and the tree just kind of falls over,” King County Department of Transportation spokeswoman Rochelle Ogershok said.
King County shifts to biennial budgeting
March 22, 2011
Like the state and some municipal governments, the King County Council has taken a step to shift the county to a biennial, or two-year, budgeting process.
Officials said the shift to biennial budgeting extends the planning period for county departments to further examine and define budgets.
The longer timeframe also allows the executive and council to improve program evaluation, enhance performance management and encapsulate cost-savings during the budget process.
The council unanimously adopted legislation to set the schedule for county agencies to transition to a biennial budgeting process. The Department of Development and Environmental Services, the county permitting agency, is on track to join the Department of Transportation in delivering a biennial budget for the 2012-13 cycle.
Voters approved a county charter amendment in 2003 to allow leaders to shift all county departments to biennial budgeting. The council adopted the timeline for adoption Feb. 28.
Leaders expect all nongeneral fund budgets to transition to biennial budgeting for 2013, and all county agencies should deliver biennial budgets for the 2015 King County budget. The spending plan should be adopted in fall 2014.
King County shifts agencies to biennial budgeting
March 21, 2011
NEW — 8 a.m. March 21, 2011
Like the state and some municipal governments, the King County Council has taken a step to shift the county to a biennial, or two-year, budgeting process.
Officials said the shift to biennial budgeting extends the planning period county departments to further examine and define budgets.
The longer timeframe also allows the executive and council to improve program evaluation, enhance performance management and encapsulate cost-savings during the budget process.
The council unanimously adopted legislation to set the schedule for county agencies to transition to a biennial budgeting process. The county Department of Development and Environmental Services, the county permitting agency, is scheduled to be joined by the Department of Transportation in delivering a biennial budget for the 2012-13 cycle.
Press Editorial
November 2, 2010
County cannot wait for rural roads fix
Many of the roads and bridges in unincorporated King County are old and getting older. The money is not there to maintain them. Innovative, new funding models are needed. And elected leaders need the political courage to enact them, even if they are unpopular.
The county’s infrastructure needs are serious and looming, and money is short. But 30 percent to 40 percent of roads could fail in the next decade. Less than 60 percent of the system’s maintenance needs can be met in the next few years with current funding.
The situation should not be a surprise, and yet the county’s recently released Strategic Plan for Road Services reads like it is.
May Creek Bridge closes from June 21 until August
June 15, 2010
The bridge near the intersection of Southeast May Valley Road and state Route 900 will close June 21 and remain closed for most of the summer, as workers dismantle the aging structure and build a replacement bridge.
King County plans a modern May Creek Bridge to replace the timber-supported, 60-year-old span across the north fork of May Creek. Crews posted signs near the bridge last week to alert drivers to the shutdown and construction. Detour signs will be posted for the duration of the closure.
The replacement bridge will be longer, with wider lanes and shoulders. Moreover, the $1.7 million project has been designed to bear heavier loads.
The narrow roadway on the existing bridge constricts traffic at the nearby intersection of state Route 900 and Southeast May Valley Road.
King County Road Services Division planners started readying for the project several years ago. The agency contacted the state Department of Transportation, emergency-service providers and the Issaquah School District to prepare.
Sara Niegowski, district spokeswoman, said the timing dovetails with summer break. The school year ends June 17 and starts Aug. 31.
Upgrades will allow drivers to check traffic images online
May 11, 2010
The next time snow blankets Issaquah — and snarls traffic — drivers might be able to check the municipal website for real-time updates from cameras perched throughout the city.
Officials plan to include the traffic images on the city website within the next several months. The cameras — part of the Intelligent Transportation System — allow engineers to monitor traffic at 26 intersections citywide.
The technology does not allow for streaming video to be posted online. Instead, the images will be a series of photos updated every minute or so.
The city also plans to post real-time traffic alerts to the municipal website and the electronic message boards constructed as part of the system.
Officials hope drivers check the camera feeds and alerts — either from home computers, smart phones or other devices — to gauge traffic before taking to city streets.
The planned upgrades reached the City Council last month. Members agreed to spend $84,000 to post the traffic snapshots online, add monitors for the feeds at the Issaquah Police Department and improve the traffic signal-timing plans through important corridors. The equipment and software to add the real-time images to the city website carries a $49,000 price tag.
Commuters should plan ahead as winter nears
December 16, 2009
NEW — 5:15 p.m. Dec. 16, 2009
After heavy rains in November and bitter cold last week, many King County residents would say winter has been here for some time. Winter, however, does not begin until Dec. 21.
The past few days gave residents a taste of what might be in store in the weeks ahead as precipitation and cold temperatures mix.
King County Road Services Division staffers have been on weather patrol for weeks, but ramped it up across this county starting last Friday through Monday looking for icy roads and other driving hazards.
Now is a good time to review winter-weather travel plans with a few tips from the King County Department of Transportation.
