City’s Transportation and Utilities committees to most likely combine
March 27, 2013
New on March 27, 3:30 p.m.
The city’s four council committees appear poised to turn into three.
Discussed at the March 26 Whole of the Council committee meeting as members looked through recommendations from the Services and Safety Committee on how to more efficiently structure the government, the five present council members all voiced their initial support for folding the Transportation and Utilities committees together.
State of the County address outlines plans for infrastructure
February 5, 2013
NEW — 4 p.m. Feb. 5, 2013
King County Executive Dow Constantine outlined initiatives to curb gun violence, provide easier access to services for military veterans and family members, and enroll 180,000 uninsured residents into affordable health care.
Dow Constantine
Constantine presented the proposals to the public and the King County Council on Monday in a State of the County address delivered at Seattle’s Museum of History & Industry.
In the address, Constantine said the county emerged strong from the challenges created related to the Great Recession, and said priorities for the year focused on the county’s future by strengthening human infrastructure — such as jobs, health care and veterans services — natural infrastructure — including efforts to address climate change, flood protection and environmental cleanup — and built infrastructure — such as maintaining roads and transit.
King County Metro Transit works to ease bus crowding
January 29, 2013
King County Metro Transit is gathering public input on proposed schedule and route changes to routes along the Interstate 90 corridor, including routes serving Issaquah.
The shift is meant to ease crowding and improve travel times on peak commute routes.
The routes under consideration for changes include routes 210, 211, 214, 215 and 218 — routes serving Issaquah. The list also includes Sammamish-to-Seattle Route 216 and Eastgate-to-Seattle Route 212.
State accepts comments on Interstate 90 tolling proposal
January 29, 2013
The state Department of Transportation is evaluating potential impacts of tolling Interstate 90, and the public can comment on the proposal.
The agency is considering a proposal to toll the highway on the seven-mile stretch between Interstate 5 in Seattle and Interstate 405 in Bellevue.
Port of Seattle vacancy is open to King County voters
January 29, 2013
Residents interested in trade, tourism and transportation can apply for a soon-to-open seat on the Port of Seattle Commission — a group of officials responsible for overseeing the Port of Seattle and Seattle-Tacoma International Airport.
Commissioner Gael Tarleton intends to resign from the commission Jan. 31 to serve in the state House of Representatives.
The position is open to U.S. and Washington residents eligible to vote in King County. Candidates must submit application materials by noon Feb. 1.
Public can comment on Interstate 90 tolling proposal
January 28, 2013
NEW — 2 p.m. Jan. 28, 2013
The state Department of Transportation is evaluating potential impacts of tolling Interstate 90, and the public can comment on the proposal.
The agency is considering a proposal to toll the highway on the seven-mile stretch between Interstate 5 in Seattle and Interstate 405 in Bellevue.
The state is at work on a $4.1 billion project to replace the 49-year-old floating state Route 520 bridge across Lake Washington and overhaul the 12.8-mile corridor between I-5 in Seattle and state Route 202 in Redmond.
The floating bridge is scheduled to open in traffic by early 2015.
Port of Seattle vacancy is open to King County voters
January 24, 2013
NEW — 10 a.m. Jan. 24, 2013
Residents interested in trade, tourism and transportation can apply for soon-to-open seat on the Port of Seattle Commission — a group of officials responsible for overseeing the Port of Seattle and Seattle-Tacoma International Airport.
Commissioner Gael Tarleton intends to resign from the commission Jan. 31 to serve in the state House of Representatives.
Under state law, the commission is allowed 90 days to appoint Tarleton’s successor.
The position is open to U.S. and Washington residents eligible to vote in King County. Candidates must submit application materials by noon Feb. 1.
Fred Butler enters race for Issaquah mayor
January 22, 2013
Fred Butler, a City Council stalwart for 13 years and a voice in important debates about the future of Issaquah, entered the race for mayor Jan. 17.
Fred Butler
The contest could hinge on the vision for the decades ahead, as city leaders seek to position Issaquah for redevelopment and attract more jobs to the community.
Butler, 72, served on the council at major junctures in recent history, as members debated the defunct Southeast Bypass road link, how to preserve forested Park Pointe on Tiger Mountain and, late last year, a 30-year redevelopment blueprint called the Central Issaquah Plan.
“We are in the process of evolving from a small town to a small city, moving from suburban to urban,” he said in a Jan 17 interview. “Because I’ve been involved in a lot of the planning and the development of the urban villages and the Central Issaquah Plan, I believe I’m in a pretty good position to help implement the direction that we are going in.”
King County Metro Transit aims to improve Issaquah bus service
January 22, 2013
NEW — 8 a.m. Jan. 22, 2013
King County Metro Transit is gathering public input on proposed schedule and route changes to routes along the Interstate 90 corridor, including Issaquah-bound routes.
The shift is meant to ease crowding and improve travel times on peak commute routes.
The routes under consideration for changes include routes 210, 211, 214, 215 and 218 — routes serving Issaquah. The list also includes Sammamish-to-Seattle Route 216 and Eastgate-to-Seattle Route 212.
Metro Transit identified the routes as among the busiest and most productive commuter routes in the transit network. Buses carry 5,000 to 7,000 Eastside commuters daily along the I-90 corridor to downtown Seattle and serve major transit hubs in the Issaquah Highlands, downtown Issaquah and Eastgate.
Fred Butler launches campaign for Issaquah mayor
January 17, 2013
NEW — 6 p.m. Jan. 17, 2013
Fred Butler, a City Council stalwart for 13 years and a voice in important debates about the future of Issaquah, entered the race for mayor Thursday.
Fred Butler
The contest could hinge on the vision for the decades ahead, as city leaders seek to position Issaquah for redevelopment and attract more jobs to the community.
Butler, 72, served on the council at major junctures in recent history, as members debated the defunct Southeast Bypass road link, how to preserve forested Park Pointe on Tiger Mountain, and late last year, a 30-year redevelopment blueprint called the Central Issaquah Plan.
