Transportation accomplishments nab 4 spots in County Executive’s Top 16 for 2016

Four advances in regional mobility this year earned mention in Executive Constantine’s Top 16 in 2016 year-in-review list. King County DOT is proud to support progress on what the Executive called “the most important issues of our generation.”

Voters approve region’s biggest expansion of mass transit

Transit expansions approved by voters in November include light rail to Everett, Tacoma, Redmond, Kirkland, Issaquah, Ballard and West Seattle; bus rapid transit along I-405; and Sounder train expansions in the South Puget Sound region. Through the vision of our METRO CONNECTS long-range plan, Metro will integrate with Sound Transit to deliver a seamless, integrated, high-capacity transportation system that meets the needs of the future.

Investing in affordable workforce housing near transit

Transit-oriented development received a big boost in July, when Executive Constantine signed legislation to create more than 1,000 units of affordable workforce housing over the next five years around Sound Transit and Metro Transit stations, with up to $87 million from the sale of bonds backed by future lodging tax revenues.

Making progress on Metro’s all-electric bus fleet

At Metro we began testing our first all-electric, battery-powered buses in February. It’s one way that Metro is taking advantage of the latest clean-energy technology to meet the goal set by Executive Constantine of increasing transit service through 2020 with no net increase in greenhouse gas emissions.

Light rail ridership soars after opening 3 new stations

Metro Transit provided new connections when Sound Transit opened new stations in March at the University of Washington and Capital Hill stations, and at Angle Lake in September. Light rail weekday ridership rose 71 percent for the third quarter of 2016, with the number of Link riders surpassing regional express bus users for the first time in Sound Transit’s history.

 

 

 

“Our progress on these and other priorities help us become a more just, inclusive community—a place where all have the chance to achieve their full potential,” said Executive Constantine. “Thank you for contributing to these and other achievements, and for the opportunity to serve you as your County Executive. I look forward to building on our successes in the year ahead.”