Skyrocketing fuel costs prompt proposal to boost Metro Transit fares

With Metro Transit ridership and diesel fuel prices at record levels, King County Executive Ron Sims today announced he will preserve current service and continue delivering new service by proposing a 25-cent fare increase. Sims opted for the proposed increase rather than cut service to pay for fuel costs that have skyrocketed over 60 percent this year alone.

“This worldwide fuel crisis comes at a time of historic ridership growth for Metro Transit – and is the reason why residents are turning to transit in record numbers as their own budgets are squeezed,” Sims said. “But, the same rising fuel costs contributing to Metro’s popularity are making it more expensive to deliver service and maintain aggressive transit-growth plans.

“This fare increase will allow us to continue to move forward in an effort to meet the extraordinary demand for more transit, not slip backward at a time when these services are needed the most,” Sims said

Metro had budgeted $2.60 per gallon for diesel this year. Now, due to the dramatic spike in fuel costs, it anticipates paying an average of $3.86 per gallon in 2008. That cost difference will create a deficit of more than $14 million in 2008, despite a fare increase earlier this year to cushion the impact of rising operational costs.Learn more...

Related information

News Release
Transmittal letter from King County Executive Ron Sims (596KB PDF)
Proposed ordinance (29KB PDF)
Q & A (31KB PDF)
Rising fuel costs to increase bus fares, Seattle Post Intelligencer
25-cent Metro fare increase proposed, Seattle Times
25-cent fare hike for Metro Transit proposed, King 5

Jail health program receives national accreditation

The King County Jail system’s ongoing improvements in providing quality health care were recently recognized with the renewal of their national accreditation for health care operations.

An independent panel of nurse and physician auditors evaluated the jail health operations on site, based on rigorous national standards set by the National Commission on Correctional Health Care (NCCHC). Nationally, about 20 percent of inmates in jails and prisons are in NCCHC-accredited facilities.

"Accreditation is difficult to achieve, and only a fraction of jails receive it,” said King County Executive Ron Sims. "This accomplishment would not have been possible without the efforts of staff across the jail to continually improve our facility and the services we provide. They care deeply and work hard to ensure the safety and health of the inmates in our custody and this accreditation shows the hard work is really making a difference."

Learn more...

Executive feature archives

Blog: Parading out loud

On Sunday I walked in Seattle’s Pride Parade in downtown with some friends and it was fantastic! The parade was electric, people were in a celebratory mood, they were having a great time, the sun was shining, and the LGBTQ community truly was in its finest form. People were out, openly expressing their pride in their community.

Read the blog...

Sims says county must seek solutions in Olympia

King County Executive Ron Sims today vowed the county will do all it can to prioritize programs, innovate, find efficiencies and reduce costs as he laid out the steps he is taking to deal with the projected $68 million 2009 budget deficit. Sims called on the region's leaders to join him in finding permanent solutions to the growing budget crisis in King County and counties statewide. Learn more...

America's innovative mayors, Ron Sims

So far in this series, we have focused on the accomplishments of city mayors, but today we look at the "mayor" of a major county, Ron Sims, the county executive of King County, Washington. Two years ago, Governing recognized Sims as a Public Official of the Year, calling him an "across-the-board innovator." Sims serves his jurisdiction, which encompasses the city of Seattle, with the same wide-ranging view as Seattle's mayor, Greg Nickels. Learn more...

County one of "Best Places to Work"

King County government has been named one of the region's Best Places to Work in the non-profit or government category according to Seattle Business Monthly magazine. Learn more...

King County Executive, Ron Sims County news Executive initiatives Speeches Excellence in Government Executive offices Biography Contact information King County Executive Office Ron Sims, King County Executive 701 Fifth Ave. Suite 3210 Seattle, WA 98104 Phone: 206-296-4040 Fax: 206-296-0194 TTY Relay: 711	KING COUNTY HOME \| NEWS \| SERVICES \| DIRECTORY \| CONTACT King County Executive, Ron Sims Efficient, effective and innovative service You're in: King County Executive, Ron Sims print Skyrocketing fuel costs prompt proposal to boost Metro Transit fares With Metro Transit ridership and diesel fuel prices at record levels, King County Executive Ron Sims today announced he will preserve current service and continue delivering new service by proposing a 25-cent fare increase. Sims opted for the proposed increase rather than cut service to pay for fuel costs that have skyrocketed over 60 percent this year alone. “This worldwide fuel crisis comes at a time of historic ridership growth for Metro Transit – and is the reason why residents are turning to transit in record numbers as their own budgets are squeezed,” Sims said. “But, the same rising fuel costs contributing to Metro’s popularity are making it more expensive to deliver service and maintain aggressive transit-growth plans. “This fare increase will allow us to continue to move forward in an effort to meet the extraordinary demand for more transit, not slip backward at a time when these services are needed the most,” Sims said Metro had budgeted $2.60 per gallon for diesel this year. Now, due to the dramatic spike in fuel costs, it anticipates paying an average of $3.86 per gallon in 2008. That cost difference will create a deficit of more than $14 million in 2008, despite a fare increase earlier this year to cushion the impact of rising operational costs.Learn more... Related information News Release Transmittal letter from King County Executive Ron Sims (596KB PDF) Proposed ordinance (29KB PDF) Q & A (31KB PDF) Rising fuel costs to increase bus fares, Seattle Post Intelligencer 25-cent Metro fare increase proposed, Seattle Times 25-cent fare hike for Metro Transit proposed, King 5 Jail health program receives national accreditation The King County Jail system’s ongoing improvements in providing quality health care were recently recognized with the renewal of their national accreditation for health care operations. An independent panel of nurse and physician auditors evaluated the jail health operations on site, based on rigorous national standards set by the National Commission on Correctional Health Care (NCCHC). Nationally, about 20 percent of inmates in jails and prisons are in NCCHC-accredited facilities. "Accreditation is difficult to achieve, and only a fraction of jails receive it,” said King County Executive Ron Sims. "This accomplishment would not have been possible without the efforts of staff across the jail to continually improve our facility and the services we provide. They care deeply and work hard to ensure the safety and health of the inmates in our custody and this accreditation shows the hard work is really making a difference." Learn more... Executive feature archives Blog: Parading out loud On Sunday I walked in Seattle’s Pride Parade in downtown with some friends and it was fantastic! The parade was electric, people were in a celebratory mood, they were having a great time, the sun was shining, and the LGBTQ community truly was in its finest form. People were out, openly expressing their pride in their community. Read the blog... Sims says county must seek solutions in Olympia King County Executive Ron Sims today vowed the county will do all it can to prioritize programs, innovate, find efficiencies and reduce costs as he laid out the steps he is taking to deal with the projected $68 million 2009 budget deficit. Sims called on the region's leaders to join him in finding permanent solutions to the growing budget crisis in King County and counties statewide. Learn more... America's innovative mayors, Ron Sims So far in this series, we have focused on the accomplishments of city mayors, but today we look at the "mayor" of a major county, Ron Sims, the county executive of King County, Washington. Two years ago, Governing recognized Sims as a Public Official of the Year, calling him an "across-the-board innovator." Sims serves his jurisdiction, which encompasses the city of Seattle, with the same wide-ranging view as Seattle's mayor, Greg Nickels. Learn more... County one of "Best Places to Work" King County government has been named one of the region's Best Places to Work in the non-profit or government category according to Seattle Business Monthly magazine. Learn more...
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	Updated: July 3, 2008