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One lane reopened on Holmes Point Drive

The King County Road Services Division has temporarily reopened one lane of Holmes Point Drive Northeast near Juanita. The roadway had been closed in the 13600 block for four weeks due to storm damage.

A temporary traffic signal has been installed and will allow traffic through in one direction at a time. Motorists are urged to obey the signals and use caution when driving through the area. The road will be closed again in mid January for repairs.

Metro hosts January meetings on RapidRide plans

King County Metro Transit is looking for community feedback on the Eastside and in West Seattle for its new RapidRide service. This streamlined bus service – with an eye-catching style – will provide frequent trips all day on busy corridors in those two areas.

On the Eastside, Metro – in partnership with the cities of Bellevue and Redmond – is planning RapidRide service between the downtown core of the two cities.

In West Seattle, the service would connect Fauntleroy and downtown Seattle via the major junctions in West Seattle. Community feedback is needed to help develop both plans.

A series of open-house meetings will be held Jan. 15-29 to gather comments. An online questionnaire is also available, or comments can be submitted in writing or on a recorded phone line.

All comments are due by Friday, Feb. 1. For more information on the upcoming meetings and how to submit comments, go to Metro Online beginning Jan. 2.

Limits increased for pre-tax transportation benefits

Using public transportation is one of the most effective ways to reduce greenhouse gases, and starting on Jan. 1, employers can be environmentally responsible by providing their employees with tax-free transit commuter benefits up to $115 a month.

Federal law allows employees to use pre-tax income to purchase monthly public transportation fare (for bus, train, ferry or registered vanpool). If a company chooses to offer this pre-tax commuter benefit to its employees, the company simply deducts the requested amount from employee income to purchase the fare in the form of a pass, ticketbook or voucher.

Metro staff offers assistance to employers who offer transportation benefits. Get started online, or call (206) 263-3444.

Metro has service to Hawks’ first playoff game

Metro Transit has been an important back-up player for Seattle Seahawks fans this season, and that reliability will continue through the playoffs as Metro provides bus service to all games at Qwest Field.

Ride Metro to Saturday’s playoff game with against the Washington Redskins and save yourself traffic and parking hassles.

Kickoff is at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 5, and Metro can help get you to Qwest for all the action. The Seahawks and Metro offer non-stop shuttle service from five area park-and-ride lots for $3 each way. Plus, there are plenty of regular Metro buses serving the stadium area.

Visit Metro Online for all the details on regular and special service to the Seahawks game.

KCDOT staff donate time and talent for charitable causes

This year, King County Department of Transportation (KCDOT) employees raised more than $337,000 in support of the annual King County Charitable Campaign – the county employees annual fundraising drive.

Employees at AirPac, a tenant at Boeing Field, got into the holiday spirit and presented staff with a monetary donation for their Georgetown Food Bank drive.

KCDOT staff gave via payroll deductions, donations of vacation and comp time, and various “fun”raising activities. In keeping with KCDOT tradition, employees got creative with their giving. The Road Services Division’s chili cook-off raised $1,000. The Airport division’s Wurst Lunch BBQ — and outrageous Jell-O contest — brought in $350 and a collection of canned food for the Georgetown Food Bank. Transit’s Service Development group held a lunchtime carnival that netted $18,71. Plus, there were two egg roll sales, and numerous homemade goodies up for bid in the online charitable auction.

The participation made KCDOT Director Harold Taniguchi very proud: “Our employees are genuinely committed to public service. Not just with the annual campaign, but I see it in the work they do every day.”

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Updated: December 31, 2007

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