|
|
Metro proposes new and revised Kent, Eastside service
Metro is hosting two community open houses on Wednesday, Feb. 27 to
gather input on separate proposals to revise bus service in two rapidly
growing areas.
In the
Kent East Hill area, Metro wants to start new Route 157 to provide
more trips and a faster connection between that area and downtown
Seattle. The meeting will be held Wednesday from 7-9 p.m. at East Hill
Friends Church, 22600 116th Ave. SE, Kent.
The other proposal involves a series of revisions in
East King County to Metro routes 209, 214, 922, and 929, plus the
addition of new Route 215 with direct service between North Bend and
Seattle. That open house will be held Wednesday from 6-7:30 p.m. at Fall
City Elementary School, 33314 SE 42nd St., Fall City.
Comments for both proposals will be collected at the meetings. Or,
people can submit feedback online, by phone, or by mail. For more
details, visit Metro Online.
Big honors for Two Metro Transit Police deputies, one
former deputy
King County Sheriff Sue Rahr honored two
Metro
Transit Police (MTP) deputies and one former Metro deputy at a
ceremony Friday, February 22nd at the King County Criminal Justice
Training Center in Burien.
Deputy Tim Shook received the Lifesaver Award for his bravery in
rescuing a missing hiker on November 20, 2006. Shook, along with two
other crew members, spotted the collapsed hiker from their Guardian One
helicopter. The team hovered the helicopter six feet above the Pratt
River in the Cascades, a dangerous but necessary maneuver in order for
team member, Sgt. Sydney Jackson, to jump to a large boulder and get to
the hiker.
Deputy Patrick McCurdy was honored as Deputy of the Year. McCurdy played
a vital role in transferring policing responsibilities for the Downtown
Seattle Transit Tunnel back over to Metro when it reopened in September.
McCurdy’s nomination also noted that he ‘comes to work every day with an
attitude of making a positive difference for Metro, Metro customers, and
members of the Metro Transit Police.’
King County Sheriff Sue Rahr (left) presents Sgt. Jim
Laing with the Medal of Valor.
|
Finally, former MTP deputy Sgt. Jim Laing was given the Medal of Valor,
the highest award given out by the Sheriff’s Office. Laing was off-duty
when he encountered an armed robbery in progress. The victim had already
handed over cash and credit cards to the suspect. Laing drew his weapon
and identified himself as a police officer. After the suspect turned and
pointed his gun, Laing shot the suspect twice mortally wounding him. The
suspect was a convicted felon with an outstanding warrant.
New bus fares starting March 1
King County Metro Transit is reminding customers that bus fares for
adults will increase by 25 cents starting Saturday, March 1.
A two-zone trip taken during peak-commute times will now cost $2.25, a
one-zone trip $1.75, and the off-peak fare will be $1.50. New monthly
passes also reflect the increase.
The Metropolitan King County Council approved the bus fare increase last
year to help maintain Metro’s existing system. It is the first bus fare
increase since 2001. Fuel costs have tripled and operating costs have
risen significantly during those seven years.
The increase is being phased in. On July 1, fares for youth, and
senior/disabled off-peak travel will increase by 25 cents. Also in July,
Access monthly passes increase to $18.
For more information, visit
Metro Online.
A successful quick fix on Newport Way
The Newport Way sinkhole
|
Torrential rains in December left a challenging problem behind on
Newport Way in the Eastgate area for the
King County Road Services
Division.
The storm triggered a 15-foot-deep sinkhole after an old culvert
underneath the busy roadway began crumbling. The culvert was 60 feet
below the road surface that is crisscrossed with numerous underground
utility lines, making it impossible to dig up without extraordinary
effort and expense.
Crews position the slip-liner for replacement.
|
Instead of excavating, county crews inserted a slightly smaller
high-density polyethylene pipe into the failing culvert to serve as a
temporary liner and prevent immediate collapse. This is called
“slip-lining,” and allows the county to make a quick fix while engineers
design a more permanent solution such as a large box culvert or small
bridge.
The Newport Way slip-lining project was completed last week. |
