Metro Transit Offers Reserved Park-Ride Stalls to Carpools

Seattle Times | Mike Lindblom | January 11

http://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/transportation/metro-transit-offers-reserved-park-ride-stalls-to-carpools/

“King County Metro Transit is offering reserved space for people who carpool to catch the bus at six busy park-and-ride stations — Redmond, Issaquah Highlands, South Kirkland, South Renton, Northgate and Eastgate. The program begins Feb. 1 to serve carpools with two or more people who arrive before 8:30 a.m. weekdays. Permits are free, but users must register through Republic Parking Northwest, also reachable via Metro’s ‘Permit Parking’ website. Most lot spaces will continue to be open to all drivers.”

 

Purchase of 73 Electric Buses Gives Boost to Seattle Area’s Goal of Zero-Emissions Transit Fleet

GeekWire | Kurt Schlosser | January 10

http://www.geekwire.com/2017/purchase-73-electric-buses-gives-boost-seattle-areas-goal-zero-emissions-transit-fleet/

“King County Executive Dow Constantine announced on Tuesday that Metro will be purchasing up to 73 all-electric battery buses at a cost of up to $55 million. The initial purchase from Proterra, out of Burlingame, Calif., will be for 20 buses totaling $15.12 million. Eight of those vehicles are scheduled to go into service this year and 12 more in 2019, according to a news release on the King County website…Metro is committed to testing new technology in its effort to transition to a fleet of all clean-energy vehicles.”

 

U.S. Dept. of Transportation Taps UW to Help Solve Traffic Problems of the Future

GeekWire | Monica Nickelsburg | January 9

http://www.geekwire.com/2017/u-s-dept-transportation-taps-uw-help-solve-traffic-problems-future/

“Today, the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) named the University of Washington one of 18 ‘Beyond Traffic Innovation Centers’ across the country that will help tackle transportation challenges over the next 30 years. UW will represent the Cascadia/Pacific Northwest ‘megaregion,’ studying transportation issues and bringing together industry leaders to create innovative solutions. USDOT has spent the past two years studying the current state of transportation and challenges the nation will face on the road ahead. Today, the federal agency is releasing a report, titled Beyond Traffic 2045, that summarizes those findings.”

 

Job Outlook 2017: Seattle Still ‘One of the Hottest Markets in the Country’’

Seattle Times | Maggie Mertens | January 6

http://www.seattletimes.com/nwshowcase/careers/job-outlook-2017-seattle-still-one-of-the-hottest-markets-in-the-country/

“There’s more good news in store for local job seekers in 2017. The job sectors expecting the most growth in the upcoming year are those that traditionally signal a healthy overall economy, like professional and business services and computer and mathematical occupations.

This isn’t too surprising coming out of 2016, a year with big job growth overall. Washington state showed an estimated 2.9 percent growth in number of jobs last year, according to the state’s Ecoomic and Revenue Forecast Council (ERFC).”