Bike Share Expo explores the possibilities of other kinds of transportation rentals

Bike sharing today has hit the streets in several European cities such as Paris, Barcelona, and Brussels, and now has emerged in North American cities like Montreal and Washington, D.C. It offers people the ability to rent bikes from self-serve stations throughout a city and return the bikes at any station. Currently in Paris, there are more than 200,000 bike trips per day on 24,000 rental bikes.

There is a lot of interest in bringing similar programs to the West Coast, and several systems are being explored by grass-roots groups in San Francisco, Portland, and now the greater Seattle area.

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Executive Triplett proposes fixes for Metro Transit budget deficit

In a move that preserves critical transit services for riders across King County, Executive Kurt Triplett today proposed a multi-year solution to fixing Metro Transit’s budget deficit, currently projected at $500 million over the next four years.

This comprehensive financial plan addresses the transit budget deficit over a 4-year period and saves critical existing Metro Transit service by combining the use of reserves with fare increases, deferred expansion, efficiencies and service reductions. This approach preserves the bulk of the region’s bus service by maintaining nearly all existing routes and reducing service proportionally across the entire system, thus sharing the burden and avoiding an unproductive regional fight over service impacts. The proposed solution also protects King County’s existing investment in Metro Transit while continuing to provide reliable, safe and affordable public transportation.

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Keeping crews and customers cool when the temperatures soar

Crews working on the Union Hill Road culvert replacement project had some warm working conditions last week.

Until that time arrives, King County Department of Transportation crews and staff are taking care to keep themselves and customers safe in the heat.

For Metro Transit, that means making sure bus drivers and supervisors are aware of the signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke both in themselves and their passengers.

Only about one-third of Metro buses are air conditioned, and even the buses with AC warm up quickly when they are crowded and doors are opening frequently. Metro began buying air conditioned buses in 2000. Since that time, it has purchased 408 new buses with air conditioning and it’s now a standard feature ordered with all new buses. When you’re on the bus in hot weather, the best way for the air conditioning to be effective is to leave the windows closed.

If your bus is not air conditioned, then do open the side windows. There is a simple latch at the top of each window that allows the windows to tilt open. Multiple windows open on either side of the bus, and from front to back, to provide air circulation.

Bus drivers are asked to watch their passengers for signs of overheating, and to call for medical attention when necessary. They are also cautioned to take care of themselves by always carrying a water bottle onboard the bus, and taking advantage of the dashboard fan and vent while driving, along with cooling down on rest breaks.

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Blues bring big week to Boeing Field

The Blue Angels are a staple of the Seafair air show.

But, the split-second timing and attention to detail are not just limited to the skies. Similar logistics are happening on the ground at King County International Airport (KCIA) at Boeing Field, where the Blues are headquartered for their annual Seafair visit.

“This is a busy time for us each year,” KCIA Operations Manager Chris Hall. “Just hosting the Blue Angels for their practices and performances adds more than 100 takeoffs and landings in a single week at Boeing Field.”

Hall said in addition to the Blue Angels, other performers in the annual air show also increase traffic at Boeing Field during Seafair Week. This year, many civilian aviation performers have opted to participate in a show in Wisconsin, so the Key Bank Air Show at Seafair will feature more military planes – some of which are locally stationed at either McChord Air Force Base or NAS Whidbey.

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Photo of the week A Metro bus passes by a light rail train car. RoadWatch News from KCDOT's Road Services Division Kelly Road Northeast – The county is replacing a culvert in the 15800 block of Kelly Road Northeast near Duvall, and the road has been open during construction with some lane restrictions. But on Wednesday and Thursday, Aug. 12 and 13, it will be completely closed in that area from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. while a large crane is used to place the new box culvert. Motorists can detour via Northeast Cherry Valley Road, State Route 203, and Northeast Big Rock Road. Preston-Fall City Road – Traffic is restricted to one lane on the Preston-Fall City Road approximately two miles south of Fall City through mid August for a culvert replacement project. Union Hill Road – The county has closed Union Hill Road Northeast east of Redmond for a culvert replacement. The road will be closed through August between 208th Avenue Northeast and 196th Avenue Northeast. 140th Place Northeast – The county is replacing a culvert on 140th Place Northeast near Woodinville. The road will remain open, but there will be intermittent lane closures near 148th Avenue Northeast. Southeast 244th Street – The county is replacing a bridge west of Covington and has closed Southeast 244th Street near 148th Avenue Southeast until mid September. 212th Avenue Northeast – East of Woodinville, 212th Avenue Northeast is closed south of the intersection with Woodinville-Duvall Road through the end of August while the county makes major improvements to the intersection. 172nd Avenue Southeast – The county is replacing a bridge north of Covington that has closed 172nd Avenue Southeast near Southeast 240th Street until mid September. Southeast 416th Street – Crews are replacing an aging bridge across Newaukum Creek, which has closed Southeast 416th Street near Enumclaw at 270th Avenue Southeast until September. View updated King County road closures and conditions online. Check out your commute . . . Motorists can log onto the King County Road Services Division's My Commute Web site and view video images of traffic conditions in unincorporated areas. MyCommute traffic cameras		In other news... Executive Triplett unveils Metro Transit financial plan Road safety projects begin near Redmond, Auburn REMINDER: North Bend road discussion this week Community invited to discuss Clough Creek project Bike Share Expo coming to Seattle & Redmond TRAFFIC ALERT: Special events keep on coming Transportation tips for air show and hydro races this weekend TRAFFIC ALERT: Mariners day game on Wednesday Ineke DeBoer named Operator of the Year Federal stimulus funding to deliver more buses for Metro      Cyc-ology 101: The Major Taylor Project  Watch the video Check out the rest of our current videos on YouTube.
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