|
Last stop on a great run for Metro's general manager
 After 31 years in the ‘driver's seat,' King County Metro Transit General Manager Rick Walsh is retiring. His retirement marks the departure of someone who participated in and oversaw much of the coming of age of Metro Transit.
Walsh, 54, started out as a bus driver upon his graduation from the University of Washington in 1973 – the same year that Metro Transit was created. Within two years, he was promoted to work in transit planning, and in 1981 was promoted again to supervisor of operations and transit planning.
Walsh began expanding his reputation as an innovator in 1986, when he became manager of service planning and market development for the transit system. Popular programs that Walsh helped develop are the UPass for University of Washington students, staff and faculty, and the Boeing Employee Transportation program. Both programs earned national recognition for transportation innovation.
Walsh became Metro's deputy transit director in 1989, as the agency was poised for major changes. Among the highlights of Walsh's tenure in that position was the construction and startup of the Downtown Seattle Transit Tunnel – at that time the biggest transit project in King County history. He also led the efforts to adapt transit services to changes in population and travel patterns, by increasing service between multiple hubs and building more transit centers in suburban areas of King County.
Rick Walsh (right) was instrumental in the bus tunnel construction
Next up, was the merger of King County and Metro Transit in 1996, which brought Walsh to his current position as general manager. In this role, he was responsible for a $405 million annual operating budget, an $800 million capital program, 4,500 employees, and a fleet of 1,300 buses, 700 vanpool vans, and 260 paratransit vehicles.
Walsh's individual accomplishments are too numerous to mention, but during his years at Metro he:
• Expanded bus service by 40 percent in the past 20 years;
• Grew the number of operating vanpools by 27 percent to create the largest publicly owned and operated vanpool service in the nation;
• Increased paratransit service for the disabled and frail elderly by 100 percent in a three-year period starting in the late 1990s;
• Developed and implemented several online services that vastly increased customers' access to transit information;
• Replaced and modernized the entire transit fleet since 1996;
• Increased employer-based pass programs to more than 500 accounts; and
• Implemented Metro's electronic fare collection system, laying the foundation for the upcoming integrated fare system involving seven different transportation agencies in the Puget Sound region.
King County Department of Transportation Director Harold Taniguchi praised Walsh for his numerous contributions to the agency.
“Under Rick's direction, King County Metro Transit has grown into one of the largest and best-managed transit systems in the nation,” said Taniguchi. “He will be remembered as a fair and caring manager, who rose up through the ranks and directed the growth and modernization of one of the Northwest's great regional success stories.”
Taniguchi is currently conducting a national search for Walsh's replacement.
Top
Final phase of South 277th underway
King County has begun work to complete the final segment of improvements for South 277th Street, near the interchange with State Route 167 on the Kent-Auburn border. The project stretches from West Valley Highway to 72nd Avenue South.
The King County Road Services Division project involves widening South 277th to four lanes, with left-turn only and right-turn only lanes at every intersection, and raising the roadway to prevent serious flooding. This portion of the corridor carries up to 12,900 vehicles per day. The upgrades will increase capacity, so that 277th can safely carry the 24,000-plus vehicles expected to use it daily by 2020.
There are no plans for complete road closures. One lane of 277th in each direction will be kept open at all times, but motorists should expect delays due to construction activity. The project has an estimated $17 million total budget, and construction is expected to last through October 2005.
Top
Roadwork Ahead
Here is a list of other King County Department of Transportation projects that may disrupt traffic and travel this week:
 Northeast 124 th Street, north of Redmond–
Work continues through October 2004 on this project between Willows Road and State Route 202.
124 th Avenue NE, in Kingsgate - Clearing has begun for street improvements along 124 th Avenue Northeast between Northeast 132 nd Street and Northeast 146 th Place. Utility relocation is also underway..
Top
Traffic studied in Fall City
At the request of the Fall City Community Association, the King County Road Services Division Traffic Engineering section recently conducted a crosswalk observation study at Preston Fall City Road south of State Route 202.
During the study, which normally lasts about a week, pedestrian and vehicle movements are videotaped and later analyzed to see if pedestrian improvements are needed. Traffic Engineering completes several of these studies each year.
Metro makes it easy to get to Home Show
Riding regularly scheduled Metro Transit service is a great way to avoid traffic congestion and the cost of parking when you visit the Home Show at the Seahawks Stadium Exhibition Center between Feb. 14-22. But Metro will also be offering special shuttles on the weekends from three locations.
The free shuttles will run Feb. 14, 15, 16, 21 and 22 from the South Bellevue, South Renton and the Northgate park-and-ride lots. For more information on both regular and special service, visit Metro Online.
Top
Plan ahead for President's Day transit travel
Holiday schedules will be a bit different for Metro Transit in 2004, beginning with President's Day on Monday, Feb. 16.
For this holiday, most routes will be on a Sunday schedule, but there could be supplemental service on some routes. Passengers should be sure to check the specific schedule for their route ahead of President's Day and each holiday in 2004. Customers need to look for the letter "H" next to the times listed on the weekday portion of their timetables.
Rainier Valley/Broaway bus routes up for review
The deadline for commenting on proposed changes for bus routes along the Rainier Valley-Broadway corridor is this Thursday, Feb. 12.
Metro is looking at revamping the transit network for Rainier Valley, Seward Park, North Beacon Hill, First Hill, and Capitol Hill's Broadway district involving routes 7, 9, 39, 60 and 124. The goal is to make the routes in that area more efficient, and to add service in high-demand corridors.
The proposed changes would not take place until September 2004. There are several public meetings underway, and the questionnaire can also be filled out online.
The deadline for all comments is Thursday, Feb. 12.
Top
|
|
|
|
|
DOT Dash