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News from King County Executive Dow Constantine
January 2016 • Issue 22
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 Executive Constantine announced the U-Link light rail line opens March 19. Photo by Capitol Hill Times.
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University Link light rail opens March 19 ahead of schedule, under budget
Sound Transit continues to deliver major projects on time and under budget, with Executive Constantine, who is also Chair of the Sound Transit Board, announcing the new University Link light-rail service starts March 19.
"University Link will change forever how we move around Seattle," said Executive Constantine. "By delivering new light-rail service on time and under budget, we're providing riders with a fast, reliable option to get to Capitol Hill and Husky Stadium in minutes, bypassing some of the worst traffic in the region."
Sound Transit's 3.1-mile extension of the current light rail line that opened in 2009 includes stations on Capitol Hill and at the University of Washington near Husky Stadium. The trip from downtown Seattle to UW will take eight minutes.
Sound Transit has coordinated the University Link opening with King County Metro Transit, which is planning a major restructure of bus routes in Northeast Seattle to serve the new UW station and improve connections.
Earlier this month, the Executive introduced new Sound Transit CEO Peter Rogoff, who previously served as director of the Federal Transit Administration and as Undersecretary for Policy at the U.S. Department of Transportation. The plan for 2016 includes putting an initiative on the ballot in November to expand regional light-rail service to connect Seattle, Everett, Tacoma, Redmond, Ballard, and West Seattle.
Learn more about University Link:
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Generating new ideas to fund King County bridges and roads
King County's Bridges and Roads Task Force says unincorporated area residents can't be asked to fund maintenance and repair of County roads alone. The task force also calls for a statewide solution to address a funding gap of $250 to $400 million a year.
The Executive's task force recommended a host of reforms and funding principles for addressing the rapidly deteriorating network of bridges and roads in unincorporated King County. Nearly three decades of annexations, declines in gas tax revenues, and the effects of voter initiatives have led to chronic underfunding of county roads across the state.
"Providing safe and reliable roads is a top priority, and in continued partnership with the cities we will again look to the Legislature for solutions that can work for the 21st century," said Executive Constantine. "These recommendations reinforce the urgency of the need, and provide new ideas for keeping communities connected."
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Work begins to expand popular Eastside Rail Corridor
Executive Constantine pulled the first railroad spike of the County's portion of the Eastside Rail Corridor, signaling the start of new work to expand our world-class trail system.
The Exec was joined by King County Councilmembers Claudia Balducci and Rod Dembowski, along with trail, cycling, and rail advocates, and Eastside business leaders. Once complete, the 20-mile corridor will increase transportation options and recreational opportunities across East and South King County.
"Removing the first railroad spikes is an important milestone as we expand our word-class regional trail system," said the Exec. "We're knitting together the growing communities in East and South King County and offering new options for transportation and recreation."
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One-stop center for health care opening in North Seattle
A transformative new health care center in North Seattle will expand access and introduce a bold model for patient-centered care to the Puget Sound region.
The Meridian Center for Health offers an integrated experience for people who have multiple health or social service needs, which is important for those who have financial, insurance, language, transportation, health, or other barriers to overcome. The facility's partners are Neighborcare Health, Public Health - Seattle & King County, and Valley Cities---all of which have embraced a "no wrong door" approach to customer service.
"We're transforming the way we deliver health services by focusing together on the individual needs of each client," said Executive Constantine. "By having providers from partner organizations working together to customize services, we're better able to deliver the best outcomes."
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Executive Constantine in the news
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