December 24th Community Update
King County, Washington sent this bulletin at 12/24/2025 05:00 PM PST
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News from and about King County… from health updates to community news affecting our daily lives. Dear Friends: Today’s update includes news about the arrival of 1 Line and the opening of the Federal Way Downtown Station, new Cabinet and leadership appointments by the King County Executive, as well as updates on transit, road conditions, flood recovery, and more.
Washington Trivia This Seattle attorney and state legislator vigorously advocated for a flood control initiative that has benefited valley farmers and fostered economic growth in both King and Pierce counties. Who was he, and what was this flood control project? (Answer is at the bottom) When I said hell would freeze over before we would get light rail to South King County, I was appointed to the Sound Transit Board to make it happen. December 6 was one of my most satisfying (and coldest) days in government! These three new Link Light Rail Stations, located at Kent Des Moines, Star Lake, and Federal Way Downtown, provide an opportunity to connect riders from Lynnwood to Federal Way. The 1 Line travels seven days a week, with trains running every 8-15 minutes, depending on the time of the day. Service is available from 5 a.m. to midnight Monday through Saturday and from 6 a.m. to midnight on Sundays and holidays. Discover South King Link | How to ride | Fares and how to pay | Ways to Save
King County Executive Announces Cabinet and Senior Leadership Appointments King County Executive Girmay Zahilay recently announced his full Cabinet and new senior leadership team members who will serve in the Executive Office. Eight cabinet departments will have leaders reappointed, while three will be led by current county leaders in an interim capacity as leadership recruitment processes are launched. Read more here to see the full list of his Cabinet members. Transit Updates King County Metro and Regional Transit Agencies Celebrate New Year’s Eve with Free Fares Metro will join other regional transit agencies to provide free rides this New Year’s Eve, December 31. Riders can travel without paying fares on King County Metro, Sound Transit, Community Transit, Everett Transit, Pierce Transit and the Seattle Streetcar as part of their holiday celebrations. Read more here. New Year’s Eve Service King County Metro: Buses will operate on their weekday schedule and be fare-free from 3 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 31 (New Year’s Eve), through 3 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 1. King County Water Taxi: The water taxi will operate fare-free on Dec. 31. The Vashon and West Seattle routes will be out of service on Jan. 1 holiday. Sound Transit: Link light rail and Sound Transit Express buses are fare-free from 3 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 31, to 3 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 1. Sound Transit will operate extended 1 Line Link light rail service on New Year’s Eve, with 15-minute, late-night service. For more information go to the Sound Transit website. Community Transit: All Community Transit buses will operate on regular weekday schedules. All services are fare-free from 4 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 31 through 4 a.m. Thursday, Jan.1. Please check schedules before the holiday as route times vary. Everett Transit: Will operate fare-free on its regular weekday schedule. Pierce Transit: Pierce Transit services will operate on a weekday schedule on New Year’s Eve. Rides on Pierce Transit buses, SHUTTLE paratransit, and Runner will be fare-free all day through the close of service. Check the transit routes and holiday service for more information. Seattle Streetcar: Both streetcars will operate fare-free on New Year’s Eve with weekday service hours. There will be no extended service on the South Lake Union Streetcar to accommodate fireworks viewing downtown.
King County Flood Updates Flood Recovery Visit kingcounty.gov/flood-recovery for a roundup of resources from across King County to help you respond to and recover from the extensive December 2025 flooding in our region. Residential Damage Reporting | Business Damage Reporting Important information from Public Health - Seattle and King County In flooded buildings, mold and other hazards can set in quickly. Fact sheets, printable flyers, and other resources to help you stay safe are available in many languages on the Public Health - Seattle & King County website. Flood Patrol Behind-the-Scenes King County’s Flood Patrol provides real-time, on-the-ground monitoring of levees that make the regional emergency response more effective. Watch this video to see how King County’s on-the-ground Flood Patrol is helping reinforce levees before they break and mobilize rapid repairs if they breach. Multi-Benefit Approach to Floodplain Restoration Reduces Flood Risks Major floodplain restoration projects completed in recent years by the King County Department of Natural Resources and Parks have reduced flood risks along the Green, Cedar, and Snoqualmie rivers, getting people out of harm’s way long before the current flooding began earlier this month. A multi-benefit approach has enhanced safety for people and infrastructure while improving habitats for fish and wildlife. Partnerships with the King County Flood Control District focus on restoring natural systems to manage floodwaters and providing home buyouts for residents in flood-prone areas. This strategy complements King County’s emergency response efforts, including the Flood Patrol and Flood Warning Center, active since December 8. Read more here. Sandbags Sandbags are available for filling for free at several locations in King County. For more information, visit kingcounty.gov/sandbags or call 206-477-4812. Storm Recovery in Unincorporated King County In many parts of unincorporated King County, we are beginning to turn a corner as this storm moves out of the region. While some roads may reopen soon, others will take much longer to safely restore. This storm impacted roads and infrastructure across unincorporated King County, and recovery will take time. Conditions may still change rapidly. Safety Reminders
Need to Report a Hazard? Receive important updates
With South King County elected officials at the December “Good Eggs” Breakfast meeting with King County Flood Control District Director Michelle Clark, who shared an update on the recent flood events affecting King County.
It’s been great working with committed Mayors Dana Ralph (Kent), Nancy Backus (Auburn), King County Flood Control District Director Michelle Clark, and new King County Councilmember Steffanie Fain (District 5), who have worked diligently to ensure that our shared constituents remain safe and well-informed. King County Solid Waste: Free Storm Debris Drop-off Locations King County Solid Waste offers free weekend storm debris drop off at three locations through January 11 (December 27-28 | January 3-4 | January 10-11). Free disposal is only for self-haul customers. Third-party haulers are excluded from the free disposal policy and must pay standard fees. For a full list of accepted items at each stations, view our Guide to King County Recycling and Transfer Facilities.
Bow Lake Recycling and Transfer Station Shoreline Recycling and Transfer Station Enumclaw Recycling and Transfer Station Items NOT ACCEPTED at King County facilities | Wait times for all stations For questions about your curbside garbage and recycling collection, please reach out to your hauling provider directly: WM: pnwrsservices@wm.com or 1-800-592-9995 (M-F, 7 a.m. - 7 p.m.) Republic Services: For residential, call 206-682-9730 (M-F, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.). For commercial, call 206-682-3037 for North King County and 253-872-7220 for South King County Recology: seattle@recology.com or 206-684-3000 for residential and multi-family or 206-250-7500 for commercial. Permitting Guidance for Storm Impacts The King County Permitting Division put together information on how to apply for a permit to fix property damaged by storm, fire, earthquake, or other natural disaster. Watch this YouTube video or visit the King County Local Blog for more information. Get Ready: Long-term I-5 Impacts Affecting Commute and Personal Trips Repair and resurfacing of the northbound lanes of the Ship Canal Bridge will continue next year. Revive I-5 construction will have long-term impact on travel. That means commuters will need to find long-term solutions to how they travel to and through Seattle. During each lane closure or reduction, the express lanes will run northbound only, 24 hours a day. Express lanes are open to all. Be sure to observe all height restrictions and HOV-only signed ramps. 2026 dates to know:
* Full northbound I-5 closures extend from I-90 to NE 45th St ** Two-lane reductions extend from SR 520 to NE 45th St
To sign up for timely alerts, visit WSDOT | King County Roads | King County Metro | SEA Airport | Snow and Ice | Sound Transit | Federal Way | Auburn | Kent | Snow and Ice | Be Flood Ready Non-Profit Corner
Did you ever wonder where words and phrases originated from? A busman's holiday Meaning: A vacation or recreation that mimics one's work activities. Origin: The term "busman's holiday" originated in late 19th-century Britain, describing a bus driver, known as a "busman," who would spend their day off taking a leisurely ride on a bus, thus engaging in an activity similar to their regular job. Today, the phrase encompasses anyone who participates in work-related activities during their leisure time, such as a chef attending a cooking class while on vacation. The expression first appeared in print around 1893 and was rooted in the popular and inexpensive pastimes of riding horse-drawn omnibuses for enjoyment. Auld lang syne Meaning: Old long since or times long past. Origin: “Auld Lang Syne” originated as a Scottish poem, meaning “old times” or “long friendship,” and was first documented between 1660 and 1680. Robert Burns adapted it in 1788, although its true origins remain unclear. The song's themes of reflection align with New Year’s Eve, contributing to its popularity in American celebrations. Mass media, particularly Guy Lombardo's New Year’s Eve broadcasts from 1929 to 1976, played a significant role in popularizing the song, earning Lombardo the title “Mr. New Year’s Eve.” Television helped bring this 18th-century Scottish tune to modern audiences.
Local Services Contact Information Code Enforcement Links: Auburn | Algona | Federal Way | Kent | Pacific | Unincorporated
I had the honor of being sworn into office by former King County Superior Court Presiding Judge Patrick Oishi on December 9.
With best wishes,
Washington Trivia Answer: Howard A. Hanson was an early advocate for flood control in the valley, serving as a State Legislator in 1907 and later as Chief Civil Deputy Prosecuting Attorney for King County. In the late 1920s, he chaired a rivers and harbors sub-committee for the Seattle Chamber of Commerce. He believed flood control would benefit valley farmers and enhance economic development in King and Pierce counties, promoting the project as a regional initiative. Post-World War II, Hanson organized efforts that secured $2 million from the State and King County. He passed away on November 4, 1957, before seeing the project completed, but in 1958, the dam was renamed Howard A. Hanson Dam in his honor. In the 1850s, settlers found fertile land and strategic access to resources, but faced flooding from rivers like the White and Green, especially during spring. The valley, once known for hop farming, shifted to dairy and berry farming after an aphid infestation in 1890. Farmers dealt with annual flooding and sometimes used illegal methods to manage logjams. In 1926, the Associated Improvement Clubs formed to tackle flood control, seeking federal assistance. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers proposed a water-storage site in 1936, but opposition arose. After delays from World War II, Congress approved a storage dam at Eagle Gorge in 1950. Groundbreaking for the Howard A. Hanson Dam occurred on February 3, 1959, following railway relocations. The project involved constructing a 235-foot high dam, which successfully prevented a flood on Christmas Day in 1961 and was dedicated on May 12, 1962.
Photo source: HistoryLink.org (Courtesy U.S. Army Corps of Engineer)
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