Celebrate New Year’s Eve with free rides on King County Metro
King County Metro will usher in 2019 with free rides for all customers starting at 7 p.m. on New Year’s Eve. People celebrating or working late will also be able to ride the Seattle Streetcar for free, and Sound Transit Link light rail will be extending service to 2 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 1. Metro bus routes will operate on Sunday service schedules Dec. 25 and Jan. 1. Many Metro routes provide frequent service on Sundays and holidays.

Harborview Hall opening to welcome up to 100 adults and their pets to warm, safe shelter on First Hill
King County is opening the first floor of the vacant Harborview Hall building on Seattle’s First Hill to create shelter for up to 100 men and women experiencing homelessness. Metro and Solid Ground are increasing the capacity of the Seattle Circulator bus to help people who need transportation to and from the shelter to the downtown area and bus tickets will be available to help others get to work or appointments.

A new path forward: moving towards a regional structure and approach to tackle homelessness
Following a series of recommendations to unify the region’s approach to homelessness, King County Executive Dow Constantine, Mayor Jenny A. Durkan and other regional leaders outlined their support for a new unified entity that would set policy and fund solutions to make homelessness rare, brief, and one time.

Emergency and long-range actions to ensure the survival of native kokanee salmon
Under the direction of Executive Dow Constantine, King County is partnering with tribes, cities, state and federal agencies, and property owners on both emergency and long-range actions to ensure the survival of the native kokanee salmon after a sudden, alarming decline in returning spawners.

Executive Constantine on Affordable Care Act ruling: 'This is outrageous and dangerous'
King County Executive Dow Constantine issued the following statement in response to a Texas federal judge's ruling on the Affordable Care Act.

Getting ready for viaduct closure: More transit options, including on-demand service to Water Taxi sailings
Starting Dec. 17, West Seattle commuters will be able to use a new mobile app offering on-demand rides to and from King County Metro bus routes and Water Taxi sailings. The Ride2 Transit app is part of a package of new services including additional Water Taxi sailings, shuttles, and parking options during the Viaduct closure.

Executive Constantine on the passing of SeaTac Councilmember Amina Ahmed
King County Executive Dow Constantine released the following statement on the passing of SeaTac Councilmember Amina Ahmed.

Executive Constantine outlines King County’s success reducing health care costs at U.S. Senate hearing
King County Executive Dow Constantine testified before the full U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions, chaired by Sen. Lemar Alexander, R-Tenn. Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., who serves as Ranking Member of the committee, invited Executive Constantine to the hearing.

10,000 round trips: Hikers embrace Trailhead Direct in its first full season
Passengers boarded Trailhead Direct for more than 10,000 roundtrips in the first season of the two-year pilot project. The transit-to-trails service made it possible for more hikers to explore King County’s mountain forests without having to drive or park, and it reduced dangerous overcrowding at popular trailheads.

King County Metro will test long-range battery-powered buses that can travel more than 140 miles on a single charge
King County Metro will test battery-powered buses on longer routes that include steep hills, the next step for an agency that is considered a national leader in the transition to zero-emission transit.

Executive Constantine releases statement on King County Council approval of 2019-2020 budget
King County Executive Dow Constantine released the following statement on the biennial $11.6 billion King County budget.

Executive Constantine promotes Obamacare in shortest enrollment period ever
King County Executive Dow Constantine kicked off this year’s Affordable Care Act enrollment period, which begins on Nov. 1 for six weeks – the shortest since the health insurance exchanges launched in 2013.

Accelerating King County's work to remove barriers for returning salmon
A new position created by Executive Dow Constantine will coordinate the work King County is doing with Tribes, cities, state agencies, and other partners to remove barriers that prevent salmon from migrating to their historic habitat.

First- and last-mile solutions: King County Metro to launch ride-hailing apps for on-demand shuttle service to transit
King County Metro will launch a pilot project that offers on-demand shuttle service to and from transit hubs throughout the region using mobile apps. The first app will be activated Oct. 23 with service to and from the Eastgate Park-and-Ride in Bellevue.

Honoring those who protect, restore, and interpret the places that tell our story: Executive Constantine announces 2018 John D. Spellman Award winners
Executive Dow Constantine honored the recipients of this year’s John D. Spellman Awards for historic preservation at a ceremony hosted in Auburn.

Executive Constantine on Paul Allen: As a region, we are diminished by his passing, but we are inspired by his legacy to discover our own passions, and to share them with the world around us
King County Executive Dow Constantine today issued the following statement in response to the passing of Paul Allen.

Coming in from the cold: Executive Constantine announces package of emergency housing strategies in time for winter
King County Executive Dow Constantine announced a series of actions to provide housing and services for the most vulnerable. A total of between 285-310 new beds would be available by the end of the year, along with an additional day center and increased street outreach.

Executive Constantine appoints Leo Flor to serve as the director of King County Department of Community and Human Services
King County Executive Dow Constantine appointed Leo Flor to his Cabinet as the director of the Department of Community and Human Services. Flor, who is a member of the department’s management team, developed and led Executive Constantine’s plan to renew and expand the voter-approved Veterans, Seniors and Human Services levy.

VIDEO: 'It can save lives': Creating safe, welcoming spaces that keep young people connected and ready to thrive
A new coffeehouse operated by a local nonprofit in North Bend is an example of how King County is partnering with communities to create safe, inclusive spaces that keep young people connected.

Executive Constantine announces new process for police inquests
King County Executive Dow Constantine signed an Executive Order that made significant reforms to inquests convened after officer-involved deaths. The new inquest process is expected to be up and running by the end of first quarter 2019.