Super helpful, thank you for sharing this experience. I will share it with the team @sound-transit.bsky.social for service improvement!

Sound Transit links Seattle and the Eastside: Opening day on the Crosslake Connection For more than 60 years, regional leaders dreamed of sending trains across Lake Washington. Today, that dream finally pulled into the station.

“Everyone was cheering when we were going over the bridge,” said Lili Luna Cruz, who was visiting from Wenatchee. “And then someone shouted ‘When I say light, you say rail,’ and everyone was chanting ‘Light! Rail! Light! Rail!’”

Mayor Wilson and King County CM Balducci with a group of neighbors crossing around a car stopped on the crosswalk.

Ahead of the most important Link extension opening yet, @mayorofseattle.bsky.social, @kccclaudia.bsky.social, and many neighbors spent the morning dodging cars on the I-90 ramps this morning. We can and must build a safer environment for everyone, especially next to train stations.

Were you at the Bellevue Brewing Co?

TCC Light Rail Town Halls BY TRANSPORTATION CHOICES COALITION As many of you all learned last week, Sound Transit is facing significant cost projections for its Sound Transit 3 projects. Over the next few months, the Sound …

New Post: TCC Light Rail Town Halls

I think it's going to be absolutely game changing for people.

#CrossLakeConnection #EastLink #LightRail #SoundTransit

A powerful thinker and speaker, Rep Jordan’s words ring true today: “More is required of public officials than slogans and handshakes and press releases. More is required. We must hold ourselves strictly accountable. We must provide the people with a vision of the future.”

Spent an inspirational Sunday afternoon learning about the remarkable Barbara Jordan - the first black woman elected to congress from the South, who brought a fierce independence and intellectual rigor along with an unshakeable commitment to justice. Stream for free @ pbs.org.

Please come if you have an interest in Eastside transit - we need to hear from you now!

For Transit Operator Appreciation Day - took a 550 to/from Seattle, 594 to Tacoma for the @sound-transit.bsky.social Board Retreat & a Sounder back north - sharing the ride with transit advocates like Noah from @seattletru.bsky.social and thanking operators and transit workers all along the way.

An image showing the King County Council Chambers as the council deliberated on Ordinance 2026-0048 relating to applications for the establishment of new or expansion of existing detention facilities as primary or accessory uses.

It's an emergency.

Read about the new ordinance that implements an emergency one-year moratorium that immediately blocks acceptance of permits for new or expanded detention facilities in unincorporated King County and more in my latest update >>> content.govdelivery.com/accounts/WAK...

Yesterday, the King County Council established a one-year moratorium on detention‑facility permits to protect and support immigrant residents and communities.

A photo of King County Roads staff with King County Councilmember Claudia Balducci and King County Council Chair Sarah Perry learning about the damages to the Middle Fork Snoqualmie Road.

A photo of the Baring Bridge, which was damaged in the December 2025 floods. Learn more about the bridge replacement here: https://kingcounty.gov/en/dept/local-services/transit-transportation-roads/roads-and-bridges/projects-and-programs/baring-bridge

Roads and bridges are vital to King County.

Join our 2/25 KC Transportation District meeting to learn about the issues and funding solutions for roads, bridges, and public transit in King County. Read my latest update here >>> content.govdelivery.com/accounts/WAK...

Get ready — I‑90 light rail connects our region on March 28!

An image of the first of two tables showing trip cancellations by route in 2024.

An image of the second of two tables showing trip cancellations by route in 2024.

The routes with the most cancellations (212, 311, 21X, 218, 257, 111) were all peak‑only commuter routes to Downtown Seattle — the toughest times of day to operate.

Here’s hoping this trend toward better reliability continues. And if it doesn’t, we now have the tools to track it. 4/4

A table that shows annual trip cancellations in 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024. Metro delivered 98.89% of scheduled trips in 2024 — about 11,375 of the 11,500 weekday trips — up from 96% in 2023.

Today at the Council’s Transportation Committee, we got an update on how Metro is doing.

Good news: Metro delivered 98.89% of scheduled trips in 2024 — about 11,375 of the 11,500 weekday trips. That’s up from 96% in 2023. 3/4

A photo of the Route 5 operating in bad weather

A ghost bus is a trip that never leaves the base. Riders are left standing in the rain or the dark, wondering where their bus went. This new reporting asks Metro to be more transparent, improve real‑time rider info, and use cancellation data to guide future service planning. 2/4

An image of a spooky, just for fun ghost bus, not the real life trip cancellation kind that Councilmember Balducci’s legislation is working to track.

Ever waited for a bus that never showed up? Those are “ghost buses” — unplanned trip cancellations — and thanks to legislation Councilmember Balducci sponsored in 2025, King County Metro now has to report on them. We now have the initial results of that first reporting. 1/4

As the District 6 councilmember on the King County Council, I need to know what’s important to you. Please consider taking a short survey to share your priorities and your ideas about how we can work together to make King County a safe, welcoming place for all.

bit.ly/D6-survey-26

The King County Council celebrated Korean American Day, marking 123 years of history and contributions since Korean immigrants arrived in 1903. With over 45,000 Korean Americans in the county, their cultural, civic, and economic influence is significant.

I’m proud to honor this rich heritage.

Now hiring: King County Metro recruiting part-time transit operators as bus service increases King County Metro launched a new hiring push today as the agency seeks part-time transit operators to provide bus service and support increasing service levels. The job posting is available online …

King County Metro is seeking part-time bus drivers as transit services expand. Discover more >>>

The King County Council honored Dwight Dively this week for his years of service to the county, bringing a nationally-respected reputation for fiscal leadership, budget reform, and long-term financial planning. As he heads to the City of Seattle for his next chapter, we wish him the very best ahead.

A group photo at Mercer Island Station.

This final segment completes a generational investment and reflects years of bold action and vision. We’re working to confirm a spring opening date and will share it as soon as it’s set. Stay tuned!!! 6/6 🎉🥳🎈

A photo of people receiving a safety briefing prior to boarding light rail at Mercer Island Station.

After several weeks of simulated service we’ll open across the lake, bringing Judkins Park and Mercer Island stations online and tripling the 2 Line from ~10 miles to over 30 miles. 5/6

A photo of King County Metro Interim General Manager Ernest Kandilige, Vice Chair Claudia Balducci, and Federal Transit Administration Region 10 Regional Administrator Susan Fletcher riding light rail across the I-90 floating bridge.

✅ Riders in the central part of the system can expect 4‑minute headways at peak times, improving frequency and convenience.

✅ This will deliver a major, lasting increase in capacity and reliability for travel between Seattle and Snohomish County. 4/6

A map showing the open and almost-open segments of the 2 Line.

Next month Sound Transit will begin simulated service across the bridge. During this phase they'll run trains as if in regular service to validate operations and systems.

✅ During simulated service ST intends to welcome passengers on trains between International District/Chinatown and Lynnwood. 3/6

Sound Transit Vice Chair Balducci about to cross the I-90 floating bridge on a light rail vehicle!

Vice Chair Balducci rode the bridge just before the holidays with partners from WSDOT, Metro, Sound Transit, and the Federal Transit Administration. The ride was smooth and truly exciting. 2/6

A picture of a two car light rail train crossing the I-90 bridge in the daytime and it's raining.

Today at the @sound-transit.bsky.social System Expansion Committee, Board Vice Chair Claudia Balducci announced the Crosslake Connection — the 2 Line across Lake Washington and the I‑90 floating bridge — has entered pre‑revenue operations. Test trains are running daily. 1/6

Today, this longtime Seattle-area resident and Jeopardy! legend visited the King County Council to receive a proclamation honoring honoring his service to the community.

Who is Ken Jennings

Large police presence in downtown Bellevue There is a large police presence at the Bellevue Transit Center Friday afternoon.

ST Express bus service is being diverted at the Bellevue Transit Center (BTC) due to an officer-involved shooting at the facility. Because of the closure, all routes serving BTC have been rerouted to two bays on the west end at 108th Ave NE. komonews.com/news/local/b...