July/August2014

A Newsletter for Transit Employees

From the General Fahlgren named Manager’s desk VM Employee of The way forward the Year Some of the uncertainty that’s been hanging over us for the hen he heard his name announced past few months cleared on Was Metro’s VM Employee of the July 21 when the County Council took action Year at a June ceremony, Millwright Joe on service reductions. Fahlgren was nearly speechless with surprise. While his wife Cindy, grandson By now, you probably know that the Council Kaleb, and many coworkers and Metro approved 161,000 hours of bus service cuts that will start with our next service change staff members looked on, Fahlgren on Sept. 27. Following our service guidelines, received congratulations, gifts, and praise we’ll cut our least productive routes and trips Joe Fahlgren’s wife Cindy and from Department of Transportation in this first round. Details are available online grandson Kaleb were on hand to Director Harold Taniguchi, Metro General at www.kingcounty.gov/metro/future. help him celebrate being named VM Manager Kevin Desmond, VM Manager Employee of the Year. Randy Winders, Assistant VM Manager The Council also approved another 188,000 hours of service cuts, but put off identifying Continued on page 3 the specific routes or changes so an ad hoc committee—the County Executive and Jackson is 2013 Operator of the Year three councilmembers—can review revenue forecasts and confirm or adjust the plan we effery Jackson was chosen recommended in April. We expect to send Jby his Operator-of-the- a new recommendation for February 2015 Month peers as Metro’s 2013 service cuts to the Council on Sept. 2. Transit Operator of the Year. On May 29, at a surprise ceremony Decisions about service cuts in June and at Metro’s Atlantic Base attended September 2015 will be made later this fall, as part of the county’s budget process. Also by family and friends, co-workers, later this fall, we’ll be watching Seattle’s Nov. management, and other VIPs, 4 vote on the ballot measure to fund Metro Jackson was honored as the latest of service within the city. If the measure passes, Metro’s “best of the best.” it could allow us to keep a substantial amount of our remaining service. On the job, Jackson navigates a trolley bus through heavy traffic in With so many things going on that will shape , along a twisting our future, it’s too early to say what our web of overhead wires. It’s careful, service and staffing will look like a year from Jeffery Jackson holds the bus poster honoring now. But I can assure you that we will be Continued on page 5 him as Metro’s 2013 Operator of the Year. Continued on page 2 In this issue Celebrating RapidRide ...... 2 Short Shots ...... 6 Performance corner ...... 3 Security Sensitive ...... 7 Kudos ...... 4 On the Move ...... 8 Celebrating RapidRide and the F Line ith the June 7 start of service on Wthe RapidRide F Line, Metro fulfilled its promise to bring a new type and level of service to six heavily-used transit corridors.

On June 6, members of the public joined staff members and dignitaries from King County, Metro, and the cities that were soon to be connected by the F Line (Renton, Burien, Tukwila, and SeaTac) at The Landing in Renton to celebrate the launch of the last of Metro’s planned RapidRide lines. Marking the next-day launch of the F Line were, left to right, Renton City Councilmember Marcie Palmer, King County Councilmember Dave Upthegrove, King County Department of The F Line replaced routes 110 and Transportation Director Harold Taniguchi, Metro Transit Service Development Manager Victor 140. It provides 69 percent more Obeso, King County Executive Dow Constantine, RapidRide Man, Tukwila Mayor Jim Haggerton, service than Route 140, which didn’t Federal Transit Administration Deputy Regional Administrator Ken Feldman, and Renton Mayor go to The Landing. The F Line also Denis Law. offers more timely and convenient The five existing RapidRide lines have implementing, and sustaining connections to key destinations like all had ridership growth compared to the RapidRide. Westfield Southcenter Mall, Boeing, regular service they replaced. Some of and downtown Renton—and to this growth has been quite substantial: After seven-plus years of sustained transportation hubs at the Tukwila 76 percent since 2010 for the A Line in effort that included the purchase of Sounder station, the Federal Way, and 70 percent since 2011 113 new and distinctive buses, the station at Tukwila International for the C Line in . installation of signal-priority systems Boulevard, the Burien Transit Center, at 154 intersections, the construction and the Renton Transit Center. On June 19, Metro had an in-house of 295 stations and stops, and the “RapidRide Finish Line” event to implementation of 384,000 annual “This new route helps meet the need celebrate the program’s achievements hours of RapidRide service—not to to improve access in our diverse and its promising future, and to mention a few headaches along the neighborhoods while providing acknowledge the contributions of our way—the agency-wide team had opportunities for residents to leave cars dedicated and talented RapidRide reason to celebrate. at home,” said County Councilmember Team, led by program manager Dave Upthegrove at the launch event. Karen Rosenzweig. The event More info and a video on the F Line He added that Rapidride is “better for offered opportunities to reminisce launch are available on the Metro the environment and the health of our and appreciate all the vital teamwork Matters blog (http://bit.ly/metro-blog- communities.” that has gone into creating, marketing, f-line).

Continued from page 1 workforce planning to avoid layoffs in 2014, and many more. You can read about several General Manager and we’ll continue to work hard to minimize outstanding examples in the pages of this striving to achieve a sustainable system we any layoffs we may need to make in 2015. issue. can all count on. I’m reminded almost daily just how dedicated On a final note of appreciation, I want to Because of the cuts we’ll be making this Metro employees are to meeting the high acknowledge Jim O’Rourke, now retired, for September, we will eliminate about 100 bus standards of schedule, service, safety, and the many contributions he made to Metro operator assignments—but we don’t expect security that our customers expect and throughout his amazing career (most recently to lay off any employees in 2014. Any layoffs appreciate. I’m particularly impressed by as Transit Operations Manager). Jim not only resulting from service reductions or other the contributions of those who work behind continued a legacy left by those who came budget decisions adopted by the Council the scenes—base chiefs, dispatchers, before him, he took it to a new level. My would happen early next year. coordinators, information operators, thanks to Jim—and to you all. marketing and communications staff I want you to know that it took careful members, safety and transit police officers, – Kevin Desmond, General Manager

Page 2 Performance corner RapidRide C and D line satisfaction rebounds

Overall Satisfaction with RapidRide C Line he RapidRide C and D lines were launched in  TSeptember 2012. The C Line replaced routes 54 (local) and 55, and connects Westwood Village and downtown Seattle via Alaska junction. The D Line   "& &  connects Ballard and downtown Seattle via Uptown, and replaced routes 15 (local) and 18 (local). 

Metro surveyed riders aboard the C and D Lines in April 2013, and again in April 2014 to get feedback   &  &  about the services in general, assess changes in rider satisfaction, and gain insights on customer-perceived  benefits or disadvantages of the new RapidRide lines.

   Survey results showed that satisfaction with the C and  & &    D Lines had dropped six months after implementation, but has rebounded in the year since then (see charts).           

& & & & & & & !& "& #& & Riders of both the C and D lines said they were satisfied with the frequency of service, not having Overall Satisfaction with RapidRide D Line to rely on a pre-determined schedule, shelters and  features at bus stops, and the hours of service. Satisfaction with personal safety has decreased since  & &  the service was introduced.  

Satisfaction with comfort on the bus continued to  decrease among D Line riders, but increased in 2014 for C Line riders—while still remaining below the pre-RapidRide level. Over 70 percent of C and D line     &  &  riders perceived the RapidRide brand as a high-quality, “best of Metro” experience. 

The full report is available online at Metro’s    Accountability Center:  & &    www.kingcounty.gov/metro/reports.           

& & & & & & & !& "& #& &

Continued from page 1 that keep Metro’s aging fleet of motor Fahlgren’s down-to-earth, friendly, VM Employee of the Year and trolley buses on the road. and generous spirit extends beyond the workplace. He’s very involved John Alley, and Fahlgren’s chief, On call 24/7, Fahlgren is ready in his community and extends his Peter Vrinceanu. to ‘put out a fire’ at any time. His skills and generosity to benefit maintenance skills, knowledge friends, neighbors, etc. At work, his Fahlgren joined Metro in 1990 of equipment, and diverse as a VM mechanic. He became a professionalism, skills, knowledge, responsibilities make him one of the no-nonsense approach to issues, and millwright in 2005, and today plays most appreciated and recognized an important role in maintaining honest desire to help everyone around employees at the Component Supply him made it easy for his peers to a diverse and complex array of Center. He also provides support to all machinery. He helps rebuild and choose him as their 2014 Employee VM locations, and is always happy to of the Year. repair coaches and manufacture parts help out fellow millwrights. Page 3 KUDOSIN TRANSIT Washington State Roadeo on Aug. competition included Metro Transit 17 in Spokane, and at the APTA Rail employee Bryan Mathews, who International Bus Roadeo next May in partnered with Karen Bennett of Sound Fort Worth, Texas. Steven Banham Transit/Tacoma Link. They took first (South Base) placed second, and Tom place in the Operator Safety Test and Ponischil (Central Base) placed third. fourth place overall in the operations Joseph Rivers (South Base) placed competition. In the maintenance first in the Maverick Division, and competition, Metro employees Mike North Maintenance mechanic Ryan Stromberg and Nick Keolker teamed Stringfellow won the Non-Operator up with Jack Smith of / Maverick Division. Dan Bennett Tacoma Link to earn perfect scores (Atlantic Base) had the best first-time on two maintenance events and finish Gordon Guhl, left, gives pointers to Operator score, and Michael Schuster (Central seventh among 18 teams. Larry Subelbia during a class on pedestrian Base) had the most-improved score. safety at Ryerson Base. ■ Earle shows dedication – Base dispatcher/planner (East Base) ■ Guhl named First-line Supervisor Victoria Earle (currently a relief base of Shake-up — In June, Gordon supervisor) took it hard when she had Guhl was named Transit Operations to cancel a trip recently. In an email First-line Supervisor of the Shake-up to East Base Superintendent Ken for Fall 2013. Guhl’s bosses say he Johnston, she wrote, “Unfortunately, has shown extraordinary commitment I was forced to cancel one piece to service and professionalism in today…I tried everything to fill it but interacting with the public and drive it myself. What a way to end my co-workers throughout his Operations week L my perfect record was ruined. Training career. As a first-line Saturday is a new week and we can try supervisor in training, he delivered it again. See you a well-prepared, well-received all on Monday.” presentation at the 2014 Washington Johnston said State Insurance Pool convention. Earle’s message The talk outlined Metro’s dynamic shows real approach to training operators on ways ownership. “She to respect and thoughtfully approach Tammy Klein is now a four-time Metroadeo did not want to customers with mental-health issues, winner. cancel work,” he and it resulted in multiple state agency said. “She felt like requests for copies of Metro’s training ■ High finish at International Rail she was letting materials for riders with disabilities. Rodeo – Our rail operations and everybody down. maintenance teams did an outstanding I have other base Victoria Earle takes ■ Klein tops at Metroadeo (again) her job personally. job of representing the region at dispatchers who – Atlantic Base Operator Tammy the APTA 2014 International Rail won’t give up trying to fill work even Klein took first place in the operator Rodeo, held June 14 in Montreal. after the sign-in time has passed. As division at the 38th Annual Metroadeo, Our teams combined to match last long as the run still has time, they’re held June 14 at the Training and year’s fourth-place overall finish in a thinking about passengers who might Safety Facility in Tukwila. Klein field of 15 highly skilled operations need a ride. We’re lucky to have is now a four-time winner, having and maintenance teams from across people who care so much about our won previously in 2009, 2011, and the US and Canada. The operations customers.” 2013. She’ll represent Metro at the Page 4 PHOTO BY STEVE PUPPE Al Ramey, second from Continued from page 1 right, is honored along with Operator of the Year two other bus drivers with long safety records. From methodical work. He cautions fellow left: APTA Chair Peter Varga; electric trolley bus drivers to “take Ralph Spain, Maryland it easy and don’t get in a hurry… Transit Administration (42 don’t speed up when you’re behind years); Jess Quintero, VIA schedule.” Metropolitan Transit (48 years); Ramey (51 years); At the May 29 ceremony, Metro’s and APTA President and CEO General Manager Kevin Desmond Michael Melaniphy. said of Jackson, “He’s a top performer among our thousands of ■ Ramey nets national safety compiled a test claim that went back drivers. We’re proud of his service award — Operator Al Ramey was as far as state law allowed—five and pleased to honor him with this honored in May for his 51-year safe years, to 2009. It was no easy task, year’s award.” driving record at the American Public but it worked—on June 9, we got a Transportation Association Bus and check in the mail for $155,571.38. By “Jeff is one of the nicest people you’ll Paratransit Conference in Kansas year-end, Sreibers said she expects to ever meet,” said Transit Operations City, Missouri. Hundreds of transit collect about $1,500,000 in fuel tax Manager Jim O’Rourke (now leaders, workers, and advocates refunds through 2013. Future claims retired). “He usually has something gave Ramey a standing ovation as will bring in about $300,000 annually. positive to say, and he’s usually his name was announced. “It was smiling. I’m not at all surprised that exhilarating!” Ramey said. “I’ve his fellow operators elected him.” received recognition over the years, Transit operators but this was right at the top.” Ramey Jackson first joined Metro as a was also profiled by The Seattle Times of the month part-time operator in 1979, going on May 26 (read the article at http:// June 2014 full-time in 1986. He’s known for bit.ly/rameyST). Atlantic Base: Richard Martin his focus on safety and customer Bellevue Base: Brian Hopkins service. Customer commendations ■ Teamwork nets major fuel tax Central Base: Kyle Gulke characterize him as a “fantastic” refund – King County Business and Eastside Base: Patricia Morneau operator, “very professional Finance Officer Gayle Sreibers had North Base: Brent Hardwick and courteous,” who “waits for long questioned why, as she’d been Ryerson Base: Donald Sherman customers when they are running to told, we could not claim a refund South Base: Shirley Simmons- the bus stop.” A three-time operator for fuel tax paid on purchases of Lovings of the month honoree (March 1991, unleaded gas used in the Vanpool July 2014 March 2007, and September 2013), program. When Vanpool Planning Jackson is also closing in on a Atlantic Base: Vickie Stanley Coordinator Karen Martin showed 29-year safe driving award. Sreibers a letter from the Washington Bellevue Base: Wai Chan State Department of Transportation Central Base: Michael Deeter indicating that Vanpool programs do, East Base: Godofredo Plantilla in fact, qualify for the fuel tax claim/ North Base: Milos Pavlovic refund process, they and Department Ryerson Base: Chu Lee of Transportation Business and South Base: Sebsebie Basha Finance Officer John Beckwith concluded there was basis to pursue a claim. Working with the Washington State Department of Licensing, they

Current and past issues of In Transit are available at www.kingcounty.gov/InTransit.

If you have any questions, comments or story Produced by Transportation Office of Communications 14070/dot/comm/ac/jp ideas, send them to In Transit, KSC-TR-0824, or Editor: Anna Clemenger contact Anna Clemenger: 206-477-3839 or Transit Coordination: Bob Simpson [email protected]. Transit Staff Photographer: Ned Ahrens Graphic Design: Jackie Phillips

Page 5 SHORT SHOTS IN TRANSIT News briefs in and around the Transit Division

■ Stress relief for Control Center employees – Transit Control Center (TCC) coordinators manage bus service around the clock and often work under pressure. They get few opportunities to take breaks, and exercising or relaxing during those breaks was difficult until the control Trainee guide puppies practice riding under center’s new Stress Reduction Center the seat on a retired Metro bus. opened in May. A Healthy Worksite Makeover grant submitted by TCC ■ Guide puppies train on historic Chief Janice Berlin funded the Benita Grace (left) and Veronica Busby from Metro bus – Guide Puppies of conversion of an 11-foot by 14-foot Metro’s Rail Group share information about Seattle, a local volunteer group that room that formerly housed radio working at Metro at the 35th annual Women in Trades Career Fair. raises puppies for Guide Dogs for the equipment. The new exercise and Blind, needed to train their charges stress-reduction center features an our next generation of talent. Metro in the finer points of riding public elliptical trainer, treadmill, stationary staffed both an information booth transit. The Metro Employees Historic bike, and other fitness equipment. and an outdoor bus display where Vehicle Association (MEHVA) visitors got to “picture themselves” as responded by providing a special a mechanic or bus driver and share training excursion on the newest the photos with friends on Twitter addition to its historic fleet. Eight and Facebook. Our volunteers shared puppies and their human guides their own stories: how they got boarded coach #3374, a 1999 Gillig, started in their careers, any struggles at the Phinney Neighborhood Center they overcame, and the rewards of a for a round-trip ride to the Seattle Metro career. These personal accounts Center and Pioneer Square. Some of resonate with participants and are the trainees were reticent to board at TCC stress-busters (left to right) Jeff a large part of our continued success first, but by the end of the trip all were Wamsley (TCC superintendent), Daniel at this event. adept bus riders. More photos are Matthews and Brian Dunbar (TCC available at http://bit.ly/bus-puppies. coordinators), and Janice Berlin (TCC chief) ■ Workforce Development try out new fitness equipment in May. eLearning website launched ■ Prevention is key at Transit – Transit employees have a new ■ Washington Women in Safety Summit – Our June 2 Transit online resource for personal career Trades Career Fair – The annual Safety Summit focused on transit- development. KC eLearning Washington Women in Trades Career pedestrian incidents. Keynote speaker (Skillsoft) offers more than 2,000 Fair showcases non-traditional career Gordon Graham, a risk management training courses, ebooks, and videos paths for women, like longshoreman, expert, showed ways to identify core for use by employees from work or high voltage electrical worker—and critical tasks—those with high risk home, 24/7, at no cost to you or your Metro bus driver or mechanic. On potential that don’t happen often department. Please explore this new May 9, high-school, alternative- and provide little time for decision- service, and note that it’s intended school, and vocational-center students making. These tasks, he said, need for use on your own time—outside joined other career seekers at the frequent refresher training to keep of your regular work day—unless Seattle Center to learn what it’s like, employees ready to handle challenges otherwise directed by your supervisor. and what it takes, to work in the successfully when they do arise. Check it out at http://bit.ly/metro- trades. Metro and other King County workforce-development. agencies were there to help inspire

Page 6 ■ Car show entries shine – A Security Sensitive diverse collection of vehicles was on display at the 26th annual King County Employee Car Show, held Metro’s security nerve center June 14 at the Transit Safety and Training Center in conjunction with etro has more out to be suffering from severe the Metroadeo. For the first time, all Mthan 100 hypothermia. Once in the trophy-winning vehicles (by popular security officers under ambulance, he had a heart attack. vote) were owned by family members contract, providing Medics worked on him for hours of King County employees. A 1953 24-hour protection for many of our in the ambulance before they were Chevrolet pickup owned by Loree facilities. The nerve center of all of finally able to stabilize him. He Summers took first place, followed that support is the Security Monitoring survived because of the actions of by a 1978 Fiat Spider owned by Center (SMC), which operates 24/7, the SMC officer. Bob Yetter and a 1968 Ford Mustang year round, in newly-updated digs at owned by Beau Miklethun. The the parking garage on Sixth Avenue 2. A SMC officer watching video trophies were handcrafted by Metro’s South. feeds saw a teenager drinking on Component Supply Center. The show the top floor of a parking garage. is sponsored by the Metro Employees It provides continuous closed-circuit The young man then tied one end Historical Vehicle Association. monitoring of Metro’s transit centers of a long garment to the railing. and parking garages, plus other sites As he tried to tie the other end like the Atlantic-Central Operations around his neck, the officer called Building and Revenue Processing 911. The police got there in time, Center. and the suicidal young man was taken by ambulance for medical SMC officers watch hundreds of video intervention. feeds, answer panic-station calls, help This year’s first-place trophy, crafted by the with Metro garage issues, and more. Most days probably pass slowly at Component Supply Center, went to Loree the SMC, with offi cers fi ghting off Summers for her cherry-red 1953 Chevrolet Here are two incidents that illustrate pickup. the importance of their work: boredom. But events like these show us how important it is to have people ■ ORCA To Go takes to the 1. On a very cold winter day, an of instinct, action, and compassion streets – Kicking off its street fair officer watching the monitors watching our facilities. I’ll have more season, the Pass Sales Office’s noticed an apparently intoxicated stories from other posts next month. ORCA To Go outreach team set up man sitting on the ground at a Stay secure. shop at the University Street Fair on transit center. While monitoring May 17-18. Their booth offered full other screens, the officer kept — Mark L. Norton, Manager ORCA fare card sales and re-valuing thinking about the man on the Transit Security and Emergency services, and responded to precisely ground. Finally, he turned the Management 412 questions during the fair. They camera to center on the man, saw Send comments and ideas on Metro sold 59 standard cards, 21 Regional that he was not doing well, called security, emergency management, and Reduced Fare Permit cards, and 3 911, and directed responding aid homeland security to mark.norton@ replacement cards, for a total of units to the man, who turned kingcounty.gov. $2,574. The team has a full schedule of regional street fairs and festivals throughout the summer.

Continued from page 8 Transit Human Resources In Our Thoughts On the Move Mary Crawford, employee and labor relations representative — June 9 Russell DeCory, vehicle maintenance Systems Development and mechanic (retired, Atlantic), passed Operations Vehicle Maintenance away May 28 Alexander Bailey, intern II — June 16 Adam Birkholz, mechanic (TLT) — Jeannette Willis (retired transit May 5 administrative support specialist III, Jon Morrison, equipment service North Base) passed away July 8 worker — May 5 Page 7 ON THE MOVE Transit Division retirements, promotions/job changes, new hires, and remembrances

Retirements Benita Grace to transit administrative support specialist III (North) from Link Light Rail Operations Michael List to interim manager (Transit Operations) from Wendy Ehrman, transit operator (Central) — May 30; 33+ superintendent of operations (Ryerson) years Kevin Maguire to acting superintendent of operations from Michael Gillman, training instructor (Training Center) — June base chief (Ryerson) 30; 23 years Michael McGrath to acting chief (East Base) from first-line Don Horton, transit chief (Central) — June 19 (last day); 33+ supervisor years Nickole Metcalf to acting base chief (Ryerson) from first- Bruce Kennedy, transit operator (North) — May 30; 38 years line supervisor Edith (Edie) Redmond, transit operator (Central Base) — Eric Stewart to base dispatch/planner from supervisor-in- May 1; 38+ years training (North) Daniel Sullivan, transit operator (North Base) — August 1; Rail 35 years Joanie Guillen to rail laborer (rehired 6/9) from rail track Power and Facilities and ROW maintainer Dan Schwartz, line material worker (Power Jason Smith to rail signal and communications technician Distribution) — July 18 (last day); 24 years from rail laborer Rail Service Development Kendall Carsen, operations and maintenance supervisor Sunny Knott to acting transportation planner III from (SLUS) — May 30; 34 years transportation planner II (Market Development) Cindy Watanabe-Mezs to acting transportation planner II Systems Development and Operations from project/program manager I (Market Development) Tom Friedman, IT project manager II (Systems Vehicle Maintenance Operations) — June 30 (last day); 38 years Brian Moriarty to acting equipment dispatcher from Vehicle Maintenance equipment service worker (North) Curtis Colvin, mechanic (East) — July 1; 22+ years Stephen Core, mechanic (South) — June 1; 23+ years New Hires Robert McCallen, equipment service worker (Atlantic) –July 1; 25+ years Design and Construction Larry Randall, equipment service worker (South) — June 1; Tuan Nguyen, civil engineering intern — June 16 40+ years Kayla Pingel, project management intern — May 12 Steven Robinson, mechanic (East) — June 1; 7 years Sabrina Weschler, project management intern — June 23

Promotions and Job Changes Paratransit/Rideshare Operations Page Blazei, intern II (Accessible Services) — June 18 Customer Communications and Services Power and Facilities Sonja Fleming-Schuett to pass sales representative (Customer Curtis (Kurt) Dickie, chief of radio maintenance (Power Services; rehired 5/28) Distribution) — June 2 Metro Transit Police Rail Captain Jesse Anderson to King County Sheriff’s Office Steven Kennedy, rail SCADA system specialist-3rd Shift Internal Investigations from MTP Operations (Link) — May 27 Captain Marcus Williams to captain (MTP Operations) from sergeant (Burien/Precinct 4) Service Development Operations Sonja Burseth, intern III — June 12 J. Wesley Cain to base dispatch/planner from supervisor-in- training (North) Continued on page 7

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