Free youth transit, Labor Day holiday, Right of Way Safety Initiative



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Kids ride free! Public transit agencies drop youth fares thanks to Move Ahead Washington transportation package
A child waves at a passing ferry in the Puget Sound, and Washington youth and legislators celebrate the launch of free youth public transit.

A child waves at a passing ferry in the Puget Sound, and Washington youth and legislators celebrate the launch of free youth public transit. By Oct. 1, most of Washington state?s public transit systems will have launched a free fare program for riders 18 and under. Images courtesy of the Washington State Department of Transportation, Pierce Transit, and ORCA Card.

Public transit is now free [ [link removed] ] for riders ages 18 and under in many places statewide thanks to the Move Ahead Washington transportation package passed by legislators earlier this year.

School, sports, activities, friends, and work are all now a little more accessible for young Washingtonians and their families. Eight Puget Sound-area public transit agencies began new programs for free youth fares on Thursday. Many other agencies statewide have begun or will soon begin similar programs.

The Move Ahead Washington transportation package created Transit Support Grants for agencies that implement a zero-fare program for riders 18 and under by Oct. 1.?This will include free fare on Washington State Ferries vessels. The Washington State Department of Transportation has thus far received 21 free youth fare policies from the 32 transit systems in the state.

Details vary. Young riders may contact their local transit agency for instructions to enjoy free ridership.

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Monday is Labor Day
The Jackson Street Workers Mural graces the exterior of the Washington State Labor Council offices in Seattle at the intersection of 16th and Jackson

The Jackson Street Workers Mural graces the exterior of the Washington State Labor Council offices in Seattle at the intersection of 16th and Jackson. The mural commemorates the history of progress of workers rights and achievements in Washington state.

Monday?is Labor Day, an occasion to honor workers, their contributions to our society, and their rights in the workplace.

A story posted to Gov. Jay Inslee?s Medium today [ [link removed] ] reflects on Washington?s long history of labor progress and celebrates recent developments like paid family and medical leave that are improving life and workplace culture for Washington workers.?Washington consistently ranks as one of the best states for workers due to its high minimum wage and strong worker protections.

?Washington is leading the way in lifting workers up,? says Washington State Labor Council spokesman David Groves. ?Steps the governor has taken to increase access to overtime and paid medical and family leave - these steps make Washington a better place to work and a more desirable place to live. They make a big difference to live in a state where workers are treated well.?

Joel Sacks, director of the state Department of Labor and Industries, penned an op-ed for the Seattle Times this week [ [link removed] ] to reflect on the work of his agency to prevent workplace death and injury. Most recently, L&I has adopted lifesaving measures to protect workers from COVID-19, wildfire smoke, and extreme heat.

?We?re grateful for the work you do, and we dedicate our work to making sure you?re safe, respected and treated right on the job,? wrote Sacks.

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Right of Way Safety Initiative helping those experiencing homelessness find support and housing

State and local agencies have partnered this summer on an effort to transition people experiencing homelessness away from dangerous encampments along state roadways and into stable, supportive housing.?

The Right of Way Safety Initiative is focused on several locations in Puget Sound and Spokane. This week, KOMO news highlighted the efforts of outreach teams [ [link removed] ] who conducted several weeks of personalized outreach to 75 people previously living in the Dearborn encampment along I-5 in Seattle [ [link removed] ]. The teams were able to move those individuals into safer shelter, lodging, and inpatient treatment recently.

?I appreciate the incredible dedication of the community organizations and agency teams who have been ensuring we can provide safer options to some of our unhoused neighbors living in dangerous right of way locations,? said Gov. Jay Inslee. ?This safety initiative is possible because local leaders and experienced nonprofits are willing and able to partner with the state and serve these individuals with compassion.?

The Washington State Patrol, state Department of Commerce, state Department of Transportation, City of Seattle, King County Regional Homelessness Authority, and outreach organizations REACH and JustCare collaborated on the Dearborn site. Local and nonprofit partners have also helped people living at other sites in King and Thurston counties [ [link removed] ]. State agencies are continuing to pursue partnerships for similar efforts in additional counties.

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News you might have missed:

*CDC endorses updated boosters protecting against COVID-19 Cmicron strains*

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently authorized updated COVID-19 boosters [ [link removed] ] meant to protect recipients from common COVID-19 Omicron strains. The state Department of Health is planning a fall rollout [ [link removed] ] for the updated booster.

Environmental Justice Day recognizes human cost of pollution and climate change

Disproportionately, low-income communities and communities of color are affected by pollution and climate change. These communities face elevated risk of chronic health problems and harm from environmental catastrophes. Gov. Jay Inslee proclaimed Aug. 28 as Environmental Justice Day to signal the state?s commitment to preserving health and air quality in all of Washington?s diverse communities.

Read more about what Washington state?s environmental justice efforts. [ [link removed] ]

Additions to assistance program will better support low-income Washingtonians age 65+, blind or disabled

Effective Sept. 1, maximum payments to Aged, Blind, or Disabled (ABD) Cash Assistance Program participants will increase thanks to funding from the state?s 2022 supplemental budget. Individuals who are over 65, blind, or disabled often live on the margins of Washington communities. Increased payments and ongoing legislative focus may help support these vulnerable persons. This is the first increase in ABD grant amounts since 2011.

Read more about the changes from the Department of Social and Health Services [ [link removed] ].

*WSDOT begins massive pavement repair project*

The Washington State Department of Transportation has begun work in King, Snohomish, Skagit, and Whatcom counties [ [link removed] ] to repair damaged road surfaces along I-90, I-405, 1-5, 12 state highways, and four bridge decks.

All together, the work includes 80 work sites. The work will involve daytime lane reductions generally scheduled during low-travel times to spare inconvenience. The work will not incur delays for Labor Day holiday weekend drivers.

*Amtrak Cascades resumes service to British Columbia*

Amtrak Cascades train service to Vancouver, B.C.?will resume on Sept. 26 [ [link removed] ]. Service between Seattle and Vancouver, BC had been suspended since 2020 due to the pandemic. Before planning an international trip, Amtrak riders should review updated entry requirements instituted since the pandemic by the Canadian [ [link removed] ] and United States [ [link removed] ] governments.

*Incarcerated women raise endangered butterflies*

Women incarcerated at the Mission Creek Corrections Center in Belfair received a batch of federally endangered butterflies [ [link removed] ] and are beginning a long process to nurture them, part of the Sustainability in Prisons project to provide nature, science, and environmental education in prisons. ?Statistically, if you have an education while you?re incarcerated recidivism drops, and these kinds of programs really make the difference,? said one participant.

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