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Mayor says regional housing-levy work group forming; Metro service to shift from route 208 to 215
Summary
Mayor reported a regional Housing Revenue Work Group Steering Committee has begun work; he also detailed Metro routing changes that will replace local route 208 with route 215, offering a connection to Mercer Island light rail but different routing and altered frequency.
In his report the mayor told council members the Sound Cities Association’s housing-levy concept is moving forward but not this year; he said a Housing Revenue Work Group Steering Committee announced by County Executive Zahilay met on July 21 and is working on the issue. The mayor cautioned it is unclear whether any funding would flow to East King County cities or how much would be available.
The mayor also outlined upcoming changes to King County Metro service: route 208 will be replaced later this month by route 215. The new route will not go to the Issaquah Transit Station but will serve Issaquah Highlands and on to Eastgate, providing a direct connection to the Mercer Island light rail station. He said the new service will add Sunday and weekend service and will improve midday frequency to roughly every 90 minutes (compared with about every two hours on the current 208), but it is less frequent than the originally discussed 45-minute service level.
The mayor encouraged council participation in the housing-levy discussions and said city staff are engaged in Snoqualmie Ridge zoning and comprehensive-plan work; he also provided updates on recruitment for an economic development coordinator and an advertised legal assistant position.
