Metro ridership mirrors rest of U.S.

King County’s Metro Transit has something in common with other public transportation agencies in the U.S. – lots of bus riders.

The American Public Transportation Association (APTA) announced this week that nationally, people took 2.6 billion trips on public transportation during the first three months of 2008. That’s almost 85 million more trips than during the same period last year.

Metro experienced a 6.2 percent increase in bus ridership for the first quarter of this year, according to APTA.

Also nationally during the first quarter of 2008, the Federal Highway Administration reported, passenger-vehicle miles declined by 2.3 percent.

Water association has new head of communications

Cascade Water Alliance, an association of eight cities and water districts in King County that includes the Covington Water District, has appointed Elaine Kraft as its intergovernmental and communications director.

Kraft, who has 20 years of experirence in the communications profession, formerly was communications director for King County Executive Ron Sims for eight years. She also was the director of public relations and communications for University of Washington-Bothell.

Cascade is developing Lake Tapps in Pierce County as the region’s first new municipal water supply source. The project includes plans for building a major pipeline that will run through Covington, among other locations.

Rotarians moving their meetings

Maple Valley Rotary Club is changing the location of its weekly meetings.

The service group will meet temporarily at Greater Maple Valley Community Center before making Lake Wilderness Lodge the new permanent meeting place.

Additional information is available at (425) 432-1912 and www.rotary5030.org/maplevalley.