You’re hired (Image: King County Metro)
King County Metro is holding a press conference Thursday morning to announce planned cutbacks in service starting this fall due to ongoing staffing issues.
The Seattle Times has been given early information on the changes planned to begin September 2nd including the suspension of 20 routes — most serving northern areas near Shoreline, the Eastside, and South King County, plus reduced service on routes including the 7, 10, 20, 28, 36, 73, 79, 225, 230, 231, 255 and 345.
Metro says the cutbacks are necessary due to ongoing challenges hiring enough drivers and mechanics. “Workforce shortages” also forced reduced service in 2022.
Metro will provide more information on the service proposals and public feedback opportunities.
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I applied to drive for Metro, late last summer.
A month and a half later, they sent a psychological profile test, which I answered and returned.
Then in mid-January, more than four months after I’d applied, Metro sent an email telling me I’d somehow passed the psych eval, and that they’d be in touch shortly to schedule an interview.
“Shortly” was five weeks later, when their next email came, telling me to sign up for an interview slot. The first slows offered were another month after that.
At every step of this process, when I heard nothing for a month, I assumed I’d not made the next cut — but I had. This is just how slowly Metro moves. Six months from application to interview.
With my clean driving record and some experience driving big vehicles, I’m pretty sure I could’ve gotten the job, but like most people looking for work, I needed a job, so I took a job elsewhere.
When I see signs on the buses that say “NOW HIRING,” I think it’s a typo. What they mean is, “NOT HIRING.”
Simple explanation King county government is one of the most incompetent corrupt government organization in the state!!!
There’s that government efficiency we all know and love. The fact that there is a Wikipedia entry for “Seattle Process” tells the whole story.
The 7?! What in the actual F? The South Rainier corridor only has one bus to downtown, and it gets insanely crowded at rush hour. Once again, the South end gets shortchanged.
Does the 7 serve the South Rainier corridor that is also served by light rail? If not, that is a cruel blow.