The Lynnwood Link light rail extension officially opened on August 30, 2024, with four new stations: Shoreline South/148th, Shoreline North/185th, Mountlake Terrace, and Lynnwood City Center. This project, which was approved by voters in 2008 and funded through federal grants, represents a significant advancement in regional transit infrastructure. Senators Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell, along with local officials, celebrated the opening, highlighting its potential to enhance economic opportunities and improve connectivity in the region. The extension is expected to serve over 50,000 daily riders, effectively cutting travel time to downtown Seattle in half. The total project budget was $3.1 billion, with substantial contributions from federal funding. In conjunction with the light rail launch, Community Transit plans to adjust bus services to ensure seamless connections with the new light rail system. Events were held at the new stations to commemorate the launch.
In addition to this transportation milestone, the King County Council has unanimously approved a plan to create five crisis care centers, marking the largest expansion of the county's mental health system in decades. The funding for these centers, which will provide urgent mental health care and have the capacity to serve up to 70,000 people annually, comes from a $1.25 billion property tax levy approved by voters last year. The first center is expected to open in 2026, with all five centers operational by 2030. Each center will include a behavioral health urgent care clinic, an observation unit, and a short-term stabilization unit. People will be admitted voluntarily, regardless of insurance coverage or ability to pay. The centers will collaborate with community health providers, mobile crisis teams, and emergency responders for transportation. Organizations interested in operating the centers can submit proposals this fall, and Kirkland may partner with Connections Health Solutions to open a center in 2026.
Meanwhile, in Everett, Snohomish County, LGBTQ+ health care remains limited. In the 1990s, Snohomish County had seen 96 AIDS cases, with 91% of those cases being men. Many doctors in the county had refused to work with AIDS patients. LGBTQ+ people continue to face disproportionate emotional and tangible barriers to health care in the area. Most local providers are still years away from providing inclusive health care. However, the Snohomish County Health Department reopened its free STI clinic in 2022, which provides free testing, treatment, education, and case management for those in need. The clinic saw 390 visits in the first three months, with 64 new cases identified. People who identify as LGBTQ+ make up a large proportion of clients at the clinic. Nearly $1 million in state money was used to reopen the clinic. The health department plans to create a data report on its care efforts to help secure the clinic's future. Aside from the clinic, there are no public health care programs or campaigns targeting Snohomish County's LGBTQ+ demographic.