Children's/Labor Ready/Sound Transit

If voters OK an increase of the sales tax in Washington, Sound Transit plans to expand its line from Tacoma to Lynnwood.

Children's Hospital, UW Plan Expansion

Seattle - Within the next five years both Children's Hospital and Medical Center and the University of Washington could be a major presence in Everett.

The expansion in Snohomish County is one part of the organization's $1 billion, 10-year plan for the regional hospital. UW also wants to expand in the Everett area, in order to serve students in the northern part of the state.

Children's wants to build a similar outpatient center opening in 2010 in the Bellevue area, a 1 million-sq-ft research center in downtown Seattle and upgrade its current Seattle hospital campus.

Labor Ready Expands With New Acquisition

Tacoma - Labor Ready, Inc. recently completed the purchase of Skilled Services Corporation, a temporary construction labor agency that does business in 21 locations. Labor Ready entered the skilled construction trades staffing market with its acquisition of CLP Resources in 2005. "Since that time, CLP has done an outstanding job delivering better than expected top and bottom-line results. They have also experienced significant growth by adding 21 new branches to the 51 branches originally purchased," said Labor Ready CEO Steve Cooper. "The SSC acquisition accelerates CLP's expansion by increasing the total number of branches to 93 and adding SSC's talented management team." Since the SSC transaction is expected to add about $30 million of revenue for 2007, Labor Ready has updated guidance for the second quarter and updated its outlook for 2007. SSC was purchased for approximately $25.5 million in cash.

Sound Transit Plans Northward Move

Seattle - The Sound Transit Board completed its list of proposed projects for expanding the regional mass transit system. If the Roads & Transit ballot measure passes in November, the Sound Transit 2 package will build 50 new miles of light rail, improve commuter rail facilities and expand express bus service.

The package answers the public's call for more light rail by proposing expansions that would create a regional system stretching 70 miles. The Sound Transit 2 package adds service northward from the University of Washington to 164th Street/Ash Way via Northgate, Shoreline, Mountlake Terrace and Lynnwood. To the south the system would extend through Des Moines, Federal Way and Fife to the Tacoma Dome, connecting with the existing Tacoma Link light rail system. A long-awaited light rail extension across Lake Washington would serve Mercer Island, Bellevue and Redmond's Microsoft and Overlake Transit Center areas, and Downtown Redmond if sufficient funds are available.

The package would be financed through a regional sales tax increase of 0.5 percent, or 5 cents on a $10 purchase.