Seattle’s current transportation levy provides roughly 30 percent of the Seattle Department of Transportation’s (SDOT) budget and expires this year. Transportation levies have funded basic transportation services for 18 years based on public votes.
Seattle’s transportation system is critical to a thriving city that connects people to places and opportunities. Levy funding allows SDOT to attend to the basics of the city’s transportation infrastructure while providing investments for safety, climate, and communities.
The proposal builds on plans that Seattle residents shaped, including the Seattle Transportation Plan and the One Seattle Plan. The proposal brings together the priorities the public has shared, the essential needs the city has identified, and the funding resources to deliver. “Seattle residents want a transportation system that is safe, connected, and well-maintained," Harrell said. "This levy proposal will deliver more funding to get us there. No matter how you get around, it will make trips safer, more reliable, and better connected so that every Seattleite is set up for success when they experience our city. This is a top priority and will allow our transportation department to keep taking care of the essentials, be proactive stewards of our public assets, and keep the city working for you. We welcome your continued feedback and input.”
“The mayor’s levy proposal offers a balanced and practical set of investments to maintain and modernize our streets and bridges," said Greg Spotts, Director of the Seattle Department of Transportation. "Informed by the Seattle Transportation Plan, our Asset Management Strategy, and our strengthened Vision Zero program, this major program of investments will produce a safer, better connected, and more reliable transportation system for all.”
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Levies are paid for by Seattle property owners. Under the expiring Levy to Move Seattle, the median assessed value Seattle homeowner pays about $24 per month. This levy proposal would increase the monthly cost by $14 per month for a $1 million home, by $12 per month for a $866,000 home (median Seattle assessment), and by $7 per month for a $500,000 home.
“The people of Seattle deserve an investment in transportation that addresses the city’s most pressing safety, equity, and climate needs," said Kirk Hovenkotter, Executive Director at the Transportation Choices Coalition. "As the largest levy in our history, this proposal is a big commitment to rise up and meet them. We’re excited to see investments in transit that will speed up buses and help more people access light rail. We look forward to working with the mayor, council, and advocates to strengthen this levy so that everyone in Seattle can walk, bike, roll, and take transit to get where they need to go.”
