Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell called the passage of his city’s transportation levy a message from voters about safer transportation.
On Tuesday, Seattle voters approved Proposition 1, a transportation levy that would spend more than $1.55 billion over the next eight years on streets, sidewalks, bridges, transit routes and bikeways. The levy passed with an estimated 67 percent of the vote.
“Tonight’s results demonstrate that Seattle voters are committed to advancing a safer transportation system that benefits all,” Harrell said. “The Transportation Levy represents our steadfast dedication to a One Seattle vision, prioritizing the creation of a safer, more reliable, and better connected transportation network… This levy will facilitate bridge upgrades, smoother roads, additional sidewalks, enhanced transit connections, and much more, all designed to support those who live, work, and play in Seattle.”
Included in the levy is $403 million on street maintenance and modernization; $221 million on bridges including a preventative maintenance schedule on the city’s 134 bridges; $151 million on transit, including 160 projects that will improve bus access and reliability, and $193 million on pedestrian safety, including $111 million on 320 blocks of new sidewalk – a significant increase over the originally proposed $63 million.
“Passage of Prop 1 is a huge win for new sidewalks in District 5, which has 36 percent of Seattle’s missing sidewalks,” Seattle Councilwoman Cathy Moore said. “That’s why I fought for and achieved historic funding in the levy for new sidewalks and alternative pathways and prioritized District 5 for their construction to remedy our historic deficit. Thank you to Seattle voters for passing this historic investment in transportation and sidewalks!”
The levy will be for by Seattle property owners. Under the existing transportation levy, which expires at the end of the year, a median tax-assessed home pays about $23 per month on the levy. The new 2024 Transportation Levy would see owners of a $1 million home pay around $54 a month, while owners of a $500,000 home would pay around $27 per month.