When Seattleites get their General Election ballot sometime in the coming days, they’ll notice a big ole $1.55 billion transportation levy included alongside the list of candidates they’ll have to choose.
This levy, originally proposed in April 2024 with a $1.35 billion price tag, is intended to help the city pay for major infrastructure projects like transit improvements, sidewalk repairs, and bike lane extensions.
If approved by voters, it would replace the $930 million Levy to Move Seattle that expires at the end of this year.
Of course, $1.55 billion is quite a bit of money (it’s more than Beyonce’s net worth), so let’s break it down and talk about what this levy entails.
The nitty gritty
First, this operates essentially as a voter-approved property tax that would last for eight years. For property owners, this would increase their payments by approximately $0.65 per $1,000 of assessed value, with a maximum of $2.71 per $1,000. These payments will accumulate to ~$50.7 million annually that the city can then use to fund the aforementioned transportation projects.
What we get in return
There’s quite a bit on the list, but here are some general highlights:
- $403 million for street maintenance — this includes repaving 15 major roadways and the ability to fill potholes in 72 hours
- $221 million for bridge infrastructure and safety — the Ballard and Magnolia bridges have been named outright
- $193 million in pedestrian safety — think crosswalks and traffic signals
- $160.5 million for Vision Zero
- $151 million for transit improvements — there’s a list of 160 “spot projects” that are intended to speed up transit + improve rider experience
- $133.5 million for bicycle safety + network extension
Look for this proposal under the ballot measures section where it will be listed as City of Seattle Proposition No. 1.
