On Wednesday, July 9th, Seattle City Council passed a transportation levy package of $1.55 billion. The goal of the policy is to revitalize our city’s sidewalks and transportation infrastructure. Now, the proposal will be placed on the November ballot for Seattle voters. The eight-year levy package is expected to cost a median homeowner in Seattle approximately $499 a year if passed by voters.

The current eight-year Transportation Levy, known as the Levy to Move Seattle, is set to expire at the end of 2024. Earlier this year, Mayor Harrell proposed a new eight-year, $1.45 billion levy to take over funding of transportation safety and maintenance. The version passed by SCC this week includes several amendments.

Seattle City Council’s Select Committee on the 2024 Transportation Levy, which includes all 9 councilmembers and is chaired by Councilmember Rob Saka (District 1), added an additional package of amendments to the Mayor’s proposed levy, which brought the total cost up to $1.55 billion. These amendments invest the levy’s funds in the following ways:

  • $423 million in street maintenance and modernization
  • $221 million in bridge infrastructure and safety
  • $193 million in pedestrian safety
  • $160.5 million in Vision Zero and school and neighborhood safety
  • $151 million in improving transit corridors and connections
  • $113.5 million for bicycle safety
  • $100 million to install and maintain traffic signals and improve mobility
  • $69 million to better address climate change, protect the environment, and increase our tree canopy
  • $66.5 million to activate public spaces, neighborhoods, and business districts
  • $45 million for economy-focused improvements to our freight transportation system
  • $7.5 million for good governance, oversight, and property tax relief education

GSBA is excited that the new levy includes several programs, including the District Project Fund and Neighborhood-Initiated Safety Partnership Program, that allow communities to partner with SDOT in creating meaningful solutions that are tailored to their neighborhood. We look forward to leaning into these options in service of our members.

You can find more information about the Levy to Move Seattle on Seattle Department of Transportation’s website.