Action Alert: Stand Up for Seattle Transit

The Seattle Transit Measure could help fund service pilots like the Golden Garden Shuttle year-round in addition to bringing more frequent service to the whole city, but it needs your support to avoid being watered down by Council amendments before going to voters (Han Zheng,CC BY-NC-ND 4.0)

This Monday, July 13, Seattle City Council is holding public hearings on the Seattle Transit Measure, Mayor Katie Wilson's proposed renewal of funding for more frequent, reliable bus service across Seattle. Councilmembers are considering a long list of potential amendments to the proposed measure. Some proposed amendments would cut funding, shorten the measure, and slow down new service. Others would make it stronger for riders.

There will be two public hearing sessions on Monday: Session I will be remote-only starting at 9:30am, and Session II will be hybrid in-person and remote starting at 5:00pm. The Fix the L8, the Transit Riders Union, and Transportation Choices Coalition are calling on all Seattle transit supporters to show up and stand and/or speak in support of the measure during the hearings. RSVP here: https://bit.ly/savebuses13.

The detailed agenda for the sessions is available here. Comments are usually limited to 1-2 minutes. If too many people sign up to comment at the 9:30am meeting, they will be asked to return to comment at the 5pm meeting.

What is the Seattle Transit Measure?

Seattle's Transportation Benefit District, established in the 2010s, enables the City Council to ask voters to approve sales taxes and/or car tabs to fund transportation services and improvements. Over 80% of voters approved the current Seattle Transit Measure in 2020, but it expires early next year. The measure currently levies a 0.15% sales tax that has struggled to provide the level of service demanded by our growing city.In fact, a 0.22% sales tax would be needed next year just to maintain the service we get now since the cost of providing service has increased and recent budgets have been boosted by spending a surplus that accumulated during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The state legislature recently expanded the authority of transportation benefit districts to levy up to 0.3% in sales tax (increased from a previous cap of 0.2%). Mayor Wilson's proposed renewal of the Seattle Transit Measure promises to provide more frequent service to more of the city and increase financial support for transit users who need it.

Specifically, Mayor Wilson's proposed 0.3% sales tax would fund 280,000 bus trips in Seattle each year for 10 years, 100,000 more bus trips than currently funded. It would also fund 22,000 free ORCA cards for low-income, elderly, and families with young children, maintain support for Seattle's streetcar lines, fund spot improvements to keep buses moving, and help expedite permits and inspections for Link expansion projects in Seattle.

Why Sales Tax?

Yes, sales tax is one of the most regressive taxes around. Although Seattle's sales tax is already relatively high, the benefits of significant improvements to workhorse transit service far outweigh the costs of asking for an additional $29 per year (on average) to provide it. Better bus service allows more people to live car-free. Better bus service reduces traffic as more people choose to ride the bus instead of getting in a car.

An expanded Seattle Transit Measure means a better Seattle for all, but several proposed amendments would weaken the measure and reduce its ability to efficiently deliver effective transit across the city. If you want to make your voice heard directly supporting more transit but don't know what to say, there are good talking points regarding eight impactful amendments here: https://bit.ly/savebuses13.

After the various amendments are adopted or rejected, the Seattle Transit Measure will be sent for voter approval during the general election this November.