This coming November, Seattle voters could be asked to vote on an $80 increase in vehicle license fees to pay for about $27 million annually in road maintenance, transit improvements, and bike and pedestrian projects—some of it “new” money to fund projects that were previously unfunded, and some of it money to backfill projects that have been cut due to budget shortfalls.
This afternoon, the Citizens Transportation Advisory Committee III (AKA CTAC III, pronounced “SeaTac Three”) will hold its second-to-last meeting to go over the details of the potential ballot measure. Whatever the committee recommends will go to the city council, which can modify the recommendations, come up with a completely different list, or opt not to put the measure on the ballot at all.
Since the group rolled out its initial proposal, back in June, more funding has been shifted to transit and bike/ped improvements over basic maintenance, in response to advocates who made the case that the city’s bike, pedestrian, and transit master plans remain woefully underfunded (at the current funding rate, none of those plans will be completed for decades).
Additionally, the proposal now includes far more emphasis on transit, bike, and pedestrian access in every category of project funding—great news for transit and bike/ped advocates who’ve been pushing the city to do more to promote nonmotorized transportation.
The $80 fee would be in addition to a $20 license fee the council has already passed on its own; only the additional $80 requires voter approval.
Here’s what Seattle voters would get each year if they pass the annual fee this November (numbers are only approximations; some of the money would be bonded for larger projects):
$5.5 million (20 percent) for Pavement Preservation, including pothole repair, more extensive spot repair, and major paving projects in locations around the city. The emphasis of this funding is on enhancing safety, including: 1) timely and cost-effective investments that prevent further deterioration of the roadway to the point where repair becomes prohibitively expensive; 2) complete street improvements that serve vehicles, pedestrians and cyclists; and 3) paving heavily-used transit and freight corridors.
$3.5 million (13 percent) for Traffic Safety, including keeping critical components of safe travel along the roadway in a state of good repair. Traffic signals, lane markings, crosswalk signals and safety lighting, maintaining real-time transit and driver information, and signs are included in this funding category.
$3.8 million (14 percent) for Neighborhood Transit Connections, including demand management programs that increase transit mode share; partnerships that expand the range of neighborhood transit options for those with limited mobility or those who live outside convenient walking distance to transit stations; improved pedestrian and bicycle access to transit; and transforming the 3rd Avenue Busway and underused urban spaces near transit into vibrant, people-oriented places.
$4.7 million (17 percent) for High Capacity Transit Corridors, including connecting the South Lake Union and First Hill streetcar lines, operations, and alternatives analysis and preliminary design for future alignments for high capacity transit (rail/BRT). Make high capacity improvements consistent with the priorities identified in the Transit Master Plan.
$5 million for Frequent Transit Network Corridors, including enhancement and expansion of the electric trolley bus network and completion of speed and reliability improvements along priority transit corridors, with a focus on cost-effective projects that increase mode share and make the system work better. Make corridor improvements consistent with the priorities identified in the Transit Master Plan.
$1.85 million for Pedestrian Safety and Access, including sidewalks, curb ramps , crossing treatments, and other improvements along and across the roadway, with an emphasis on improving connections to transit and neighborhood business districts, consistent with the recommendations of the Pedestrian Master Plan.
$1.85 million for Bicycle Safety and Access, including completion of critical connections in the existing bicycle network and improvements to rider safety consistent along other routes through the addition of cycle tracks, neighborhood greenways, and bike lanes. Make improvements that serve cyclists of varying ability and propensity to ride, and continue to implement the Bicycle Master Plan.
$1 million for the Neighborhood Opportunity Fund, for neighborhood improvements such as sidewalks, neighborhood greenways, and other improvements to bicycle and pedestrian safety and mobility. Projects would be nominated by neighborhoods.
