The Seattle Transportation Benefit District has led to a growth in ridership and improved access to frequent service, according to a third-year performance report.

Stephen Fesler looks at outcomes of the Seattle Transportation Benefit District as it finishes up its third year. Funding for the STBD came from a 2014 measure approved by voters to expand transit services through a $60 vehicle license fee and a 0.1 percent sales tax increase. The STBD has provided a good return on investment, with $0.91 for every dollar going directly to improving transit services and access.
Since 2015, transit ridership has increased in Seattle on all modes, and much of this growth has happened on regional partnership bus routes. Access also improved between 2015 and 2018. In 2018, over two-thirds of households were within a 10-minute walk of transit service with a frequency of at least 10 minutes, up from a quarter of households in 2015.
In addition, notes Fesler, on-time performance of buses in Seattle improved, the ORCA Youth Card program grew, and more bus routes were added to a service to hiking trailheads.
Funding for the STBD will end next year without reauthorization. In addition to the annual spending on service and access improvements, the Seattle Department of Transportation can spend an additional $10 million on capital projects through the end of 2020. "These investments could include transit-only lanes, queue jumps, transit signal priority, and other strategies to improve speed and reliability," says Fesler.
FULL STORY: Looking Back on Three Years of Transit Investment in Seattle

Maui's Vacation Rental Debate Turns Ugly
Verbal attacks, misinformation campaigns and fistfights plague a high-stakes debate to convert thousands of vacation rentals into long-term housing.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

In Urban Planning, AI Prompting Could be the New Design Thinking
Creativity has long been key to great urban design. What if we see AI as our new creative partner?

King County Supportive Housing Program Offers Hope for Unhoused Residents
The county is taking a ‘Housing First’ approach that prioritizes getting people into housing, then offering wraparound supportive services.

Researchers Use AI to Get Clearer Picture of US Housing
Analysts are using artificial intelligence to supercharge their research by allowing them to comb through data faster. Though these AI tools can be error prone, they save time and housing researchers are optimistic about the future.

Making Shared Micromobility More Inclusive
Cities and shared mobility system operators can do more to include people with disabilities in planning and operations, per a new report.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
planning NEXT
Appalachian Highlands Housing Partners
Mpact (founded as Rail~Volution)
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
City of Portland
City of Laramie