Critics of a proposed $1.3 billion transportation levy say the package isn’t enough to keep up with inflation and rising costs and fails to support a shift away from car-oriented infrastructure.

Safe streets advocates in Seattle are calling on the city to propose a larger transportation levy to fund pedestrian safety and Complete Streets projects, arguing that the currently proposed $1.3 billion levy is “hardly enough to maintain the status quo, much less invest in new initiatives, especially once construction cost inflation is factored in.”
Erica C. Barnett describes the issue in PubliCola, noting that “the graphics-heavy proposal is noticeably light on specifics, the balance of spending categories skews heavily toward car-oriented projects, including road repairs, new pavement ‘on our busiest streets,’ and bridge maintenance, including upgrades and planning for the replacement of the Ballard and Magnolia Bridges.”
The new proposal cuts spending for transit connections, pedestrian projects, and freight mobility. Meanwhile, pedestrian and traffic deaths have been rising since the city adopted of a Vision Zero pledge in 2015. If the city installs sidewalks at the rate proposed in the plan, it would take 400 years to complete the city’s sidewalk network.
According to Barnett, “Polling by the mayor’s office revealed that voters would have approved a $1.7 billion levy—the highest level tested—but Harrell opted to go for a status-quo renewal, prompting many advocates to question why (and push for a more ambitious plan).”
FULL STORY: Advocates Urge City to Adopt More Ambitious, Less Car-Centric Transportation Levy

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

Chicago’s Ghost Rails
Just beneath the surface of the modern city lie the remnants of its expansive early 20th-century streetcar system.

Amtrak Cutting Jobs, Funding to High-Speed Rail
The agency plans to cut 10 percent of its workforce and has confirmed it will not fund new high-speed rail projects.

Ohio Forces Data Centers to Prepay for Power
Utilities are calling on states to hold data center operators responsible for new energy demands to prevent leaving consumers on the hook for their bills.

MARTA CEO Steps Down Amid Citizenship Concerns
MARTA’s board announced Thursday that its chief, who is from Canada, is resigning due to questions about his immigration status.

Silicon Valley ‘Bike Superhighway’ Awarded $14M State Grant
A Caltrans grant brings the 10-mile Central Bikeway project connecting Santa Clara and East San Jose closer to fruition.
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