Proposition 1 will double the city’s transit tax to add 95,000 more bus trips and preserve 180,000 bus trips annually.
Seattle voters have paved the way for the city’s largest-ever expansion of transit service. Citizens voted in favor of Proposition 1 Tuesday night, which will double the city’s transit tax and take effect on April 1, 2027.
“The increase amounts to 30 cents, or 15 cents more, per $100 in taxable purchases. The city estimates the tax would raise about $138 million a year, preserving 180,000 city-funded bus trips annually and adding 95,000 more trips, with a focus on expanding late-night, weekend, and midday service under the city’s 2026 Seattle Transit Renewal,” Michelle Esteban writes for KOMO News.
Proposition 1’s tax hike will be in effect for the next decade. The measure will also fund construction work aimed at reducing transit delays, and double the amount of free transit cards for qualifying residents.
Read the full story: Election-night returns in Seattle show 70% backing for Proposition 1 transit tax
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If passed, the Seattle Transit Measure would trigger a 0.3% sales tax and raise an average of $138 million per year to maintain and expand Seattle’s bus services.
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