Seattle Road Safety Advocates Say Transportation Levy Perpetuates Car-Centric Status Quo

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).”