CITY OF SEATTLE
ORDINANCE __________________
COUNCIL BILL __________________
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AN ORDINANCE relating to the Seattle Transportation Benefit District; authorizing material scope changes to City of Seattle Proposition 1 to expand uses of revenues.
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WHEREAS, City of Seattle Ordinance 123397 established the Seattle Transportation Benefit District (STBD) for preserving and maintaining transportation infrastructure; implementing elements of the Seattle Transportation Strategic Plan and other planning documents; investing in bicycle, pedestrian, freight mobility, and transit enhancements; and providing people with choices to meet their mobility needs; and
WHEREAS, Revised Code of Washington (RCW) 36.73.160 requires the STBD to adopt a policy to address material changes to a project’s cost, scope, and schedule; and
WHEREAS, in STBD Resolution 3, the Governing Board of the STBD approved a material change policy that addresses the procedures for approving changes to project cost, scope, and schedule; and
WHEREAS, in STBD Resolution 12, the Governing Board of the STBD submitted a ballot measure (“STBD Proposition 1”) to the qualified electors of the STBD to authorize up to a 0.1 percent sales and use tax, and an annual vehicle license fee of up to an additional $60 per registered vehicle with a $20 rebate for low-income individuals, for the purposes of funding King County Metro Transit service in Seattle; and
WHEREAS, on November 4, 2014, STBD Proposition 1 was approved by a majority of qualified electors of the STBD; and
WHEREAS, by Ordinance 125070, The City of Seattle assumed the rights, powers, immunities, functions, and obligations of the STBD as authorized under RCW 36.74.030; and
WHEREAS, on June 25, 2018, by Ordinance 125606, the Seattle City Council authorized material scope changes to STBD Proposition 1, including provisions to provide transit passes to Seattle Public School students and authorizing funding for capital improvements that improve transit speed and reliability; and
WHEREAS, in Ordinance 126115, The City submitted a ballot measure (“the Seattle Transit Measure”) to the qualified electors of the City of Seattle to authorize a sales and use tax increase for the purposes of supporting transit service benefitting Seattle residents, including frequent transit network maintenance and associated capital improvements; low-income fare programs; and transportation needs related to COVID-19 recovery and the West Seattle Bridge closure; and
WHEREAS, on November 3, 2020, City of Seattle Proposition 1 (the Seattle Transit Measure) was approved by a majority of qualified electors, and its tax expires April 1, 2027; and
WHEREAS, The City of Seattle wants to improve access to the transit system, expand the capacity of the transit system, and improve the speed and reliability of transit service to meet its growing population; and
WHEREAS, since the passage of the Seattle Transit Measure in 2020, the City is adding more than 3,000 bus trips each week within Seattle and paying for more than 140,000 annual service hours to make bus service more reliable and increase access to frequent bus service; and
WHEREAS, since the passage of the Seattle Transit Measure, the City has continued to partner with the Central Puget Sound Regional Transit Authority (Sound Transit) on its high-capacity transit investments in the City of Seattle, including the West Seattle Link Extension (WSLE) and Ballard Link Extension (BLE); and together these two projects represent the largest infrastructure program in Seattle’s history; and
WHEREAS, the City has a critical role in supporting these Sound Transit projects through their planning, design, permitting, and construction phases; and
WHEREAS, the City will directly deliver planning documents and transit access projects to complement Sound Transit investments in the City of Seattle; and
WHEREAS, on April 23, 2024, Seattle City Council unanimously approved SDOT’s Seattle Transportation Plan, which included a separate planning element for transit and specifically mentioned a partnership with Sound Transit to support delivery of future Link light rail expansions as a “key move”; and
WHEREAS, the expansion and partnership are best served by a change in project scope; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 5 of Ordinance 126115, the Seattle Transit Advisory Board will review and provide comment on the proposed change of scope; NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY OF SEATTLE AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Pursuant to the material change policy adopted by Seattle Transportation Benefit District (STBD) Resolution 3, later subsumed by The City of Seattle, the scope of the project authorized by the Seattle Transit Measure is expanded to allow its revenues to fund:
A. Staffing resources to support and complete The City of Seattle’s agreements and requirements necessary for implementation of the Sound Transit 3 program, including but not limited to dedicated and part-time staff to support project planning, permitting, and delivery of Sound Transit projects in Seattle; and
B. Third-party funding contributions to deliver The City of Seattle’s Preferred Alternative for the West Seattle Link Extension and Ballard Link Extension.
Section 2. This ordinance shall take effect as provided by Seattle Municipal Code Sections 1.04.020 and 1.04.070.
Passed by the City Council the ________ day of _________________________, 2024, and signed by me in open session in authentication of its passage this ________ day of _________________________, 2024.
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President ____________ of the City Council
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Approved / |
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returned unsigned / |
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vetoed this _____ day of _________________, 2024. |
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Bruce A. Harrell, Mayor
Filed by me this ________ day of _________________________, 2024.
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Scheereen Dedman, City Clerk
(Seal)