CITY OF SEATTLE
RESOLUTION __________________
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A RESOLUTION opposing Washington Initiative Measure 976 ("I-976") and urging Seattle voters to vote "No" on I-976 on the November 5, 2019, general election ballot.
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WHEREAS, Washington Initiative Measure 976 (hereinafter, "I-976") would undermine progress made by The City of Seattle, Sound Transit, and the State of Washington in building a more equitable and sustainable transportation system that responds to the challenges posed by the region's extraordinary growth, an ongoing climate crisis, and past failures to build a mass transit system that could efficiently and cost effectively serve the needs of Seattle in the twenty-first century, by eliminating major funding sources for light rail expansion, bus service in Seattle, and the primary sources of non-highway spending at the state level; and
WHEREAS, I-976 would repeal funding authority for all or substantial portions of transportation benefit districts in Seattle and 61 other cities across Washington State, a sum of $60 million per year that is largely dedicated to improving safety and maintaining infrastructure and, as in Seattle, to reducing crowding and expanding access to bus service; and
WHEREAS, I-976 is intended to eliminate $24 million per year in Seattle Transportation Benefit District funding primarily dedicated to additional bus service for Seattle riders that helps alleviate overcrowding; adds more speed and reliability; and provides more all-day, evening, and weekend bus service accessible to more Seattle neighborhoods; and
WHEREAS, Seattle Transit Benefit District-funded expansion of bus service has allowed Seattle to absorb much of its growth via transit rather than additional cars, providing 350,000 new annual service hours - the equivalent of 8,000 weekly bus trips or 79 buses running 12 hours per day 365 days a year - capacity for 106,032 additional bus rides per day on bus routes serving Seattle, providing ten-minute or better all-da...
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