Levy to Move Seattle

Updated: July 2024

Transportation Levy Proposal:

On July 10, 2024, Mayor Bruce Harrell signed into law the legislation that will place the Transportation Levy on Seattle voters’ ballots in November 2024. The legislation was unanimously approved by the City Council on July 9.

If approved by voters, the eight-year $1.55 billion Transportation Levy will provide funding to enhance the city’s transportation infrastructure including building sidewalks, paving streets, repairing bridges, and improving transit connections. The levy reflects the safety, maintenance, and modernization needs of Seattle’s transportation infrastructure and incorporates robust community input.

The current Levy to Move Seattle, which expires at the end of 2024, represents roughly 30% of the Seattle Department of Transportation’s budget. The proposed Transportation Levy would renew and expand this funding source to build a broad range of projects reflecting the city’s evolving transportation needs and priorities.

Background

Approved by voters in November 2015, the 9-year, $930 million Levy to Move Seattle provides funding to improve safety for all travelers, maintain our streets and bridges, and invest in reliable, affordable travel options for a growing city.

The levy provides roughly 30% of the City's transportation budget and replaces the 9-year, $365 million Bridging the Gap levy approved by voters in 2006.

The levy aims to take care of the basics, while also investing in the future with improvements to move more people and goods in and around a growing Seattle.

Thank you, Levy Oversight Committee

An oversight committee made up of Seattle residents, appointed by the Mayor and City Council monitors levy expenses and revenues, reviews program and project priorities, and makes recommendations to the Mayor and City Council on how to spend levy proceeds.

Our commitment to transparency and accountability includes working closely with the Levy Oversight Committee. SDOT appreciates the time and service the Committee’s volunteers dedicate to Levy oversight.

See materials from the Levy Oversight Committee meetings here.

Keeping track of Levy progress

We are committed to clear and transparent reporting on transportation projects funded by the Levy to Move Seattle.  Levy reports and the Levy dashboard are important tools for you to monitor Levy progress. Here are the reports we produce each year, which are also available on the Materials page.

• Planned Accomplishments and Spend Plan: Published in late Q1 of each year
• Quarterly Reports: Published on May 15, August 15, and November 15 each year
• Annual Reports: Published on March 30 of the following year
• Levy dashboard: Updated quarterly with data for all Levy programs. Below are three short video tutorials showing how to use the Levy dashboard.
  • Part 1: Basic Tutorial
  • Part 2: Program Deep Dive
  • Part 3: Financial Summary and Life-to-Date Reporting