Seattle City Wire

A new King County proposal funded by the Seattle Transportation Benefit District aims to reinvigorate public transportation in response to the pandemic. 

The Seattle Transportation Benefit District (STBD) was passed in 2020 by Seattle voters to use a sales tax to fund transit services. The .15% tax is projected to generate $39 million each year for the transit system during its life. The city also further committed to ORCA Opportunity programming, which provides access to transportation for the elderly and low-income residents. 

The six-year proposal will be considered by the Seattle City Council and King County Council — if passed, the proposal would fund approximately 170,000 metro bus hours in a given year. 

"As the region recovers [from the coronavirus], Metro will work to ensure our economy and community are more equitable and stronger than before," King County Executive Dow Constantine said in a release. "Thanks to the wisdom of voters, the Seattle Transit Benefit District will play a big part in Metro's reliable and frequent service." 

The STBD currently supports more than 180,000 hours of public transit. Should the new proposal pass, it will begin in April. The investment comes when the city's transit system is working to reopen services previously closed due to the pandemic. 

As metropolitan areas begin to distribute vaccines, many city officials are eager to return people to work. 

"We're optimistic about the future of transit and our region," King County Metro General Manager Terry White said in the release. "The community relies on transit, and we're committed to continue to deliver it – safely, equitably, and sustainably." 

The city Transportation director, Sam Zimbabwe, that the bus public bus service will help create a "strong economic recovery." 

"We look forward to working with our partners at King County Metro and providing safe, efficient, and frequent transit for riders — including essential workers while building a more inclusive city," he said in the release.