February 26, 2020
Dear Councilmembers:
Seattle’s future is tied to the success and quality of our transit system. To build a livable, affordable, and sustainable City
of the future, we must invest in a transit system that enables all people to get to where they need go. Our transit system
is supporting more people than ever before as ridership and our population grows. Getting our residents to work, school
and other daily needs — and getting them there safely, quickly, and reliably – remains one of Seattle’s top priorities.
As you know, the six-year funding from the Seattle Transportation Benefit District (STBD) Proposition 1 expires this year.
In recent months, the City has been working on a series of plans to ask Seattle voters to renew our TBD this Fall. I also
appreciate my conversations with the County Executive, County Council, Seattle City Council and stakeholders regarding
a potential measure countywide. Following up on my conversation with Council Chair Balducci, I wanted to highlight the
benefits of our STBD, convey a proposed timeline for a potential City or County measure, and reiterate my commitment
to transit in Seattle and across the region.
Our STBD has led to incredible benefits for both Seattle residents and regional commuters. It has increased transit
ridership in Seattle and added capacity for over 93,000 additional rides on weekdays. The investments made possible by
STBD have supported the growth of King County Metro and improved service throughout Seattle. Through STBD, the
City of Seattle now funds more than 8% of Metro’s bus service countywide.
Thanks to STBD:
• 70% of Seattle households have access to a very frequent transit network of 10-minute or better service within a
10-minute walk up from 25% in 2015
• Over 8,000 new weekly trips have been added on routes serving Seattle
• Over 78 King County Metro routes have improved service
• All 12,000 Seattle Public Schools high school students, 500 income-qualified middle school students, all Seattle
Promise Scholars and 1,500 low income residents have access to free unlimited transit passes through ORCA
Opportunity
• 22 transit capital projects were completed in 2019 to improve speed, reliability, and the rider experience –
including many red bus-only lanes
• Funded Via to Transit, a popular first/last mile pilot service that connects Southeast Seattle residents to light rail
stations
Our City must secure a reliable funding source to continue making investments like these to grow our transit ridership
and network.
As our city and region have grown exponentially in recent years, we know that traffic and carbon emissions do not stop
at the Seattle City limits and neither should our response. Getting more individuals out of cars and increasing transit to
connect Seattle to the Eastside, North and South King County is good for Seattle, which is why I am supportive of a
regional transit vision.
Office of the Mayor   600 Fourth Avenue, P.O. Box 94749, Seattle, WA 98124   206-684-4000   seattle.gov/mayor

 However, if voters in Seattle were to support any Regional Transportation Benefit District measure in 2020, it must build
upon the success of Seattle’s Transportation Benefit District and expand the benefits Seattle transit riders received from
these service investments to travelers throughout King County. Because the City of Seattle can and has acted on our
authority successfully, I would never be supportive of a regional measure that does not guarantee the benefits and
priorities of our widely supported TBD. And I believe both our City Council and voters passionately agree with this
approach.
There are several priorities I would consider essential to a Regional Transportation Benefit District measure:
Transit is the First Choice
• Invest in more frequent, all-day service to successfully get riders where they want to go in a shorter amount of
time.
• Maintain current Metro service levels within Seattle consistent with the highest service levels funded by STBD.
Providing Access to Opportunity for All
• Maintain and grow the investments made over the last six years through STBD to exceed our 2025 goal of 72%
of households with access to very frequent service.
• Use new revenue to support new connections to underserved areas of Seattle.
• Increase support for ORCA Opportunity and low-income access to transit programs.
Continued Investments to Improve the Rider Experience
• Invest in capital projects to improve the reliability and travel times for buses.
• Use new revenue for capital improvements to support the speed and reliability of buses throughout Seattle and
the region consistent with the “Metro Connects” plan.
Securing a reliable funding source for enhanced transit service, improved transit priority, and resources for our programs
for student and low-income access to transit is a critical priority for the City of Seattle in 2020. Our accomplishments and
success to date with STBD are essential to maintain and grow transit access.
Improved access to transit is critically important to the success of our growing city and region and we need to identify
sustainable funding. If Seattle or the County wanted to act for an August measure, a measure would ideally pass by the
end of April. The City is fully prepared to present a robust proposal for consideration in the coming weeks to the Seattle
City Council and begin Council consideration by March 18 to allow ample time for City Council and stakeholders to
consider the continuation of our important services.
We look forward to engaging with you while a regional measure is discussed and are prepared to support a regional
solution that improves our transit network and service. If there is not a pathway to a regional measure, we need to act
quickly to ask Seattle voters to renew our commitment to the services and investments currently funded through STBD
in order to avoid a potential gap in service that would be devastating to us all.
Sincerely,

Jenny A. Durkan
Mayor of Seattle