Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson is proposing to renew and expand the Seattle Transit Measure, a move that would double the city’s transit sales tax and is already stirring controversy.
The existing voter-approved measure, passed by 80% of Seattle voters in 2020, currently pays for frequent bus service throughout the day, Seattle Streetcar operations, projects that fix congestion “pinch points” where buses get delayed, and free ORCA cards for people with qualifying needs.
Wilson’s new proposal would increase the city’s transit sales tax from 0.15% to 0.30% — effectively doubling the current rate, from 15 cents to 30 cents per $100 purchase…