Seattle Transportation Benefit District Special Meeting - July 6, 2026: Deliberations on Transit Sales Tax Measure and 23 Proposed Amendments

The Select Committee on the Seattle Transportation Benefit District (STBD) held a special meeting on July 6, 2026, from 11:03 AM to 3:12 PM in the Council Chamber. Chair Rob Saka presided, with 7 council members present (Councilmember Debora Juarez excused, Dan Strauss arriving late). The committee discussed 23 proposed amendments to Council Bill (CB) 121226, which would place a sales and use tax proposition on the November 3, 2026 ballot to fund transit and related transportation programs in Seattle. No votes were taken; the meeting served as public deliberation ahead of a voting meeting scheduled for July 16, 2026.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Greg Woodfill (President, ATU 587) strongly supported Amendment 1 (transit safety) and opposed Amendment 13 (rate reduction). He noted a shooting on a bus the previous night and urged full taxing authority.
• Kirk Hovencotter (Transportation Choices Coalition) urged keeping the tax at 0.3% and a 10-year term, citing record ridership during the FIFA World Cup.
• Mark Brunson (Capitol Hill resident) opposed Amendments 4, 13, and 5, urging support for Amendments 10 and 29 to expand service.
• Jack Wisner (public commenter) suggested funding the streetcar separately and using a vehicle license fee for pavement management.
• Riley Avron (West Seattle resident) opposed Amendments 4, 5, and 13, calling them weakening of the measure.
• Clinton Attaway opposed Amendments 13 and 4, supporting 10 and 29.
• Cecilia Black (Non-Drivers Alliance, wheelchair user) emphasized expanding transit for people with disabilities and keeping the measure at 0.3% and 10 years.
• Jonathan Gonzalez (State Ballard Rail) supported 0.3% and 10-year term, worrying about shorter term alignment with transportation levy.
• Hendrik Delcock (Capitol Hill resident) opposed Amendments 13 and 5.
• Nick Sattel opposed Amendments 4, 5, and 13, highlighting the need for night network funded by STM.
• Harper Nally (Seattle Transit Riders Union) opposed cuts and urged following through on climate goals.
• Carlo Alcantara (Aurora Reimagine Coalition) supported Amendments 16, 11, and opposed 13, 4, 5.
• Joseph Bolden (Seattle Building Trades) supported Amendment 3 (capital projects for workforce).
• Leonard Harrison Jerome supported 0.3% and 10-year term, opposed shorter term.
• Brandon Derbladder opposed Amendment 13, supported night service.
• David Hill (car-free, Transit Riders Union) strongly opposed Amendments 4, 5, 13, citing cuts of $460 million and 1.1 million service hours.
• Amy Storm (West Seattle homeowner) opposed Amendments 13, 4, 5; supported 10, 11, 17, 29.
• Wes Mills (Northgate, transit-dependent) urged going big on buses and opposed Amendments 13 and 4.
• Billy Heatherington (LiUNA Local 242) supported Amendment 3 and opposed 13, emphasizing ADA accessibility.
• Alexandra Johnson and Mia Ayala Marshall (Duwamish River Community Coalition) supported Amendment 2 for electric buses in the Duwamish Valley.
• Andrew Crow (Upper Queen Anne) opposed Amendments 4, 5, 13.
• Jason Lee (Capitol Hill) opposed Amendments 5 and 13, noting 13,000 new drivers added in 2024.
• Rafi Ronquillo opposed 13, supported 10, 11, 17, 29.
• David Haynes criticized council policies and urged reform.
• Robert Kruikshank opposed 13 and 5, citing cost of $29/year for households.
• Alberto Alvarez supported shifting taxes to car usage/parking.
• Daniel Hepner opposed 4, 5, 13.
• Scott Nelson (Seattle Disability Commission) emphasized progressive funding and Amendment 20 for disability inclusion.
• Joseph Smith (Queen Anne) opposed 4, 5, 13.
• Charlie (transit rider, Disability Commission) supported Amendment 20.

Discussion Items

• Chair Saka's Opening Remarks: Emphasized that amendments should not prescriptively define routes; Metro retains operational control. He advocated for safety (Amendment 1) and accountability.
• Amendment 1 (Saka/Kettle): Addresses transit safety and security; allows funding for additional security personnel and implementation of the King County Regional Transit Safety Task Force recommendations. Councilmember Foster questioned supplementation clause and Metro's existing safety investments. Vice Chair Rink placed context of Metro's $9 million in safety from transportation levy and a letter from Metro detailing existing safety programs. Councilmember Lynn questioned whether baseline safety should be increased systemwide rather than add-on.
• Amendment 2 (Saka): Prioritizes electric bus deployment in Duwamish Valley and South Seattle, guided by environmental health disparity maps. Councilmember Foster asked about mechanism; Chair Saka said it provides flexibility. Councilmember Rivera noted need for partnership with City Light and Metro's electrification plans.
• Amendment 3 (Saka): Requires unexpended transit service funds to roll over to accessibility infrastructure. Councilmember Rink asked about current practice; Councilmember Strauss explained underspend historically used for other transit-related projects. Central staff clarified this moves timeline for reporting unspent funds.
• Amendment 4 (Saka): Requires annual council approval of transit service purchases by hours and routes. Councilmember Foster and Rink raised concerns about micromanagement and feasibility. Central staff noted this would significantly change current process and may conflict with Metro's semi-annual adjustments. Chair Saka defended as accountability.
• Amendment 5 (Saka): Shortens measure term from 10 years to 6 years 9 months to align with transportation levy renewal. Councilmember Foster noted council can already reduce rate or term legislatively.
• Amendment 13 (Kettle): Reduces sales tax from 0.3% to 0.2%, cutting $460 million and 1.1 million service hours, eliminating infrastructure/maintenance category. Councilmember Kettle argued for affordability and cumulative tax burden; median household cost drops from $58 to $39/year. Councilmember Rivera noted inflationary adjustment would require ~0.23% to maintain service levels. Councilmember Strauss expressed interest in focusing on transit hours but preferred a VLF. Chair Saka acknowledged affordability intent.
• Amendment 16 (Rink): Explicitly allows night transit service. Councilmember Rivera clarified it doesn't prioritize over other services.
• Amendment 11 (Lynn): Adds intent to seek state authorization for progressive revenue; allows council to adjust tax rate/uses if new sources authorized. Vice Chair Rink co-sponsored.
• Amendment 17 (Rink): Similar to 11, explicitly references congestion pricing and commercial parking tax. Councilmember Lynn co-sponsored.
• Amendment 6 (Foster): Requires a midterm evaluation report on eight dimensions including fare recovery, service outcomes, equity. Vice Chair Rink co-sponsored.
• Amendment 14 (Kettle): Requests report on feasibility of using smaller buses. Postponed due to connectivity issues but later discussed.
• Amendment 21 (Rivera): Requests report on performance of Routes 62 and 65.
• Amendment 22 (Kettle): Requests report on Waterfront Shuttle pilot and expansion opportunities. Councilmember Kettle highlighted lack of service west of Third Avenue.
• Amendment 23 (Kettle): Requests report on bus stop spacing efficiency. Councilmember Strauss called it the "Strauss Amendment" due to concerns about Ballard connectivity.
• Amendment 25 (Rivera): Requires annual fare recovery and on-time performance reporting. Chair Saka supported.
• Amendment 28 and 26 (Hollingsworth): 28 requests report on expanding Transit Access Program (TAP); 26 expands eligibility to participants of city income-verified programs (e.g., Utility Discount Program, Fresh Bucks). Councilmembers Rivera and Rink co-sponsored.
• Amendment 8 (Strauss): Allows use of revenues for contracted passenger services (e.g., Golden Gardens Direct, Trailhead Direct) if Metro cannot provide. Vice Chair Rink asked about guardrails; central staff said amendments don't require contracts, default is Metro.
• Amendment 10 (Strauss): Prioritizes funding for connections to regional centers (e.g., Ballard-Downtown). Councilmember Rink co-sponsored. Chair Saka asked about impact on other neighborhoods; central staff said existing equity criteria unchanged.
• Amendment 20 (Juarez/Hollingsworth): Explicitly includes individuals with disabilities in priority populations and clarifies accessibility infrastructure. Councilmembers Rink and Rivera co-sponsored.
• Amendment 24 (Rink): Increases minimum transit service spending from 60% to 65%, reduces capital cap from $5M to $2M/year, adds Sound Transit 3 projects (Graham Street, West Seattle, Ballard extensions) as eligible capital uses. Councilmember Strauss noted Sound Transit's funding gaps for these projects. Chair Saka raised concerns about diverting from accessibility.
• Amendment 27 (Rink): Expands TAP eligibility to trade school students. Council President Hollingsworth and Councilmember Rivera co-sponsored.
• Amendment 29 (Strauss): Increases minimum transit service spending to 75% to reflect the executive's planned spending. Councilmember Strauss argued the measure should be focused on transit hours, not "transit adjacent".

Key Outcomes

• No votes were taken; this was a discussion-only meeting.
• Next Steps:
  • Public hearings on Monday, July 13, 2026 (9:30 AM remote, 5:00 PM in-person).
  • Committee voting meeting on Thursday, July 16, 2026, at 9:30 AM.
  • Full Council vote by Tuesday, July 21, 2026, to meet ballot deadline.
• Notable: Chair Saka indicated he may prepare a "chair's package" of consensus amendments to streamline the July 16 vote.
• Key Statistics:
  • Median household cost at 0.3%: $58/year; at 0.2%: $39/year.
  • Low-income household cost: $35 at 0.3%, $23 at 0.2%.
  • Amendment 13 would reduce total revenue by ~$460 million and cut 1.1 million service hours.
  • Current fare recovery ratio ~10% (pre-pandemic ~30%).
  • 47% service expansion anticipated.
  • Incident: A shooting on a Metro bus occurred the night before the meeting; Chair Saka highlighted transit safety needs.