Seattle Readies $138M Annual Transit Measure for Ballot as 400-Unit Affordable Transit Campus Breaks Ground at Mount Baker

Seattle City Council Advances $138 Million Annual Transit Measure to November Ballot

SEATTLE, Washington — Ensuring continuous funding for vital bus transit frequency and neighborhood connections, the Seattle City Council unanimously placed the Seattle Transit Measure (STM) renewal on the November general election ballot in October 2026. The 10-year measure proposes doubling the city's dedicated local sales tax from 0.15% to 0.3%, generating approximately $138 million annually for municipal transit improvements.

Revenue from the measure will expand overnight and early-morning bus service for healthcare and hospitality shift workers, fund physical bottleneck remediation through the Seattle Transportation Levy, and provide direct transit passes for public high school students, seniors, and low-income residents across Seattle.

Groundbreaking on 400-Unit Affordable Housing Campus at Mount Baker Station

Demonstrating equitable transit-oriented development in action, municipal officials, community leaders, and housing advocates broke ground on a transformative mixed-use residential campus directly adjacent to the Mount Baker Link Light Rail Station. Supported by a $40.6 million capital investment from the Seattle Office of Housing, the development will construct over 400 affordable rental homes across two phases alongside an innovative early childhood education center and neighborhood community hub.

City housing leaders emphasized that positioning large-scale affordable housing next to high-capacity light rail ensures Rainier Valley working families enjoy direct, zero-emission transit access to downtown employment centers, universities, and medical districts.

Sound Transit and King County Expedite RapidRide R Line and Light Rail Extensions

In regional transit operations, King County leaders accelerated $64.4 million in dedicated funding to expedite engineering for the RapidRide R Line, which will transform Metro Route 7 along Rainier Avenue into a premier bus rapid transit corridor connecting to the Rainier Beach Station. Meanwhile, Sound Transit finalized inter-agency task orders with the Seattle Department of Transportation to accelerate design and right-of-way permitting for the West Seattle and Ballard Link Extensions.