Seattle council lifts SDOT levy proviso, releasing 2025 transportation funding

Seattle City Council on March 11 unanimously lifted a proviso on Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) levy spending, clearing the way for the department to access full 2025 funding for projects across the city.

The move came after public comment from Ballard-area senior living residents who urged council members to keep the proviso in place to preserve project-level oversight for the Burke-Gilman Trail missing link on the Leary Market route. Nancy Craig, a resident of Ballard Landmark Senior Community, said, "We strongly object and request a no vote on council bill 1 2 0 9 4 6. We do not want to be blindsided again. This was good governance in December. It is good governance now." Lanning (Lan) Mosher, also a Ballard resident, urged the council to reject the bill as well: "Please vote no on c b 1 2 0 9 46."

Councilmember Strauss, speaking in favor of lifting the proviso, framed the vote as the next step after an accountability review of SDOT's levy spending plans: "As this accountability accountability work is complete, we must move swiftly to release this proviso to ensure the unintended consequences of delay are avoided." Strauss noted the breadth of projects included in SDOT's plan, citing pages of sidewalk, curb ramp and crossing improvements across the city.

Councilmember Saka, chair of the Transportation Committee, said he would vote for the ordinance and emphasized ongoing expectations for department engagement: "I will be voting for this legislation today," and that "the expectation inherent in this levy ... is that SDOT continue to proactively engage, not merely inform this council and communities that we all serve."

The ordinance, Council Bill 120946, amends the 2025 budget and the 2025–2030 capital improvement program to lift a proviso placed on levy spending during last year's budget process. The proviso had required SDOT to provide detailed project information to the council before spending levy funds; council members who supported keeping the proviso said it provided needed transparency and local oversight. Opponents of lifting the proviso warned the change could reduce visibility into how specific projects are implemented; supporters said the accountability work is complete and that releasing funds will prevent delays to dozens of planned projects.

Vote at a glance: - Council Bill 120946 (lift SDOT levy proviso / amend 2025 budget): Passed, roll-call vote 9-0 (Councilmembers Solomon — Aye; Strauss — Yes; Hollingsworth — Aye; Kettle — Aye; Moore — Aye; Rink — Yes; Rivera — Aye; Saka — Aye; Council President Sarah Nelson — Aye). - Resolution 32165 (adopt statements of legislative intent for 2025 budget/CIP): Adopted, roll-call vote 9-0. - Consent calendar (minutes of 03/04/2025; Council Bill 120947, payment of the bills; other listed consent items): Adopted, roll-call vote 9-0.

Council members repeatedly emphasized that lifting the proviso does not eliminate expectations for ongoing public engagement and reporting. Strauss and Saka both noted the size of the levy and the number of discrete projects it funds; Strauss pointed to multi-page appendices listing sidewalk, curb ramp and crossing projects as evidence of the levy’s citywide impact.

Public commenters raised separate issues during the meeting’s public comment period, including concerns about proposed pickleball courts near wetlands in Magnuson Park and complaints about city processes; those remarks were heard but did not alter the council’s vote on the levy proviso.

The ordinance will be signed by the council president and transmitted as required. Councilmembers announced a few excused absences for upcoming meetings, and the council adjourned with its next regular meeting scheduled for March 18 at 2 p.m.