Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson announced a legislative proposal on Tuesday to significantly expand the city's investment in public transportation by doubling a local sales tax.
During her announcement at City Hall, Wilson emphasized that for many households, transportation is the second-largest expense after housing.
The Seattle Times reports that the new tax would collect an average of $138 million per year over its decade-long lifespan.
It also signals that the mayor intends to use her seat on the Sound Transit board to advocate for aggressive revenue-matching to prevent project cancellations.
However, this trade-off is only effective for those who live and work in areas where transit is a viable option.
Mayor Katie Wilson's 10-year transit plan aims to raise $1.38 billion for bus frequency, streetcars, and low-income fares through a 0.3% sales tax.