Connect Tacoma: Safe Streets and Sidewalks

Better Neighborhood Streets (numbers are estimated)

Total Investment: (approximately 26% of total funds)

• Voter Funding: $75 Million
• Grants & Partnerships: $10 Million

Investments focus on residential streets and nearby spaces where daily activities occur.

Key Improvements:

• New street paving
• Faster pothole repairs
• Sidewalk improvements
• Traffic calming measures

Safer Streets for Everyone (numbers are estimated)

Total Investment: (approximately 50% of the total funds)

• Voter Funding: $85 Million
• Grants & Partnerships: $74 Million

This category focuses on improving Tacoma’s busiest streets and key arterials.

Key Improvements

• Improved street surfaces
• Supporting Freight and Economic Development
• Pothole repairs
• Safety enhancements
• Expanded transportation connections

Improved Connections (numbers are estimated)

Total Investment: (approximately 24% of the total funds)

• Voter Funding: $40 Million
• Grants & Partnerships: $36 Million

This category focuses on improving access to everyday destinations.

Key Improvements:

• Safe Routes to School
• Sidewalk repairs and new sidewalk links
• ADA accessibility upgrades
• New and improved trails
• Multimodal enhancements (walking, biking, rolling, transit)

The community provided input into this proposal.

The Community Levy Committee served as an advisory body to:

• Reflect community perspectives
• Review public engagement input
• Provide feedback on investment priorities and materials

Community Listening Session and Open House on April 2, 2026

Additional outreach included:

• Open houses and town halls
• Stakeholder listening sessions
• Advisory group meetings
• Surveys
• Digital engagement

These efforts were intended to reach a broad range of community members.

The Connect Tacoma: Safe Streets and Sidewalks Levy is a proposed 10-year funding measure to improve Tacoma’s streets, sidewalks, and transportation system. It focuses on better neighborhood streets, safer streets for everyone and better connections.

The levy would fund a range of transportation improvements, including:

• Street repairs, paving, and pothole fixes
• New and improved sidewalks
• New crossings and traffic calming measures
• School route safety improvements
• Bicycle and multimodal infrastructure
• Connections to transit and neighborhood destinations

The levy is expected to generate approximately $320 million over 10 years, including $200 million of voter-approved funding, $90 million in federal, state, and local grants, and $30 million in partnerships.

Investments are organized into three categories:

• Better Neighborhood Streets – Improving residential streets and local areas
• Safer Streets for Everyone – Enhancing safety on major roads and arterials
• Improve Connections – Expanding access to transit, schools, and business districts

If approved by voters, the levy would include:

• A 1.5% increase in utility earnings tax on natural gas, electric, and phone utilities
• A property tax increase of $0.20 per $1,000 of assessed value

These changes would begin in 2027 and continue for 10 years.

Certain residents may qualify for property tax exemptions under Washington State law, including:

• Seniors
• Individuals with disabilities
• Others who meet eligibility requirements

The current 2015 Voter Approved Streets Initiative recently expired.

Since 2015, the 2015 Voter Approved Streets Initiative has:

• Repaired more than 5,600 residential street blocks
• Secured over $144 million in state and federal grants for 77 capital projects
• Leveraged every Streets Initiative Dollar into roughly $3 in total project value
• Built partnerships with Environmental Services, TPU, private developers, Tacoma Public Schools, and Parks Tacoma.
• Improved major streets and arterials
• Expanded pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure
• Added safety features like crossings and traffic calming

The proposal was shaped through:

• A Community Levy Committee with diverse representation
• Public meetings, including a listening session and open house
• Citywide surveys conducted in 2024 and 2026

Common priorities included:

• Better major street conditions and faster pothole repair
• Investing in safer routes to school for Tacoma children
• Repairing residential streets across Tacoma
• Safer streets and fewer serious crashes
• More complete sidewalks and connections
• Equitable investment across neighborhoods
• Clear communication and accountability

Voters will consider the measure during the August 4, 2026, Primary Election.

The City will:

• Provide annual and regular public reporting
• Track and share progress