The Tacoma City Council will discuss a resolution during its April 14, 2026 Study Session regarding the potential placement of the Connect Tacoma: Safe Streets and Sidewalks measure on the August 4, 2026 Primary Election ballot.
If placed on the ballot and approved by voters, this proposition would secure funding over a 10-year period to maintain, repair, and enhance Tacoma’s streets, sidewalks, and multimodal infrastructure. The measure would replace the previous 10-year, voter-approved Tacoma Streets Initiative which has expired and authorize, beginning in 2027, a 1.5 percent Gross Earnings Tax (GET) on natural gas, electric, and phone utilities, and a property tax rate of 20 cents per $1,000 of assessed property value.
If passed, the replacement levy is expected to generate approximately $20 million annually. With matching grants and partnership funding, the levy is projected to raise an additional $12 million per year for a total of $320 million over 10 years. The approximately $320 million program is organized into three investment categories:
- Safe Streets for Everyone ($159 million | 50 percent):Â Funding for arterial corridors and high-use streets, focusing on safety, reliability, and economic connectivity
- Better Neighborhood Streets ($85 million | 26 percent):Â Funding for residential streets through paving, pothole repair, traffic calming, and sidewalk enhancements
- Improved Connections ($76 million | 24 percent):Â Funding to expand sidewalks, ADA access, and multimodal connections to support walking, biking, rolling, and transit use
The investment framework for the Connect Tacoma proposal was informed by community surveys conducted in 2024 and early 2026, as well as input from a Community Levy Committee that met from February through April of 2026, an Open House on April 2, and other conversations with community members.