The City of Seattle has released its 2025 Transportation Levy Annual Progress Report, detailing a $77 million investment that has moved the city closer to its safety and mobility goals. According to the report, most levy programs met or exceeded their planned milestones for the year, with significant infrastructure activity taking place in the Ballard, West Seattle, and White Center corridors.
Ballard: Bridge Upgrades and New Connections
The Ballard neighborhood saw substantial progress on both major infrastructure and local safety enhancements:
- New Traffic Signal: A new signal was installed at NW 51st St and 15th Ave NW, creating a critical crossing for those walking or biking between the Ballard Brewery District and the historic downtown area.
- Ballard Bridge Maintenance: SDOT progressed on the design for electrical and mechanical upgrades to the moveable ship canal bridge and advanced contracting for necessary structural repairs. Additionally, a deck overlay was performed on the 15th Ave NW/Leary Way Bridge.
- Burke-Gilman Trail: Planning for the Missing Link reached a major milestone, with design work approaching 60% completion for the new alternative route along NW Market St and Leary Way NW.
- Public Spaces: Crews refreshed the striping along the Ballard Ave "people street" to maintain its vibrancy as a community gathering spot.
West Seattle and White Center: Safety and Sidewalk Planning
Investments in West Seattle and the surrounding White Center area (including Delridge and Highland Park) focused heavily on pedestrian safety and school access:
- High-Collision Safety: A major safety project was completed on Sylvan Way SW to reduce traffic accidents in a historically high-collision area.
- Safe Routes to School: At Genesee Hill Elementary, the levy funded new "School Street" improvements and street art, which Principal Liz Dunn noted has "deepened our sense of community and school pride".
- Sidewalk Planning: To address missing infrastructure, SDOT hosted neighborhood "walkshops" in Highland Park, Arbor Heights, North Delridge, and South Delridge to co-create plans for future sidewalks and walkways.
- Transit and Maintenance: Transit spot improvements were implemented on SW Oregon St (affecting routes 50 and 128) to improve bus reliability. Maintenance crews also performed bridge cleaning on the Fauntleroy Expressway.
- Future Paving: Paving design and repair work progressed for Fauntleroy Way SW to ensure the roadway remains functional during upcoming light rail construction.
Citywide Accountability and Future Outlook
Beyond these specific neighborhood projects, the city repaired 17,276 potholes—filling 90% of them within 72 hours—and planted over 1,100 trees citywide. To ensure these tax dollars are spent as promised, the city established a new Levy Oversight Committee, which prioritized representation from equity priority areas during its recruitment.
Mayor Katie B. Wilson stated the report highlights "progress we’ve made toward building a city where everyone can move around safely and efficiently, no matter where they live or how they travel". As the city enters the second year of this eight-year, $1.55 billion levy, residents can track ongoing projects through the Seattle Transportation Levy Dashboard.
