Seattle is making measurable progress on transportation improvements citywide, according to a newly released report detailing how millions in voter-approved funding are being used to expand infrastructure, improve safety, and address long-standing inequities in the transportation system.
The City of Seattle recently released its 2025 Seattle Transportation Levy Annual Report, outlining how a $77 million investment supported upgrades to sidewalks, transit access, bike lanes, and street safety projects. The report, along with the city’s Transportation Levy Dashboard, shows most programs met or exceeded their 2025 milestones.
In the first full year of implementation under the eight-year, $1.55 billion levy approved by voters in 2024, city officials say the focus has remained on improving safety and mobility, particularly in historically underinvested neighborhoods.
“The report highlights the progress we have made toward building a city where everyone can move around safely and efficiently, no matter where they live or how they travel,” said Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson.
City crews repaired more than 17,000 potholes and completed nearly 21,000 targeted sidewalk safety improvements in 2025, while also expanding transit and bike infrastructure. Mobility upgrades included 52 transit spot improvements designed to make bus travel safer and more reliable, along with more than four miles of enhanced protected bike lanes.
Safety improvements were also a central focus. The Seattle Department of Transportation installed 45 leading pedestrian intervals to give walkers a head start at crossings, completed 30 Safe Routes to School projects, and implemented eight high-collision safety upgrades aimed at reducing crashes in high-risk areas.
“We have worked closely with communities to ensure these projects meet local needs and create opportunities for everyone to thrive,” said Wilson. “And we have advanced efforts to make Seattle greener and more sustainable, laying the groundwork for a healthier future.”
Environmental and sustainability efforts were also part of the investment. The city planted more than 1,100 trees, continued planning for low-pollution neighborhoods, and evaluated 30 existing electric vehicle charging sites to support future expansion to libraries, community centers, and parks.
The levy also includes a historic investment in sidewalk infrastructure. In 2025, the city built nearly 30 new blocks of sidewalks and hosted 10 neighborhood “walkshops,” community engagement sessions that helped identify 250 new sidewalk and walkway blocks planned for delivery within the first four years of the levy.
“The eight-year Levy is a cornerstone of our efforts to achieve the goals outlined in the Seattle Transportation Plan,” said Angela Brady, acting director of the Seattle Department of Transportation. “Through investments across multiple program areas, we are working toward our shared vision of Seattle as an equitable, vibrant city where everyone can move around safely.”
To improve accountability and transparency, the city established a new Levy Oversight Committee and began forming a Transportation Funding Task Force to explore long-term infrastructure funding solutions.
“We established a new Levy Oversight Committee to ensure transparency and representation, with a focus on equity in its recruitment process,” said Brady. “Additionally, we began work to form a Transportation Funding Task Force to explore long-term solutions for maintaining and improving our city’s infrastructure.”
City officials say the progress made in 2025 reflects both the scale of the investment and the importance of continued community engagement in shaping transportation priorities.
The city has also begun construction on the Fortson Square redesign, which aims to create a more welcoming gateway to Pioneer Square, as part of broader efforts to improve livability and public space.
Looking ahead, officials say the city will continue to focus on delivering projects on time and maintaining transparency as it works to meet the long-term commitments outlined in the transportation levy.
“The progress we’ve made in 2025 is a testament to what we can achieve when we work together toward a common goal,” said Brady.
