Building a Safer, More Connected Tacoma

Why Voting YES on Prop 1 Matters for Our Community

If you’ve taken a ride or a walk down the J Street Bike Boulevard, you’ve experienced firsthand what smart, community-focused infrastructure investments can do for Tacoma.

What used to be just another residential street is now a safer, lower-stress corridor connecting neighbors from Hilltop and beyond to schools, local businesses, transit, and healthcare. The J Street project didn't happen by accident, it was made possible through local investment in our city's transportation infrastructure.

On the upcoming August 4th Primary Election ballot, Tacoma voters have the opportunity to build on that success by voting YES on Proposition 1: The Connect Tacoma Safe Streets and Sidewalks Levy.

Here is why Prop 1 is essential to keeping Tacoma moving safely, equitably, and efficiently.

What is Prop 1?

Prop 1 is a proposed 10-year funding measure that replaces the city's expiring 2015 Streets Initiative. Rather than starting from scratch, Prop 1 maintains our commitment to improving street conditions, fixing sidewalks, upgrading safety at busy intersections, and filling critical gaps in our bike and pedestrian networks.

Over the next decade, Prop 1 will generate $200 million in local voter-approved funding. But the impact doesn't stop there.

The 3-to-1 Impact: Smart Budgeting That Leverages Outside Grants

One of the strongest arguments for Prop 1 is how effectively local funds are multiplied. Over the course of the previous Streets Initiative, Tacoma Public Works successfully leveraged local tax dollars into roughly $3 of total project value for every $1 collected.

By passing Prop 1, Tacoma will unlock an estimated $120 million in additional state, federal, and partner grant funds. That turns a $200 million local investment into a $320 million total transformation for Tacoma’s infrastructure. Without local matching funds, our city misses out on millions in federal and state grants that would otherwise go to other cities.

Where the Funding Will Go

Prop 1 breaks funding into three targeted categories to ensure balanced investments across all Tacoma neighborhoods:

1. Better Neighborhood Streets (26% of funds / ~$85M total)

• Faster pothole repairs and full residential street repaving.

• Neighborhood traffic calming, including speed bumps, traffic circles, and safer residential street crossings.

• Neighborhood sidewalk repairs that make local streets safer for kids playing and neighbors walking.

2. Safer Streets for Everyone (50% of funds / ~$159M total)

• Focusing on major arterials: Investing heavily in Tacoma’s busiest and historically most dangerous corridors using Vision Zero data to reduce serious crashes and fatalities.

• Economic vitalization: Strengthening major routes to support local business growth and efficient freight movement.

• Smoother street surfaces and safety upgrades for drivers, cyclists, and transit riders alike.

3. Improved Connections (24% of funds / ~$76M total)

• More projects like the J Street Bike Boulevard: Expanding protected bike corridors, neighborhood greenways, and multi-use trails so people of all ages can travel safely without needing a car for every trip.

• Safe Routes to School: Protecting kids heading to school with enhanced crossings, traffic beacons, and safe sidewalk links.

• Accessibility upgrades: Installing hundreds of new ADA curb ramps so residents of all mobility levels can navigate Tacoma with dignity.

A Proven Track Record of Results

We don't have to guess whether this funding works—we have a decade of results proving it does. Thanks to past funding initiatives, Tacoma has achieved:

• 95 miles of streets repaved and 245 miles of streets preserved.

• 9+ miles of bike infrastructure added (including key connections like J Street).

• 3,566 ADA curb ramps installed across the city.

• 48 school crossing beacons activated.

• Over $144 million in competitive state and federal grants secured across 77 capital projects.

Prop 1 ensures we don't lose ground on these crucial repairs and safety upgrades.

What Does Prop 1 Cost?

Prop 1 is designed to be a reasonable, predictable investment in Tacoma's future. It is funded through a combination of a property tax ($0.20 per $1,000 of assessed value) and a 1.5% utility tax on electric, natural gas, and phone services.

• For the average Tacoma homeowner (assessed home value ~$507,700), the combined property and utility tax cost is roughly $10.43 per month (about $125 a year).

• Exemptions: Qualifying seniors and individuals with disabilities under Washington state property tax relief programs are exempt from the property tax increase.

For around $10 a month, Tacoma gets smoother roads, fewer potholes, safer routes for school children, accessible sidewalks for wheelchair users, and extended bike infrastructure like J Street.

The Bottom Line: Vote YES on Prop 1 by August 4th

Infrastructure doesn't maintain or improve itself. If we want fewer potholes, safer crosswalks, connected bike corridors, and streets designed for human safety, we have to invest in them.

Projects like the J Street Bike Boulevard show what is possible when Tacoma commits to safe streets. Passing Proposition 1 allows us to build on that success, stretch our local dollars further with grant matching, and create a city where everyone can get around safely, whether on foot, by bike, on transit, or behind the wheel.

Mark your calendar for the August 4th Primary Election and Vote YES on Proposition 1!

Want to get involved? Visit the City of Tacoma's Connect Tacoma page to learn more about the proposal details, or check out Tacoma On the Go to find community canvassing events and volunteer opportunities!