Seattle Council to Discuss Housing, Transit

- The Seattle City Council's Housing, Arts, and Civil Rights Committee, chaired by Councilmember Dionne Foster, recently received an update on the Seattle Social Housing Developer. This public entity is on track to have its first property under contract in early 2026, following the council's final legislative approval to begin transferring revenue from a voter-approved tax on large employers. - On the transit front, the Transportation, Waterfront, and Seattle Center Committee, chaired by Councilmember Rob Saka, is reviewing the Seattle Department of Transportation's (SDOT) 2026 Levy Delivery Plan. This plan outlines the allocation of funds from the voter-approved $1.55 billion Seattle Transportation Levy for various projects. - A major focus for the Transportation Committee in early 2026 is enhancing safety and accessibility, with recent agenda items including progress on the "Vision Zero" goals to eliminate traffic fatalities and a review of compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in the public right-of-way. - Seattle's housing market remains one of the most expensive in the U.S., with median home prices around $785,000 in early 2026. A recent analysis indicates that nearly 46,000 households in the city are severely cost-burdened, spending more than half their income on housing. - The city's transit system is seeing a significant rebound in ridership. In July 2025, average weekday boardings on the Link light rail were approximately 110,000, a 26% increase from the previous year. The opening of the Federal Way Link Extension in December 2025 added about 99,000 average weekday boardings across its 26 stations. - Key transportation projects expected to advance in 2026 include the opening of the Sound Transit East Link extension, creating a cross-lake connection between Seattle and Bellevue, and the opening of a new light rail station in the Pinehurst neighborhood. - The council is also laying the groundwork for a major transit hub at Westlake, with a resolution advancing to coordinate future light rail expansion, potential monorail upgrades, and improvements to Westlake Park. - Public participation in these discussions is facilitated through multiple channels, including in-person and remote oral comments at meetings, with sign-ups available shortly before meetings commence, and written comments which can be emailed to all nine councilmembers.