The opportunity to help improve Bellevue’s transportation system deserves the city’s voter’s consideration and support this election.

The frustration we feel trying to get in and out of our neighborhoods indicates a serious problem with our city’s ability to fund effective solutions to increasing congestion. Dangerous conditions for pedestrians, such as elementary school students having to walk in the street because there aren’t sidewalks on routes to schools, are unacceptable. The deterioration of the formerly smooth streets near our homes signals more should be done to restore their condition. Add in the demand for bike lanes, and the need to plan for rapid changes in transportation technology, and it’s clearly time to increase the funding available to address these growing challenges.

If passed, the city of Bellevue’s Levy for Neighborhood Safety and Connectivity (Proposition 2) would help pay for the design of congestion-relieving projects to serve our neighborhoods, improve safe walking routes to schools, repair and build additional sidewalks, fund bicycle paths, restore the neighborhood street pavement overlay program to a higher standard, and increase Bellevue’s ability to plan for and implement emerging transportation technologies.

Proposition 2 gives voters the option of raising our homes’ property taxes about $8 per month on average to address the top concern identified by Bellevue’s citizens, traffic congestion and safety. These new revenues would be limited to only transportation investments in the city. The taxes would expire in twenty years, and no debt would be incurred. While few of us like tax increases, I believe this is a responsible approach to funding worthwhile transportation improvements.

Bellevue’s voters have shown they are willing to pay reasonable property tax increases to fund our exceptional schools and parks, with outstanding results. Now is the time to invest in our city’s transportation infrastructure to help improve our mobility, safety and overall quality of life. Please join me in voting yes for Bellevue’s Proposition 2.

Todd R. Woosley

Bellevue