After on-bus shooting, Council hearing spotlights safety amendment as public urges keeping 0.3% transit tax

Seattle — Members of the public packed the Select Committee meeting on July 6 and nearly all who spoke urged the City Council to keep the proposed Seattle Transit Measure at a 0.3% sales-tax rate for 10 years, arguing that stable funding is essential to restore and expand bus service across the city. Chair Rob Saka opened the hearing by saying this was “the point in the legislative process where ideas are tested, assumptions are challenged and good proposals have the opportunity to become even better.”

Public commenters — riders, union representatives, disability advocates and neighborhood residents — repeatedly asked the committee to reject several proposed changes, in particular Amendments 4 (annual micromanagement of routes), 5 (shorten the term) and 13 (cut the rate to 0.2%). Greg, president of ATU 587, told the committee his union represents about 5,000 transit workers and said it “strongly support[s] Amendment 1 and oppose[s] Amendment 13,” citing concerns about public and operator safety.

The hearing took on new urgency after Chair Saka described a shooting that occurred the night before: according to his remarks, “a 39‑year‑old man suffered three gunshot wounds while sitting in the back of a Metro bus in Seattle.” In response, Saka formally introduced Amendment 1, which would expressly authorize measure revenues to be used for additional safety and security investments beyond Metro’s baseline — examples cited included behavioral-health specialists, Metro ambassadors, contracted security and other non-officer presence aimed at de-escalation and rider assistance.

Central staff and councilmembers pressed for clarity on what the amendment would obligate. Staff noted that Metro already includes safety and security in its baseline purchase price today (an estimated portion of purchased service), and that the county has substantially increased safety spending in recent years. Councilmembers asked how the amendment would treat task‑force recommendations going forward; Saka and co-sponsor Councilmember Kettle said the amendment is intended to provide a funding pathway to implement recommendations relevant to the city’s jurisdiction but not to supplant baseline Metro responsibilities.

Advocates for people with disabilities used the public-comment period to press for clearer eligibility and capital investments that improve access to stops and pedestrian paths. Several callers urged the council to make the Transit Access Program more broadly available to participants in city-run income‑verified programs.

The hearing continued with staff briefings and detailed, item‑by‑item discussion of 23 proposed amendments, including proposals to prioritize electric bus deployment in Duwamish Valley neighborhoods, require additional Metro reporting on fare recovery and on‑time performance, and expand the list of eligible uses to allow contracted shuttles in locations Metro cannot immediately serve. No final votes were recorded during this session; the committee framed the July 6 meeting as an opportunity for public input and technical clarification ahead of further deliberations and a July 16 package vote.

The committee said it intends to continue refining language and consult with Metro on operational impacts before any final council action.