Tacoma needs transportation improvements. This initiative will provide needed funding | Opinion

This April, voters have the opportunity to make a necessary investment in Tacoma’s future. Proposition 1 — Tacoma’s Streets Initiative II — is more than just a measure to fix roads. It’s our chance to improve road safety, grow our economy, and build a transportation system that helps everyone get around our city.

Everywhere we go in Tacoma — neighborhood meetings, school events, or our favorite restaurants — we hear the same thing: our streets are crumbling — potholes, missing crosswalks, and treeless, unsafe arterials. Prop 1 will shore up the progress made while also addressing the new challenges we are facing.

Proposition 1 renews existing property and utility taxes and is an increase of just $8.16 for the average Tacoma household. The money will not only fix potholes, it will also tackle major roads, address high-risk arterials, save all of us money from maintenance on the wear and tear of our vehicles and keep freight, cars, and transit moving efficiently throughout our city.

Over the past 10 years, Tacoma has delivered results and proven we are good stewards of your tax dollars. We secured $2.25 for every $1.00 in voter-approved funds, consistently had a clean audit and improved nearly 70% of Tacoma’s residential streets. And yet, we know there is more work to do. This new package of investments will touch every neighborhood, focus on our most dangerous corridors and ensure Tacomans can get where they need to go — because people deserve to feel safe whether they are walking, biking or driving.

As parents of young children, we understand how critical it is to have safe ways for kids to get to school, parks, and community spaces. This measure helps us build a city where they can grow, thrive and eventually lead. Prop 1 is a generational investment — transforming our transportation system to serve both today’s residents and future generations.

More than just a transportation initiative, it is a workforce and economic development driver, keeping local dollars local and investing in our local workforce and apprenticeships. It is also a chance to make further investments in our Climate Action Plan, building complete streets with trees, to provide safe, comfortable ways to get around the city, no matter how you choose to move.

Waiting will only make repairs more expensive and problems worse. If we want Tacoma to be a first-class city, we need a first-class transportation system — and that starts now.

This is our chance to take action and invest in a Tacoma that’s built to last. When we invest in our infrastructure, we’re building a stronger, safer city for today and for the future.

Vote yes on Proposition 1. Let’s build a stronger Tacoma — together.

This story was originally published March 27, 2025 at 5:00 AM.