Kirkland Considers Car Tab Fee To Build Safer Routes To School

KIRKLAND, WA — Kirkland neighbors will have a chance next month to weigh in on a plan to add a new car tab fee to pay for nearly four dozen projects to make the city's streets safer for cyclists, pedestrians and students.

According to city leaders, adding a $20 licensing fee would help accelerate construction on high-priority projects outlined in Kirkland's "Safer Routes To School" and active transportation plans, knocking decades off the current timeline.

“We’ve heard from our community in a variety of forums over many years that they want the City to improve conditions for walking, bicycling and riding transit, particularly around schools,” said Kirkland Mayor Penny Sweet in a statement Tuesday. “With current funding, paying for the plans’ 45 highest priority projects would take 20 to 30 years. With revenue from a car tab-backed general obligation bond, the City could pay for those 45 improvements within six years.”

The projects that would be paid for by the extra car tab fee include several new bike lanes, sidewalks and crosswalks across the city.

To help council members get a full picture of how residents feel about the plan, community members will have several chances to make their voices heard at meetings, forums and listening sessions through the fall. The first town hall will take place on Sept. 26 and is currently designed as a hybrid meeting, allowing people to attend virtually, or in person at City Hall.

Pre-registration is not required, but residents can sign up voluntarily to receive reminders.