Opinion: Seattle should implement Congestion Pricing

The city of Seattle has one of the best public transit systems in the country, and is aggressively expanding. By 2050, Seattle is projected to be a top 3 city for transit ridership. The above map is a rough picture of all rapid transit lines in Seattle opening by 2050.

To ensure that we have a consistent funding source for our transit systems, and are continuing to fight car dependency, the city of Seattle should implement a congestion pricing system, similar to existing programs around the world. SDOT began studying congestion pricing before Jenny Durkhan shut it down. The recently implemented system in New York, and even the pedestrianization of Pike Place Market here in Seattle has shown that not only does this not hurt business, but it may actually help them. Pike Place Market has seen an approximately 7% sales increase from the same time period in 2024, recent data shows. Additionally, New York City has seen an increase in all positive metrics and a decrease or no change in all negative metrics. There is no excuse for continuing to allow our downtown to continue to be dominated by personal vehicles.

Here’s my personal opinion on the best implementation of this proposal:

-The charge would be $6.00. The highest fare you can pay on Seattle area public transit (not counting the ferries or Amtrak) is $5.75 on the Sounder coming all the way to/from Lakewood. This price isn’t exorbitant, but also causes drivers to think twice before driving into downtown and consider transit as an alternative.

-Set the boundaries at a simple box around downtown, bounded by Denny, Yesler, and Broadway. This box is the highest density part of the city and has the best walkability and most transit options. In addition, making the boundary straight down the middle of three unbroken streets will reduce confusion for drivers.

-Only charge from 7am to 7pm Monday through Friday. If Seattle had more robust transit options late at night and on weekends, I would say make it 24/7, but I believe this is a good compromise.

-Exempt through trips on I-5 and the 99 tunnel. As much as I would prefer they don’t exist at all, these highways serve plenty of traffic just passing through the city. As long as they stay on the freeway, we shouldn’t charge drivers. Plus I am not 100% on this, but I believe you cannot toll any roads built with federal funds, and that was part of the Trump admin’s case against Manhattan’s program.

-Finally, exempt ferry passengers coming from Kitsap **as long as they stay on Alaskan Way or Yesler Street** without entering the rest of the box. It’s unfair to charge people coming from Bainbridge or Bremerton if it’s their only option to get into the rest of Western WA that doesn’t involve driving hours out of the way. However if they are commuting into Seattle regularly and entering the box, the pricing would apply.

What do you all think? Would you support a congestion pricing program? Would you have a different set of rules or would you be opposed to such a system no matter what?