Bellevue drivers and shoppers could pay more under a Transportation Benefit District proposal that would add a 0.1% sales tax and a $20 annual vehicle registration fee to fund road, sidewalk, and transit projects across the city.

The Bellevue City Council received the proposal from the city's Transportation Department at its July 22 meeting.

The department told council members that Bellevue has identified roughly $1.5 billion in transportation projects it cannot afford at current funding levels, according to the city's official Council Roundup published Friday, July 24.

Bellevue is growing, the department said, and the city will need new or improved sidewalks, bike lanes, streets, intersection upgrades, and transit connections to keep pace with rising demand.

Without additional revenue, the city will not be able to build those projects before congestion and safety problems worsen.

What a Transportation Benefit District would do

A Transportation Benefit District is a special taxing authority allowed under state law.

The Bellevue proposal would generate revenue through two mechanisms: a 0.1% increase to the local sales tax rate and a $20 fee added to annual vehicle registrations for cars registered in the city. On a $100 purchase, the sales tax increase would add 10 cents.

The city said the extra money would help build projects that connect Bellevue's local street network to regional transportation and transit systems, including Sound Transit's 2 Line light rail.

No specific project list has been released. The Transportation Department described categories of work: sidewalks, bike lanes, streets, intersection upgrades, and transit connections. A detailed capital project list for 2027 through 2032 is expected by mid-September.

How residents can weigh in

The city opened a public survey asking residents to share their transportation priorities. The survey is available at bellevuewa.gov's Transportation Capital Projects page and takes about five to seven minutes to complete. It closes Thursday, August 20.

Responses will help shape the preliminary transportation budget and capital project list for 2027-2032. Staff plan to present that list to the City Council on Tuesday, September 15.

What this is not — yet

The council has not voted to create the district or impose either fee. The Wednesday, July 22 presentation was a staff briefing, not a legislative action. The proposal remains in its public engagement phase, and the council will not consider formal recommendations until at least September.

Residents who want to track the proposal can visit the city's Transportation Benefit District page at bellevuewa.gov.