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The top contributor to a $1.55 billion Seattle transportation levy is a contracting company that recently made costly errors to the King County Metro’s RapidRide bus service.
According to public documents, the Bellingham-based heavy civil general contractor Jansen Inc. has contributed $50,000 to the “Keep Seattle Moving” campaign. That is the highest contribution to the campaign. It is 70% more than the second highest contribution of $15,000 from Professional and Technical Employees Local 17 PAC and John Stanton from Trilogy Partnerships, respectively.
The Keep Seattle Moving levy – or Proposition 1 – is the largest tax proposal in city history. The eight-year levy package is expected to cost a median homeowner in Seattle approximately $546 a year if passed by voters on Nov. 5.
“I’m hopeful Seattle voters continue to Vote No on Proposition 1 and will not be swayed by the lobbyists and self-serving private contractors spending sky-high sums to prop up Proposition 1, which would be unaffordable, inequitable, and ineffective,” said Alex Pedersen, former Seattle Transportation Committee chair, in an email to The Center Square.
Jansen Inc. has worked with the city in the past. Recently, the company was contracted by King County Metro and the Seattle Department of Transportation to complete work on the $144.3 million RapidRide line bus route.
However, earlier this month, it was reported by multiple news outlets that all of the 25 new bus shelters and three station platforms need to be repaired because of raised bump measurements not being taken into account. This restricts wheelchair access.
Repairs are now underway in order to make the RapidRide expansion more wheelchair accessible.
As of Wednesday, the Keep Seattle Moving campaign has raised $339,876 in contributions. Approximately $312,800 in contributions have been used as of Monday.
City leaders are relying on the levy proposal to replace the funding generated by the current Levy to Move Seattle, which expires at the end of 2024. The expiring levy represents roughly 30% of the Seattle Department of Transportation budget.
According to the 2025-2026 proposed budget, the city is set to lose approximately $103 million in annual transportation funding with the current Levy to Move Seattle expiring at the end of the year.
The Center Square reached out to Jansen Inc. for comment on its financial support of the tax proposal, but did not receive a response by the time of publication.