Do Seattleites have an appetite for additional taxes?

The effort to pump more money into transportation-related work in Seattle might show voters’ appetite for additional taxes.

Proposition No. 1, Seattle’s transportation levy, has a strong lead with a 56 percent approval rating in early ballot counts. The levy would cause a dramatic increase on property taxes, KIRO Radio’s Dave Ross said. And that is without a guarantee that the work promised will actually be done.

“I’m not saying they’re trying to trick you, but from the history of Seattle … if you promise something it’s risky,” Ross said. “Things don’t always go as planned.”

The levy will cost the average homeowner $275 a year in property taxes. That’s $145 more than the Bridging the Gap levy it is replacing.

But the early results of the effort to Move Seattle show that at least a portion of the city feels cars need to be controlled, Ross added.

“People walking are first, bikes next, cars looking for shortcuts in the suburbs come last,” he said. Ross believes improving the city’s safe routes is helping sell the levy.

KIRO Radio’s Jason Rantz would argue that point. He told Ross sidewalk improvements are already funded.

“I don’t believe neighborhoods are taking those stances,” Rantz said.

Families aren’t just walking and biking everywhere, Rantz said. Parents have to drive their kids to school or a practice. Bicycle activists just make it sound like there are a wide-variety of reasons to improve sidewalks and expand bike lanes, he said.

The city plans to spend $206.7 million on safe routes. Maintenance and repair would get the biggest bump, including $420 million for maintaining streets ($250 million) and bridge repair and design ($140 million). The city would spend $303.2 million on congestion relief. The largest chunk of that money will be used for corridor mobility around the city.

Related: SDOT releases details of $930 million Move Seattle plan

Ross argued that the levy may be favored because the city does not have the best reputation for being family friendly.

“There are place in Seattle where streets are basically commuter arterials,” Ross said.

Rantz argued that infrastructure problems have stemmed from poorly planned projects, such as bike lanes. Bike lanes are being placed where they don’t need to be, he said.

Is it projects such as bike lanes, or a large issue? Ross said that any time someone leaves their neighborhood, they have to take congested roadway and they have no idea when they will arrive at their destination.