Politics
Midtown Infrastructure Bond Referendum Links Funding to Local Jobs and Transit Services
The November ballot measure would direct bond proceeds toward road repairs, transit expansions and workforce training programs that city documents tie directly to employment in Midtown.
How we reported this
Midtown residents will decide on a proposed $450 million general obligation bond measure in the November referendum that earmarks funds for street resurfacing, bus rapid transit lines and job training centers operated by the Midtown Workforce Development Board.
The measure appears on the ballot after the Midtown City Council approved its placement in June 2026 following two years of public hearings on aging infrastructure listed in the 2025 Capital Improvement Plan.
Employment and Training Provisions
Under the referendum text, 35 percent of proceeds would support apprenticeship programs at the Midtown Technical Training Center, where enrollment reached 1,240 participants in the most recent fiscal year. Another portion targets contracts with local firms for construction work on the proposed extension of the Blue Line bus route along 14th Avenue.
City budget papers project that approved projects would generate temporary construction positions and longer-term roles in transit operations, with hiring preferences stated for Midtown residents who complete the training programs.
Services and Daily Costs
Residents along the planned transit corridors would see expanded weekday service frequencies from the current 20-minute intervals to 12-minute intervals if the bond passes, according to the Midtown Transit Authority operating plan released last month. Road resurfacing segments identified in the measure cover 28 miles of streets in the central and eastside neighborhoods where pothole repair requests increased 18 percent between 2024 and 2025.
Ballots will be mailed to registered voters beginning October 15, with in-person voting available at 12 polling sites on November 3. The Midtown Elections Office has scheduled three public information sessions in August and September to review the measure language and projected timelines.