A second wave of Seattle Rescue Plan COVID-19 relief funding will include millions for rental assistance, senior support, and a $10.9 million grant for the Madison bus rapid transit project.

Mayor Jenny Durkan, Council president M. Lorena González, and Councilmember Teresa Mosqueda announced the proposed new package of spending and federal grant acceptances this week. It follows approval of a $128.4 million package in June that included $49 million for housing and homelessness, ‘direct cash assistance,’ small biz support, and cash for Stay Healthy Streets.

This second, smaller package will include a mix of federal relief grant acceptances by the city:

·        Rental assistance ($28.7M)  

·        Support for seniors ($7.4M) 

·        Revenue replacement for the Monorail ($1.8M) and Streetcar Operations ($700k) 

·        Madison BRT project ($10.9M) 

·        Aid to McCaw Hall ($2.2M) 

The grant for the Madison transit project is part of a Federal Transit Administration relief package announced in June that awarded American Rescue Plan funding to “expedite” the planned Metro RapidRide G line, a 2.3-mile, 10-station route connecting the waterfront through First Hill and Capitol Hill to Madison Valley.

CHS reported in April on a $59.9 million FTA allocation for the $134 million Madison bus rapid transit project.

Seattle’s transportation department says a fall 2021 start should put the much-delayed project on target for a 2024 start of service.

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