City of Auburn City Council Study Session - Aug 24, 2026

The City of Auburn City Council study session on August 24, 2026, featured a presentation from Pierce Transit on its proposed November 3 ballot measure. If approved by voters, a 0.3 percentage-point sales-tax increase would fund a planned 47% increase in transit service, including more frequent weekday and weekend buses, new routes, expanded paratransit, and free fares for riders age 65 and older. Auburn currently retains Pierce Transit service, including Route 497, which recorded about 20,000 passenger trips in 2025; staff estimated Auburn accounts for about 1.7% of the measure’s projected sales-tax revenue. Council members discussed connections to Auburn and Federal Way stations and the limits on Pierce Transit’s ability to fund cross-county routes. No council vote or procurement award related to the measure occurred; the ballot package had been approved unanimously by the Pierce Transit board.