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Seattle City Councilmember Jean Godden is circulating a proposal that would lower a proposed $80 car-tab fee to $40 and redistribute how it's spent so less would go to transit and bike lanes and more to road repair.

The council will hold a public hearing at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday on the recommendations of the Citizens Transportation Advisory Committee to charge city residents $80 a year for car-tab fees. That group recommends that half of the $27.2 million collected be spent on transit and $5 million on street repair.

Godden's proposal would collect $13.6 million a year with $10.2 million going to road repair and improvements, $2 million to transit and $1.36 million to pedestrian and bicycle projects.

"We really need to keep our maintenance strong," Godden said. She said she's heard a range of citizen views, from taxpayers questioning any new fees to those who are "extremely concerned" about the poor condition of the city's streets.

Godden said she was reluctant to make as large an investment in transit as recommended by the citizen's committee until the city completes a transit master plan and a freight-mobility plan, both of which are in the works.

Other council members also have expressed concerns about the size and distribution of the citizens-committee recommendations. Nick Licata said his fear was that the money targeted for transit would go to planning new light-rail routes.

"We have more immediate needs," he said. He also noted that 80 percent of city residents who rely on transit use buses not light rail.

The council will consider amendments to the citizens committee recommendations on Monday, immediately following the 2 p.m. council meeting.