Transit at the Polls: 15 out of 18 transit measures passed; handful remain undecided

With votes still being counted in parts of the U.S., voters expressed their support for transit in several locations. There were 18 measures to a vote on Nov. 3 with 15 of them passing and three additional measures in the “too close to call” category.   

One of the most noteworthy wins of the night came in Austin, Texas, where Proposition A passed. The measure will help fund Capital Metro’s planned $7-billion expansion project, Project Connect. The proposition will increase property taxes and dedicate 8.75 cents per $100 of the city’s operations and maintenance portion of the tax rate to the transit system.

“Austin voters decided it’s go-time for Project Connect, and we are grateful for their trust and vision for the future,” said CapMetro President and CEO Randy Clarke. “This YES vote for Project Connect is a huge step toward creating a more equitable and livable city, providing more and better ways for people to access jobs, education, health care and new opportunities."

Austin voters also passed Proposition B, which some see as a complement to Proposition A in that it will fund improvements to sidewalks and bike lanes that could enhance and ease access to transit stops and stations.

Also, of note is the “tale of two Oregons” where a transportation measure in Bend passed with 59 percent support while a measure in Portland was defeated and will halt progress on a planned light-rail project.

In addition to Prop A in Austin, other transit wins include:

• Fairfax County, Va., passed a referendum that will raise $160 million through bonds to cover the county’s portion of Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) capital improvements. Fairfax County’s share of WMATA’s current FY2021-FY2026 capital program is $265.8 million that will be used to complete platform rebuilding, purchase new and rehabilitate rail cars, replace buses and paratransit vehicles, build new bus garages and other capital improvements.
• Proposition A, in San Antonio, Texas, will begin receiving a 1/8-cent share of existing sales tax in 2021 to invest in workforce training as part of regional economic recovery plans. Beginning in 2026, that 1/8-cent share will transfer to the Advanced Transportation District for public transit programs, including improved frequency for VIA bus service and planning for a future Advance Rapid Transit system.
• Voters approved a mill levy increase from the Missoula Urban Transportation District to fund the Mountain Line. The mill levy will raise $3 million annually to support a Zero Fare program, increase frequency of service, expand service, such as adding Sunday bus service for the first time, and support the Mountain Line’s electric fleet conversion.
• Ballot Measure 2A in Denver, Colo., passed with 65 percent support and will implement a 2.5-cent increase to the city’s sales tax that will be used for a flexible set of purposes all related to fighting climate change, including improvements to the city’s transit system.
• Sonoma, Calif., passed an early renewal for a tax for road, bus, bicycle and pedestrian projects.
• St. Louis, Ithaca, and Pine River Township, Mich., where a mill levy increase will raise revenue that will all go toward Alma Transit.
• Seattle, Wash., where a renewal and increase of a .15-percent sales tax for the Seattle Transportation Benefit District passed with 82 percent of the vote.
• Bellingham, Wash., passed a renewal of a .2 percent sales tax where 20 percent of revenue will go toward Climate Action Programs and bus service enhancements for Whatcom Transportation Authority.
• Bend, Ore., where a $190-million transportation bond measure passed. The measure would raise revenues to pay for capital projects including $7 million for public transit.
• Wheeling and Bethlehem, W.V., where renewal of a property tax levy will fund Ohio Valley/Eastern Ohio Regional Transportation Authority bus service.
• Shiawassee Area Transportation Agency in Michigan will see additional dedicated revenue after a .215 millage for public transportation passed in Durand and a .1168 millage renewal for public transportation passed in Shiawassee Township.
• Monroe, Mich., voters passed a three-year mill levy renewal will raise revenues for Lake Erie Transit.

Where measures failed:

• Newton County, Ga., where a one-percent Transportation Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax would have supported transportation and transit. The measure failed 45 percent to 55 percent.
• Portland, Ore., voters failed to pass a 0.75-percent payroll tax on employers to fund a $7-billion transportation plan. The measure would have helped fund TriMet’s Southwest Corridor Light Rail Project and the failure of the measure equates to a pause button on the project.

Too close to call - looking good: UPDATE 10:00 PM - Measure RR has passed

• San Francisco, Santa Clara and San Mateo, Calif., where Measure RR, a 1/8-cent sales tax, would provide dedicated funding for Caltrain. The measure needed to pass by two-thirds supermajority in all three counties. San Mateo and San Francisco results are showing the measure passing with more than 70 percent of the vote and Santa Clara County is currently at just over 67 percent.

Too close to call - not looking good: UPDATE - Gwinnett Transit Referendum has failed

• Gwinnett Transit Referendum in Gwinnett County, Ga., appears to have been defeated by the narrowest of margins – 49.78 percent for versus 50.22 percent against – but there are a handful of absentee ballots being reviewed in the county. The referendum would have put a 30-year, one-percent sales tax in to place that would have funded transit expansion in the county.

The American Public Transportation Association (APTA) said the results of Tuesday’s election “add to a banner year for public transit at the ballot box.” APTA described voters rising “to meet the moment” despite the changes and challenges wrought by the COVID-19 pandemic.

"Voters throughout the country once again overwhelmingly said ‘yes’ to public transit ballot measures that will expand and improve public transit, spur economic development and job creation, and connect communities and the people who live in them,” said APTA President and CEO Paul P. Skoutelas. “Even during this pandemic and economic downturn, voters have spoken and pledged their vote where they know it’s needed – public transportation investment. These ballots once again underscore the importance of local, state, and federal partnerships in transportation investment.”

APTA’s Center for Transportation Excellence, which tracks ballot measures throughout the year, now shows transit at a 91.48 percent win rate for 2020.

“Voters showed last night that they’re willing to think big about our future. Americans voted to invest in transit and in their communities,” said Josh Cohen, Executive Director of APTA’s Center for Transportation Excellence. “The big measures this year were innovative and collaborative and represent an approach to development that extends beyond mobility alone. The measures, and the campaigns themselves, talked to voters about equity, cleaner air and water, economic growth, and support for frontline and essential workers –a message and approach that was met with applause.”

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Story updated 2:50 pm Central 11/04/20 to reflect results of Monroe, Mich., mill levy.