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Issue Archive
CFTE Update
December 11 , 2007 - Vol. 5, No.8
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In this issue …
•2007 Continues the Trend of Transportation
Investment at the Ballot Box
•St. Charles Avenue Streetcar Line
Back in Service
•FY 2008 Appropriations Update
•2008 Expected to be a Big Year for Transportation Ballot
Measures
2007 Continues the Trend of Transportation Investment
at the Ballot Box
TRANSIT TAX GETS AN OVERWHELMING ENDORSEMENT IN CHARLOTTE,
NC
On November 6, voters across the country once again went to the
polls in support of Transportation Investment. 70 percent of the
voters in Mecklenburg County voted to allow the Charlotte Area
Transit System (CATS) to continue collecting the half-cent tax,
which generated $70 million last year, and will continue with its
expansive 2030 transit program.
Tuesday's elections continue the growing trend of securing additional
transportation funding at the ballot box and the strong voter support
for these measures. With this year's results, voters have approved
more than $115 billion for transportation since 2000.
Once again in 2007 voters in states and communities across the
nation approved new investments in vital transportation projects.
Overall this year approximately 67 percent of transportation measures
were approved. The track record for transportation measures suggests
that people are, contrary to conventional wisdom, very willing
to increase local taxes to improve transportation when the benefits
are clear. People want change and choices in transportation and
the ballot box results prove it.
"Particularly notable is the Charlotte transit measure, a ballot questions
that was watched closely around the country" Stated the CFTE Director
Jason Jordan. "Despite a vocal group advocating the repeal of the transit
tax, voters in Charlotte looked to the future and overwhelmingly reaffirmed
the measure by an even larger percentage than when it was originally approved
in 1998."
Charlotte, North Carolina was not the only place that voters showed
continued support for transit investment. In Toledo, Ohio voters
continued approval of a 1.5-mill operating levy for the Toledo
Area Regional Transit Authority (TARTA) bus system. Voters in Kalamazoo
and Saginaw, Michigan voted to renew millage for transit.
In Seattle, Washington, voters rejected a Roads and Transit package.
Many opposed the measure believing that a higher share of funding
should have been directed to increase public transit.
In 2006, CFTE released a report examining transportation-related
ballot measures over a five year period from 2000 to 2005. The
report, "Transportation Finance at the Ballot Box: Voters
Support Increased Investment," outlined the striking rise
in the use of voter-approved ballot measures to generate funding
for transportation choices. According to the report, voters in
33 different states have approved 70 percent of all proposed transportation
measures generating funding conservatively estimated in the excess
of $70 billion. Transportation measures have passed at twice the
rate of all ballot measures. More than 80 percent of all transportation
ballot measures between 2000 and 2005 have specifically authorized
financing and 2006 continued this trend with record levels of funding
on the ballot.
To view all election
results in 2007
St. Charles Avenue Streetcar Line Back
in Service
STREETCARS RETURN TO NEW ORLEANS
After more than two years out of service, the St. Charles Avenue
Streetcar line in New Orleans has reopened. Hurricane Katrina destroyed
many of the streetcars, electrical lines and transit poles needed
to operate the extensive system. In December 2006, streetcars borrowed
from various lines first reappeared on a hybrid of the old Riverfront
and Canal lines. But it was the reopening of the world-famous St.
Charles Avenue line, with its 1920’s-era Perley Thomas streetcars,
that has been most anticipated. Half of the 6.5 mile line (from
the Central Business District to Napoleon Ave) opened on November
11, and the rest is expected to open in early 2008.
Operated by New Orleans Regional Transit Authority (RTA), the St.
Charles Avenue line began operating in 1835. With the exception
of its hurricane-induced timeout, it is one of the oldest continually
operating streetcar systems in the world. The Perley Thomas streetcars
were built in 1923-24, and were refurbished during the late 1980’s
and early 1990’s. Although these streetcars are what give
the St. Charles line its distinction, their antiquity has caused
some problems for RTA. After Katrina, less than half the
maintenance specialists with the knowledge to repair the antique
streetcars returned to New Orleans.
For more transportation news
FY 2008 Appropriations Update
DEMOCRATS STRATEGIZE ABOUT AN OMNIBUS PACKAGE
Congress will return to Capitol Hill this week to start wrapping
things up for the year. First priority on the agenda is reaching
a deal with the White House on FY 2008 appropriations. Senate Democrats
are working on an omnibus appropriations bill to deliver to the
White House around the middle of December that would split the
difference between the president's budget and congressional spending
bills. The omnibus package would combine 11 spending bills that
have yet to clear Congress. It would provide $482.2 billion, or
$10.6 billion less then Democrats originally wanted, excluding
defense funding. The Defense bill (HR 3222) is the only spending
measure that has been signed into law.
President Bush has vowed to veto spending bills, or an omnibus
package that would exceed his overall request. On November 13,
he vetoed the Labor-HHS-Education bill (HR 3043) because it would
have provided $150.7 billion in spending, or $9.8 billion more
than he requested. Over the weekend, President Bush told reporters
that "Congressional leaders are now talking about piling
all these bills into one monstrous piece of legislation, which
they will load up with billions of dollars in earmarks and pork-barrel
spending," Bush said. "This is not what congressional
leaders promised when they took control of the Congress at the
start of the year."
If the Democrats cannot reach a deal with the White House in coming
weeks, they will have to find a way to fund the government beyond
December 14, possibly through another short term continuing resolution
or one that could last the entire year.
For more transportation news
2008 Expected to be a Big Year for Transportation Ballot
Measures
2 CITIES GEAR UP FOR TRANSPORTATION CAMPAIGNS
2008 looks like its going to be another big year for transportation
ballot measures. The Center for Transportation Excellence is currently
monitoring twenty-nine regions across the country that are considering
putting transportation related measures on the ballot next year.
The first two measures could be on the ballots as soon as February
2008 in St.Louis and Kansas City.
St. Louis
Earlier this month the St. Louis County Council approved putting
Proposition M on the February 5, 2008 ballot. The referendum asks
voters to approve a half-cent increase in the transit sales tax
to support mass transit. The tax increase would be applied in two
parts; the first quarter-cent for maintenance of the existing transit
system, and the second quarter-cent for expansion of the MetroLink
system.
The tax is currently set at a quarter-cent, and if the increase
is approved, it would raise $80 million a year for the next twenty
years. A boon for those in favor of the expansion is the closure
of a five mile section of Highway 40, which is beginning next month
and expected to last at least a year. The highway repair will to
leave tens of thousands of drivers looking for a new route to work.
After a month of heavy congestion voters may be more willing to
raise their taxes at the promise of increased transit options.
Kansas City
In a November 2006 election, voters approved a plan to implement
a light-rail system in Kansas City. A year later, city council
members have voted to overturn the election results due to financial
and feasibility concerns created by the original plan.
The controversy over the plan became evident last summer when
businessman James B. Nutter began a petition to repeal the voter-approved
plan. But the city council is now faced with a lawsuit filed by
a Kansas City resident who was unhappy with their decision to repeal
the election results on their own. In an effort to prove their
commitment to bringing light-rail to Kansas City, the council followed
up their decision with a self-imposed mandate to put another light-rail
referendum before voters by November 2008. The “Nutter
Initiative” may appear on the February 5, 2008 ballot as
well as a question asking voters their preference on whether a
plan for the implementation of light rail should continue to be
developed. Either way, Kansas City voters should expect light-rail
to appear on the ballot again sometime in 2008.
For a complete list of potential 2008
Transportation Ballot Initiatives
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