Voters Approve $8.5 Billion in Transportation Investments
2005 Approval Rate for Transportation Measures Tops 80 Percent
Transit Advocates Score Statewide Victories in New York &
Washington
The trend of voter-approved investment in public transportation
continued Tuesday with victories for five of seven ballot measures
totaling more than $8.5 billion. In 2005, voters across the nation
have approved twenty-one of twenty-five, an approval rate of 84
percent. This month five states approved measures affecting public
transportation services and funding.
“Once again voters have sent a loud and clear message that
they believe public transportation is a good investment, and one
they are willing to support with their own tax dollars,” said
Stephanie Vance of the Center for Transportation Excellence. “The
consistency of support for more choice and more investment in communities
of all sizes, in all regions, and in both political parties is truly
remarkable.”
This year’s success comes on the heels of a record number
of approved ballot measures in 2004 – 42 – totaling
more nearly $55 billion worth of taxpayer-endorsed investment. 2005
marks the third consecutive election year with more than 70 percent
of all proposed transportation ballot measures approved. The trend
of new, voter-supported investment comes at time when many public
transportation systems are experiencing strong growth in ridership
and increasing demand for services.
Voters in New York and Washington gave strong support for investment
in transportation. In New York, a $2.9 billion bond measure was
approved, 55 percent to 45 percent. The new funding would be split
equally between the Metropolitan Transportation Authority in New
York City and the State Department of Transportation of projects
throughout the state. The success of the ‘Rebuild and Renew
Transportation Bond Act’ marks a turn-around from five years
ago when a similar measure was narrowly rejected.
"New Yorkers understand that transit improvements are quality
life improvements that have real and direct economic and environmental
benefits for the entire State,” noted CFTE advisory committee
member and Parsons Brinckerhoff Senior Vice President Janette Sadik-Kahn.
“Upstate and downstate, voters seem united in their shared
commitment to improving our mass transit systems. These desperately
needed resources will strengthen communities, improve air quality
and provide thousands of jobs across the state."
In Washington, voters rejected a proposal that would have cut $5.5
billion in transportation funding from state gas tax revenue. Legislators
had previously approved a graduated increase in the state gas tax
earlier this year to fund an array of transportation projects across
the state. The initiative sought to repeal the increase. The repeal
effort was opposed by a bipartisan coalition of state political
leaders as well as an array of business, environmental, and citizen
groups.
Election Day 2005 results for transportation ballot measures:
• New York approved $2.9 billion in bonds for transportation
projects, 55% to 45%
• Washington rejected an attempt to roll back a previously
adopted graduated gas tax increase worth an estimated $5.5 billion,
53% to 46%
• Youngstown, Ohio approved two transportation measures,
a 10-year 2-mill tax (62% to 37%) and a 4-year 2-mill tax (64% to
36%); Ohio voters also approved a $2 billion bond initiative for
roads
• Texas approved the creation of a rail relocation and improvement
fund that could be used to expand commuter rail service, 54% to
46%
• Colorado approved suspending caps imposed on tax revenues
in order to allowing as much as $4 billion new investment in transportation
and other projects, 52% to 48% (November 1 election)
• Livonia, Michigan approved a proposal to withdraw the city's
$2.4 million tax subsidy of the Suburban Mobility Authority for
Regional Transportation (SMART), 55% to 45%
• Seattle defeated a proposed plan to shorten to route of
a monorail project, essentially stopping the project
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