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2004 Elections: News and Information

From California to Florida, communities are continuing to go to the voters to seek approval for public transportation projects. To date, there are over 53 transit ballot initiatives for 2004! Check back often as we continue to update this page with election results and news coverage.

• A Complete Listing of Current Transit Ballot Initiatives, Descriptions, and Results
  
  
• November 3rd, 2004 Press Advisory - Election Results and Analysis
  
  
• 2004 Election Analysis
  
  
• Links to News Stories
  
  
• October 2004 Press Advisory
  
  
• March 2004 Press Advisory
  
  
• 2004 Congressional Candidate Survey
  Find out how your local congressional candidate feels about public transportation
  
  
• Ballot Language for 2004 initiatives
  

News Stories

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November 2004: Record Number of Transit Funding Ballot Initiatives Pass this Year

Voters Turn to Transit for Traffic Relief, Convenience

Voters approved a record number of ballot initiatives that fund transit this year according to analysis by the Center for Transportation Excellence. Of the decided 28 measures on ballots yesterday , 22 initiatives (worth an estimated total of over $40 billion) that include public transportation funding were approved. Eighteen were approved earlier this year for a total of 40 approved initiatives so far in 2004, reflecting a staggering win rate of 80%. The increase is being driven in large part by citizen demand for more transportation choices.

“This has been a record year for transit initiatives. We’ve seen a significant jump in the number of transit initiatives on the ballot and in how many passed,” said Stephanie Vance, program manger for the Center for Transportation Excellence. “This year has also shown that it’s not just big metro areas that are clamoring for transit; medium and smaller communities like Parkersburg, West Virginia, El Paso County Colorado and Kalamazoo, Michigan also see its benefits.”

In addition, noted Vance, “This clearly is not a partisan issue. Of the states that passed initiatives yesterday, seven went for President Bush and four went for Senator Kerry. Citizens across the country regardless of party strongly support transit investments and more transportation choices.”

On average, initiatives that fund transit garnered 62% support yesterday. All but nine of the decided initiatives this year were supported by more than 50% of voters. In California, where state law requires a supermajority (67%) approval to pass tax increases, of the 11 of 12 total initiatives that have been decided, only three failed, and one of those (Solano County) garnered 64% of the votes – a “pass” in the traditional majority takes all scenario.

“People overwhelmingly support public transit. Voters see transit as a way to reduce traffic and air pollution as well as improve quality of life – not only for themselves, but for the community as a whole. Businesses and cities see transit as a way to bring dollars and revitalize neighborhoods. And, for many others, transit is their only means of getting around,” said Mike Dabadie Vice President of Western States for Withlin Worldwide, an international polling firm that has done opinion polls on public transportation issues.

Faced with uncertain funding, communities are increasingly turning to ballot initiatives to support transit. Currently, eleven of the sixteen states with transit measures on their ballots bar gas tax revenues from being used for transit .

Some of the largest ballot initiatives voters considered on November 2 are below:

• Denver: The $4.7 billion proposed transit improvement package has pitted Colorado’s Governor who opposes the plan against Denver’s mayor, the Republican state senate president and local developers and business owners. The package would expand the light rail/commuter rail lines to reach additional inner city and suburban communities and the Denver International Airport. It would also fund a new rapid bus service and an 80% increase in parking capacity at park-and-ride facilities. The initiative would be funded with a local sales tax increase from 0.6 percent to 1 percent (4 cents/per $10). PASSED by 57% to 42%.
  
• Phoenix: Proposition 400 would continue the half cent sales tax dedicated to transportation in Maricopa County. The revenue would fund a $16 billion plan to augment and improve the area’s freeway and bus systems and add 27 additional miles to the planned light rail system approved by voters in 2000. The measure is supported by the Arizona Governor and the mayor of Phoenix with opposition led by a local businessman who disagrees that 15% of the funds should be earmarked for light rail. PASSED 57% to 43%.
  
• San Diego: A $14 billion initiative to extend an existing half-cent sales tax to 2028 to fund regional transportation improvements. The funding would be split equally between highway, transit and local road projects with $1 million annually earmarked for bike paths and facilities. California law requires a supermajority (67%) to approve ballot initiatives. PASSED 67% TO 33%.

Support for public transportation was not limited to large initiatives in the west. Residents in Arlington and Fairfax counties in the Washington, DC Metropolitan area overwhelmingly passed proposals to fund public transportation services, while citizens of Charleston, South Carolina held firm in their commitment to funding for the Charleston-area Regional Transportation Authority. Opponents of CARTA funding had been successful in raising questions about previous ballot measures and putting the question of funding back before voters, but were beaten back.

Of the twenty-two initiatives voted on this year prior to November 2, eighteen passed. For example, voters in Branson, Missouri, voted 81 to 19% in August to extend a ½% retail sales tax to fund public transportation and road projects.
Public transit initiatives were considered this year in both metro areas and smaller communities, and were present on ballots across the country -- from Arizona to Michigan to South Carolina.

2004 Election Analysis

After weeks of waiting for the final absentee and provisional ballots to be counted in two closely contested initiatives in California, the final results are in.

• San Diego’s TransNet, Approved 67.01%(required 66.67% approval): A $14 billion initiative to extend an existing half-cent sales tax to 2028 to fund regional transportation improvements. The funding would be split equally between highway, transit and local road projects with 2% of funds (approximately $280 million over 40 years) for bicycle for bicycle, pedestrian and neighborhood safety (traffic calming) projects. In addition, the program sets aside another 2% for a smart growth incentive program, and allows cites and the county to use their local street and road money for smart growth incentives and transit improvements. California requires a “supermajority” approval for any tax related initiatives.

• Sonoma County’s Measure M, Approved 67.2%(required 66.67% approval): A sales tax increase that will raise $470 million over 20 years to relieve the traffic congestion on Highway 101 and local streets. The spending plan for Measure M, the Traffic Relief Act for Sonoma County, also funds bike and pedestrian projects and continues work on a North Bay passenger rail line.
  
• Final National Election Results:
            o  Of the 31 elections decided on November 2, 24 were passed (77%)

                    o Nearly $55 billion worth of investment was approved

                    o 42 out of a total of 53 ballot initiatives for public transportation, or with a public transit                          component, were passed in 2004 (79%)

October 2004: Record Number of Transit Funding Ballot Initiatives in Thi