New Study Documents Dramatic Voter Support for
Transportation Ballot Measures
Voters Approve 70% of Transportation Measures
Totaling $70+ Billion
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Jason Jordan or
August 7, 2006 Bridget Hennessey, 202.234.7562
Washington, DC (August 7, 2006) The Center for Transportation Excellence
(CFTE) has released a new report examining transportation-related
ballot measures since 2000. The report, “Transportation Finance
at the Ballot Box: Voters Support Increased Investment,” outlines
the striking rise in the use of voter-approved ballot measures to
generate funding for transportation choices.
CFTE analyzed more than 200 state and local ballot measures related
to transportation since 2000. 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.
“Few issues have consistently won the confidence and support
of voters – regardless of region, community size, or party
– as measures supporting public transportation, said CFTE
Advisory Board Member Art Guzzetti “A look at the track record
clearly demonstrates the willingness of voters across the nation
to support expanded choice and investment with their tax dollars.”
The CFTE research also details trends in voter-approved financing
for transportation. More than 80 percent of all transportation ballot
measures since 2000 have specifically authorized financing. The
report found support across the board for a variety of funding tools,
including sales taxes, property taxes, bonds, and dedicated fees.
“This report makes plain the successful legacy and continuing
value of the Federal – Local partnership embodied in federal
policy,” noted CFTE Advisory Board Member Janette Sadik-Khan.
“Citizens seem to be ahead of elected officials. These findings
should embolden policymakers at all levels to continue supporting
transportation investment necessary to solve the problems people
obviously care about.”
Among the report’s other findings are:
• More than 200 transportation ballot initiatives have been
put before voters in the last six elections with the annual number
of measures steadily increasing;
• Transportation measures have passed at a rate far greater
than initiatives generally (70% to 34%);
• Sales tax proposals were the most common type of financing
initiative, nearly 40% of the total;
• Property tax measures have the highest victory rate, winning
more than 80% of the time since 2000.
CFTE is monitoring more than 40 proposed or pending ballot initiatives
in 2006. The full report and information on upcoming elections is
available at http://www.cfte.org.
The Center for Transportation Excellence is a Washington, D.C.-based
policy research center providing information, strategies, analysis,
and support to communities and organizations on public transportation
issues.
Download the Complete
Report
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