Voters across the country voiced their support for public transportation on Election Day last week, approving five out of five state and local ballot issues supporting public transit.
The success of the five measures adds to five other public transit measures already passed by voters this year, bringing the total number of public transit ballot initiative wins to 10 out of 10.
Another public transit issue will be considered on Nov. 13 in Baton Rouge, La. If that measure wins, 2021 will be the first time public transit has had a 100 percent record of success at the ballot box.
Fewer public transit measures were on the ballot in 2021 than in previous years, but those that were had a higher level of success. While many transit systems focused on lobbying for federal assistance, using the American Rescue Plan funds, and recovering from COVID-19 ridership declines. But those systems that did put public transit on the ballot found enthusiastic support from their communities.
In 2020, public transit saw a 90 percent success rate in elections as voters recognized the role of public transit in their communities.
“Even as times and circumstances change, what remains consistent is the voting public’s understanding that public transportation is critical to the future of their communities and part of a forward-looking vision,” said American Public Transportation Association President and CEO Paul P. Skoutelas. “The 100% approval rate for year-to-date ballot measures certainly underscores that, even in uncertain times, communities of all sizes see public transportation and its numerous benefits as vital to the social and economic recovery of our nation.”
Measures winning on Tuesday included a $100 million transportation bond measure in Maine including $15 million for public transit improvements; the renewal of a Kalamazoo County, Mich., property tax to fund paratransit services; a $515 million transportation bond measure in Gilbert, Ariz. That included $49 million for public transportation improvements; a $38.7 million capital projects measure in Arlington, Va., for the Metropolitan Transit Authority; and a measure in Lucas County, Ohio that would add the county to the TARTA Board of Trustees and expand the TARTA service area to include the entire county, while increasing the property tax funding to a half-cent sales tax.