Public Support for State and Local Transportation Funding Improvements Remains Strong

What happened: Voters in 18 states Nov. 8 approved 88 percent of 380 state and local ballot initiatives that are expected to generate $19.6 billion in one-time and recurring revenue for transportation improvement projects, according to initial results compiled by ARTBA. The outcome of 23 other measures is pending. The voter approval rate was higher than the historical average tracked by ARTBA’s Transportation Advocacy Center (ARTBA-TIAC). Since 2010, voters in 44 states have approved an average 85 percent of nearly 3,000 state and local ballot measures, raising an estimated $342 billion in new and renewed revenue.

Why it’s important: The results show that voters remain committed to investing tax dollars in better streets, roads, bridges, and transit systems despite record inflation and high gasoline prices. Moreover, the endorsement comes a year after the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) became law. The revenue generated by the Nov. 8 results will help local governments compete for IIJA-related discretionary grants from the U.S. Department of Transportation (U.S. DOT).

Among the key outcomes:

Texas: Voters approved a combined $12.9 billion in spending from 114 measures, the most revenue of any state. Texans in 29 localities approved 27 measures—primarily local sales taxes and bonds—to generate $1.5 billion for city, town, and county transportation improvements.
California: San Francisco voters renewed (69-31 percent) an existing sales tax of 0.5 percent for an additional 30 years and authorized the Transportation Authority to issue up to $1.91 billion in bonds, to be repaid with the proceeds of the tax. It is expected to generate up to $236 million annually.
Colorado-El Paso County: Voters approved (80-20 percent) a one-cent sales tax to fund local transportation projects, generating an estimated $1 billion over 10 years. Of the approved revenue, 55 percent is allocated to capital projects, 35 percent to maintenance, and 10 percent to transit. Voters last renewed the measure with 79.5 percent of the vote in 2014.

The full ballot report is available on the Center’s website.