Voters Back Numerous Transportation Funding Projects

Transportation funding was an unexpectedly big winner in the Nov. 8 midterm elections, with voters backing numerous transportation initiatives. 

Voters in 18 different states approved 88 percent of the 380 state and local ballot measures focused on transportation issues, according to an initial tally compiled by the American Road & Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA). These projects are expected to generate $20 billion in one-time revenue. 

Texas voters approved the most revenue of any state — $12.9 billion from 114 measures, according to ARTBA. In California, San Francisco citizens voted to continue an existing 0.5 percent sales tax for 30 more years, while also authorizing the state’s Transportation Authority to issue up to $1.91 billion in bonds for transportation projects. 

Another “key outcome” according to ARTBA was that voters in Colorado’s El Paso County approved a one-cent sales tax to fund local transportation projects. 

The 88 percent approval rate was higher than the historical average — 85 percent since 2010 — according to ARTBA’s Transportation Investment Advocacy Center (TIAC). 

 “A key takeaway is that voters remain committed to investing their tax dollars in better streets, roads, bridges and transit systems even in the face of record inflation and high gasoline prices that are straining household budgets,” stated Carolyn Kramer Simons, who heads up ARTBA’s TIAC.