Voters Show Strong Support for Public Transportation as 69 Percent of Transit Measures Pass on November 8
November 8, 2016 was an historic day for public transportation in the United States as voters approved 33 of 48 local and statewide public transit measures for a current Election Day passage rate of 69 percent based on unofficial election results. One measure from yesterday’s vote remains to be called. The current success rates for transit measures throughout 2016 is 71 percent. Throughout the country this year, in 23 states and communities of all sizes, voters considered nearly $200 billion in local investment for public transportation at the ballot box.
The number of November 8 ballot measures (49), as well as their collective total amount (nearly $200 billion), were the largest in history. Yesterday’s success demonstrates that voters have once again continued their legacy of strong support for local investment in transit options. Since 2000, the average success rate of transit measures is 71 percent.
Furthermore, 77 total transit measures appeared on ballots throughout 2016, the highest number on record. This follows a growing trend in the number of measures annually, which indicates local communities are increasingly understanding the need for local investment in public transportation and recognizing that ballot initiatives can be a powerful way to meet that need. See the list here.
“Americans from every background agree that more public transportation is great for their community. And with a passage rate of 69 percent, they show they are more than willing to pay for it,” said American Public Transportation Association (APTA) Chair Doran J. Barnes.
“This remarkable passage rate for public transportation measures sends a strong message to President-elect Donald Trump and to Congress that Americans support moving forward with funding from all levels of government that connects infrastructure investment with job opportunities and our country’s economic vitality,” said APTA Acting President and CEO Richard A. White.
Jason Jordan, Executive Director of the Center for Transportation Excellence, noted, “Voters nationwide upheld the demonstrated legacy of strong support for transit at the ballot box. Clearly, communities continue to recognize the economic, social, health, and environmental benefits transit can provide and are willing to support and invest in its expansion and maintenance.”
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About the Center for Transportation Excellence: The Center for Transportation Excellence (CFTE) is a clearinghouse for information in support of quality transportation choices. CFTE is committed to two main objectives: (1) defending the merits of transit and (2) equipping local leaders with the information they need to be successful with their public transportation initiatives and ballot measures. To fulfill its mission, CFTE has been comprehensively tracking and analyzing transit ballot initiatives across the country since 2000 and providing support to local campaigns working for passage of these measures.
About the American Public Transportation Association: The American Public Transportation Association (APTA) is a nonprofit international association of more than 1,500 public and private sector organizations, engaged in the areas of bus, paratransit, light rail, commuter rail, subways, waterborne services, and intercity and high-speed passenger rail. This includes: transit systems; planning, design, construction, and finance firms; product and service providers; academic institutions; transit associations and state departments of transportation. APTA is the only association in North America that represents all modes of public transportation. APTA members serve the public interest by providing safe, efficient and economical transit services and products.
