An Historic Election for Transit-Related Ballot Initiatives

Sen. Barack Obama was not the only big winner on November 4. More than 43 million people in 16 states were asked to approve transit-related ballot initiatives – including proposals for high speed rail, to expand transit services, and increase multimodal accessibility to move people more quickly and efficiently. Across America, voters chose to increase sales taxes, property taxes, or issue bonds for the next 20 to 30 years to support, create, or expand various inter-city, suburb-to-suburb, countywide, and regional transportation projects. Streetcars in West Sacramento, Calif., new bus fleets in Aspen, Colo., street improvement projects in Lawrence, Kan., and a new commuter rail system in Honolulu, Hawaii are just a few of the projects that received voter approval on November 4^th.

According to the U.S. Dept. of Transportation, approximately 34,000 jobs are supported with every $1 billion invested by the federal government in transportation. Nationwide, voters authorized approximately $75 billion in expenditures for transportation projects – an investment that supports more than 2.6 million jobs. Furthermore, the American Public Transportation Association (APTA) estimates that for every $1 taxpayers invest in transportation, $6 are generated in economic returns. In a stumbling economy, supporting high-quality, smart transportation infrastructure is a long-term investment that will help build regional sustainability across the country.

In an era of fluctuating gas prices, high costs of living, and financial strains on family budgets, Americans from coast-to-coast expressed their desire for change by investing scarce resources on long-term transportation projects. These investments will create jobs for working Americans, savings at the gas pump, and a cleaner, better environment.

Election Day 2008 - Photo Courtesy of Danny Arenas

For additional resources:

2008 Ballot Initiatives Report – American Road and Transportation Builders Association
2008 Transit Ballot Measures – Center for Transportation Excellence

NEWS

Local News

Compute the commute to save – Chicago Tribune “Under federal tax law, a commuter can shelter up to $115 a month, or $1,380 a year, in pre-tax dollars to help pay commuting expenses.”

Illinois poised to get bigger bucks for roads, transit – Crain’s “Barack Obama's presidency is expected to pay a quick local dividend: hundreds of millions in additional dollars from Washington to fix bad roads, crumbling bridges and an aging transit system.”

While others act on transit, city and state officials talk and the CTA waits – Chicago Tribune “Once again, no transportation referendum proposals were on the ballot last week in northeastern Illinois, which ranks second nationally behind Los Angeles for congestion.”

Pace Paratransit woes hit a turning point – Daily Herald “After getting an earful from irate passengers, Pace Chairman Richard Kwasneski this summer formed a "Blue Ribbon" committee composed of Paratransit riders, government experts and advocates for the disabled and asked them to review the situation.”

Tollway plan for carpooling, interchanges gets test drive – Daily Herald “Green lanes got a green light during a Thursday hearing sponsored by the state tollway into a plan to introduce carpooling and improve interchanges.”

‘Transportation coaches’ hope to embolden bike riders in suburbs – Chicago Tribune “But a new program launched this month by the Chicagoland Bicycle Federation employs Wilson and dedicated cyclists like her to work as ‘transportation coaches’ for wary suburbanites to get them out of their cars and onto bikes or public transportation.”

World News

Obama Asks Bush to Provide Help for Automakers – New York Times “If the Big Three were to collapse, it said, that would cost at least three million jobs, counting autoworkers, suppliers and other businesses dependent on the companies, down to the hot-dog vendors and bartenders next door to their plants.”

Public transit Catch-22: More turn to trains and buses even as officials struggle with funding – Market Watch “At the same time, expanding public transportation -- adding more service to more locations -- requires money that is becoming increasingly hard to find.”

The Climate for Change – New York Times “Third, we should help America’s automobile industry (not only the Big Three but the innovative new startup companies as well) to convert quickly to plug-in hybrids that can run on the renewable electricity that will be available as the rest of this plan matures.”

Overseas ERP going green – The Straits Times “The Netherlands is looking to introduce tolls that bill motorists for the amount of pollution their vehicles spew into the environment.”

Approval of transit funds paves the way for new challenges – Los Angeles Times “Simultaneous approval of a high-speed rail line to link California's two major cities and a package of subway, light rail, highway and busway expansions in the state's most populous county marks "a huge step forward," said Dario Frommer, a member of the California Transportation Commission.”

National road toll devices to be tested by drivers next year – The London Times “Hundreds of drivers are being recruited to take part in government-funded road-pricing trials that could result in charges of up to £1.30 a mile on the most congested roads.”

Visa to Improve Payment Experience for Commuters in Los Angeles and Paris; Working with Transit Operators to Enable Visa Payment at the Fare Gate – Market Watch “Visa Inc. today announced it is working with the Los Angeles transit authority to allow train, subway and bus riders to speed through turnstiles and past fare boxes with a simple wave of their Visa pay Wave-enabled contactless card.”

Top 10 Challenges in the Trucking Industry – ThomasNet “In its October report, Critical Issues in the Trucking Industry - 2008, the American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI) points to fuel costs and the economy as the two biggest challenges the United States trucking industry faces.”

Wireless Parking Information Could Boost Public Transit Use – Government Technology “Public-sector forces in the San Francisco Bay Area are working to alleviate the problem by deploying wireless parking technology that informs people of parking space availability while they're driving or even before they get in their vehicles.”

Resources

Moving Los Angeles: Short-Term Policy Options for Improving Transportation - RAND Corporation
Preserving Opportunities: Saving Affordable Homes Near Transit - National Housing Trust and Reconnecting America

Contact Information

For comments, suggestions or submissions, please contact Emily Tapia Lopez, Associate, at etapia@metroplanning.org or 312-863-6047.