Public transportation across the United States came out a winner of the Nov. 8 election as 33 of the 46 local and statewide public transit measures up for a vote were approved; a passage rate of 69%, based on unofficial results.
According to the American Public Transportation Association (APTA), the 49 ballot measures totaling nearly $200 billion that were voted on 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," the association said in a statement.
The largest measure in the country, Los Angeles County's Measure M, was passing with 69 percent approval with all precincts reporting. The sales tax increase needed two-thirds majority to pass and is expected to raise $120-billion to help fund Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LACMTA) projects to connect the Los Angeles International Airport to LACMTA's Green Line, Crenshaw/LAX line and bus service; extend the Purple Line subway to Westwood; extend the Gold Line 11 miles; extend the Crenshaw Line Rail north to West Hollywood; among other transit improvements.
California's other big transit wins include Measure RR in the San Francisco Bay area, which will authorize $3.5 billion in bonds for Bay Area Rapid Transit rehabilitation and modernization. It required a cumulative two-thirds vote in San Francisco, Alameda and Contra Costa counties for passage and received 70 percent approval.
Measure B, which would raise sales tax by a half-cent for 30 years to fund $3 billion in Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority projects, passed with 71 percent approval and required a two-thirds majority to move forward.
One measure that failed to pass was in San Diego where Measure A, an initiative that would have raised $7.5 billion for public transit, did not reach the required two-thirds majority, but did win a 57 percent approval.
In Seattle, Wash., the second largest transit measure being put to voters, $54-billion Sound Transit Proposition 1, also known as Sound Transit 3, passed with 55 percent approval. The measure will up taxes an estimated $14 a month for a typical adult in the Sound Transit district to pay for light-rail, commuter rail and bus extensions.
Atlanta, Ga., voters approved a half-cent sales tax increase to raise $2.5 billion over 40 years to fund rail and bus improvements to Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority's system.
Jason Jordan, executive director of the Center for Transportation Excellence, said, "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."