State and local ballots feature billions in transportation measures

Voters next week will consider 300 transportation-related measures on state and local ballots that together are worth more than $70 billion.

Eleven of the measures have the potential to generate $1 billion of revenue over the life of the tax, according to the American Road & Transportation Builders Association, which tracks the measures.

ARTBA highlighted a number of the more prominent measures. Eight counties in South Carolina will ask voters to enact or renew a local sales tax for transportation and seven counties in Georgia will seek approval of a new or renewed transportation-related sales tax.

In addition to a number of local measures, a statewide California measure that would lower the threshold to pass bonds and taxes to 55% from 66.67% "would ease the burden for counties, cities, and towns seeking ballot approval for revenue to maintain and improve roads, bridges, trails, and other transportation-related infrastructure," ARTBA said.

Washington state voters will vote on the fate of the state's carbon credit market, which if rejected could dent transportation-related revenue for climate-friendly transportation like high-speed rail, transit and electrified ferries.

Voters in Maricopa County, Arizona will decide on a 20-year continuation of a sales tax that's projected to generate $14.9 billion in revenues through 2045. The money would go to projects aimed at keeping the region's 30-minute average commute length, "one of the best average commute times of large cities in the U.S.," according to the Maricopa Association of Governments.

In Seattle, voters will consider renewal of a local property tax that would raise $1.55 billion in the city's transportation infrastructure. The money would go to projects like new bike lanes, improved bus system, and bridge and street repair. "For the past 18 years, Seattle voters have consistently shown their commitment to maintaining and improving our city's transportation infrastructure," Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell said in a press release announcing the measure. 

The fast-growing region around Columbus, Ohio is asking voters to approve a sales tax increase estimated to raise around $6 billion by 2050 for a bus rapid transit system among other infrastructure. Columbus is the only city of its size without a rapid transit system, according to the Central Ohio Transit Authority, which approved the levy question, and the revenue would go to 40 communities in the area.

Behind the central Ohio measure, one of the largest transit-related questions will come in Nashville, Tenn. where an increase in the county sales tax would generate $3.1 billion that would create a bus rapid transit corridor, among other projects.

Transportation and transit measures have a history of strong voter support, ARTBA said. Voters last year approved 88% of transportation investment measures, and since 2014, voters in 43 states approved or 85% of state and local ballot measures.