Voters in 22 States have approved ballot measures that will see US$ 201 billion in funding going to State and local Transportation projects.
According to an analysis by the American Road & Transportation Builders Association, 69% of 280 transportation funding ballot measures up for vote across the nation were approved, with results still pending for seven local areas.
California will see the biggest impact. Voters in the state approved 15 out of 26 transportation ballot measures worth US$133 billion, including a 1-cent sales tax in Los Angeles that will provide US$120 billion over 40 years for local road, bridge and transit projects.
Voters in Illinois and New Jersey passed transportation tax “lockbox” measures to prohibit state lawmakers from diverting transportation user – fee revenue to non-transportation uses.
Maine approved a state-wide transportation bond issue for US$100 million and Rhode Island voters approved US$70 million in bonds for port investment.
In Washington State, voters approved a 25-year US$54 billion revenue package that would support expanding Sound Transit light rail and bus routes.
In Missouri, a state-wide initiative to increase the state’s cigarette tax to raise an estimated US$100 million annually for transportation investments failed.
Voters in Georgia approved local sales tax increases that would raise nearly US$4 billion for road and transit projects in the metropolitan Atlanta area.
