Politics: Red and Blue; Transit: Red, White, and Blue

Victories for transit referendum on November 7 illustrate bi-partisan support across United States

Release #06-19—November 10, 2006

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Washington, D.C.—While America is divided along the lines of political ideologies, it is united in its support for mass transit.  Continuing a trend, transit initiatives passed in overwhelming numbers in Tuesday’s election.

“The success of these ballot initiatives shows that Americans want transit,” said Ross Capon, Executive Director of the National Association of Railroad Passengers.  “In what many consider an anti-tax climate, citizens are voting for measures that increase their taxes to fund local transportation improvements.  The American public realizes that our dependency on foreign oil cannot continue and that gas prices, while abated slightly, will only continue to rise.”

According to Oak Ridge National Laboratory’s Transportation Energy Data Book (Edition 25, tables 2.11, 2.12 and 2.14), commuter rail is 22% more energy efficient than automobiles.  The United States alone accounts for 25% of the world’s greenhouse emissions, with transportation contributing one-third of the nation’s emissions (rising to 36% by 2010), and highway vehicles accounting for 72% of total U.S. transportation emissions.

The successes Tuesday (see below for highlights) mirror trends from the last two elections, despite intense partisan rancor on other political issues.  According to the Center for Transportation Excellence in 2004, 79% and in 2005, 84% of transit ballot initiatives passed.

“Inclusion of transit and passenger rail in the national transportation dialogue is critical to the future stability of our nation, and in fact, our planet,” Capon said.  “The American public ‘gets it’ and has shown that they want to pay for and use transit.”

Summary of transit initiatives passed by voters on November 7, 2006:

• Kansas City: In what was perhaps the biggest and most unexpected victory of the day, voters approved a sales tax increase to fund a 27 mile light rail line, despite the opposition of many local elected officials.  This was the seventh attempt at this ballot initiative.
• California: $40 billion in public works bonds were approved by voters.  Of those funds $20 billion are for transportation, and $4 billion for public transportation.  Voters also approved a proposition that makes it harder to divert gasoline sales tax from transportation projects. Several local initiatives also passed (namely San Joaquin and Orange Counties)
• Minnesota: Voters approved an amendment to the state constitution that requires the state government to spend sales tax collected on the sale of motor vehicles for transportation projects. 40% of the revenues must be spent on transit.
• Seattle: Voters approved a property tax increase (Proposition 1) and sales tax increase (Proposition 2), both of which will fund transportation infrastructure improvement and transit construction.
• Salt Lake City: Voters approved a quarter-cent sales tax increase (Proposition 3) to pay for public transit construction and highway projects.
• Fort Worth (Grapevine): Voters approved a one-half percent sales tax to fund commuter rail projects, including a link to Dallas-Fort Worth Airport.
• Honolulu: While not a ballot initiative, the City Council approved (on November 3) light rail as the mode of choice for a rapid transit line on the island of Oahu.

About NARP

NARP is the only national organization speaking for the users of passenger trains and rail transit. We have worked since 1967 to expand the quality and quantity of passenger rail in the U.S. Our mission is to work towards a modern, customer-focused national passenger train network that provides a travel choice Americans want. Our work is supported by over 20,000 individual members.