Transit Measures On The Ballot in November 2008

	STATE	CITY	QUICK FACTS	SUBJECT	STATUS
1	AR	Jonesboro	Amount of funding at stake: $130,000 annually	The Jonesboro City Council voted to establish a transit agency, the Jonesboro Economical Transportation System (JETS), in 2005. The city agreed to fund the program for five years, but after three years it is up to the voters to decide whether to continue the service. If the ballot initiative fails, the system will begin to be phased out in 2009, unless another funding source is identified.	Nov. 4, 2008 Approved 86% to 14%
2	CA	Statewide	Type: Bond Amount of funding at stake: $9.9 billion	There will be a statewide ballot for a $10 billion bond proposal to provide initial financing for a $42 billion transit system that will enable a 220-m.p.h. bullet train to take passengers from San Francisco to Los Angeles in 2.5 hours. If approved, the train would be in service in about a decade. Yes on Prop 1A – Californian’s for High-Speed Rail http://www.californiahighspeedtrains.com/	Nov. 4, 2008 Approved 52% to 48%
3	CA	Alameda and Contra Costa Counties	Type: Property tax Amount of funding at stake: $7 million annually	Property owners in Alameda and Contra Costa counties will vote on whether to double their parcel tax to $48 a year to fund AC Transit bus service, under a proposal endorsed by the transit agency's governing board. The tax increase was recommended by AC Transit administrators as an alternative to raising fares. Yes on Measure VV –Keep AC Transit Affordable For Youth & Seniors http://urbanhabitat.org/uh/tj/measurevv	Nov. 4, 2008 Approved 72% to 28%
4	CA	Los Angeles County	Type: Sales tax Amount of funding at stake: $40 billion over 30 years	A 1/2 cent sales tax increase has been placed on the November ballot to pay for more road and mass transit projects, including the beginning of the subway to the sea. On August 31, the California Assembly passed AB 2321, which was necessary for the measure to be placed on the ballot. Yes on Measure R – Roadmap For Traffic Relief http://www.yesonmeasurerla.com	Nov. 4, 2008 Approved 67% to 33%
5	CA	Monterey County	Type: Sales tax	In November, Monterey County voters will decide whether to adopt a Transportation Investment Plan to provide safety/congestion relief on Highways 1, 68, 156 and 101; pothole and local road repairs; alternatives to driving alone; bus service improvements; and transportation for the elderly and persons with disabilities. Measure Z asks voters to fund the plan with a 25-year half-percent sales tax. Two-thirds approval is required for the measure to pass.	Nov. 4, 2008 Failed 62% to 38% (2/3 approval req.)
6	CA	Santa Barbara County	Type: Sales tax Ballot History: Renewal measure Amount of funding at stake: $1.05 billion over 30 years	In 1989, voters in Santa Barbara County approved a half-cent sales tax, known as Measure D, to support roads and transportation. In November 2006, a 30-year renewal of the tax, sold as the “train and lane” plan, failed at the ballot. The Santa Barbara County Association of Governments has placed a renewal of Measure D (called Measure A) to the ballot this November, before the current version expires in April 2010. Yes on Measure A – Less Traffic No New Taxes http://www.yesonmeasurea2008.com	Nov. 4, 2008 Approved 79% to 21%
7	CA	Santa Clara Valley	Type: Sales tax Amount of funding at stake: $42 million annually	A new law allows Valley Transportation Authority to place a one-eighth-cent sales tax on the ballot. Since the opposition of a June 2006 tax initiative, VTA has been eager to ask voters again for the funds to support the transit system, including Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) expansion. Yes on B – Extend and Connect Bart http://barttosiliconvalley.com	Nov. 4, 2008 Too close to call (2/3 approval req.)
8	CA	Sonoma and Marin Counties	Type: Sales tax Amount of funding at stake: $45 million annually over 20 years	In November 2006, Sonoma Marin Area Rail Transit lost a sales tax measure to fund the 70-mile SMART passenger rail-and-trail project by slightly more than one percent. The proposal has been slightly modified and county officials have voted to place the quarter-cent sales tax measure on the November ballot. It would raise $890 million over 20 years, with annual revenues of about $45 million to pay for a train system running from Cloverdale to Larkspur that would cost $450 million to build and $19.3 million a year to operate. Yes on Q – Green Transportation Solutions http://www.smarttrain2008.org/	Nov. 4, 2008 Approved 68% to 32%
9	CA	Stanislaus County	Type: Sales tax Amount of funding at stake: $700 million over 20 years	Measure S is a 1/2 cent sales tax this will generate more than $700 million over the next 20 years for transportation. Approximately half the money goes to regional corridor projects and half the money would go to a local traffic improvement and road maintenance program. Potential uses of the funding include street and transit enhancements.	Nov. 4, 2008 Approved 66% to 34%
10	CA	West Sacramento	Type: Sales tax and advisory measure Amount of funding at stake: $1 million annually	Voters will decide if West Sacramento will continue one-fourth cent of the existing one-half cent sales tax for general government purposes until 2033. (The existing one-fourth cent is set to expire in 2013). In conjunction with that question, voters will be asked an advisory question on whether the proceeds of the sales tax, if the extention is approved, should be used to fund the operations of a streetcar system serving West Sacramento.	Nov. 4, 2008 Approved
11	CO	Aspen	Type: Property tax Amount of funding at stake: $1.5 million annually for the next 3 years	Measure 3A asked voters if property taxes should be raised for the next three years to address the district’s transportation and technology needs. The district’s six-year plan would enable it to replace 15 of its 19 buses, which were all purchased in the 1980s and 1990s.	Nov. 4, 2008 Approved
12	CO	Aspen	Type: Sales tax	The Roaring Fork Transportation Authority (RFTA) is asking for a 0.4 percent sales tax increase on the November ballot to allow it to begin implementing bus rapid transit. Six municipalities (Aspen, Snowmass Village, Basalt, Carbondale, Glenwood Springs and New Castle) and two counties (Eagle and Pitkin) are in RFTA's jurisdiction. The increase could phase in nearly $62.5 million in capital improvements and boost operating revenues by about $37 million between 2009 and 2017. To help jump start the expansion of the bus system, RFTA will seek voter approval to issue $38 million in bonds. The sales tax hike and bonding issuance will be wrapped into one question for the November ballot. Yes RFTA 4A – Faster! Cleaner! Cheaper! http://www.yesto4a.com/	Nov. 4, 2008 Approved
13	CO	Silt	Type: Sales tax Amount of funding at stake on ballot: $79,000 anually	On November 4, voters in Silt will decide if they want to join the Roaring Fork Transit Authority. If approved, there will be a 0.4 percent sales tax increase and a $10 vehicle registration fee to support the town's particpation in RFTA.	Nov. 4, 2008 Failed 41% to 59%
14	HI	Honolulu		Mayor Mufi Hannemann wants to begin construction next year on a $3.7 billion, 20-mile elevated commuter rail line from east Kapolei to Ala Moana and complete the project by 2018. A nonprofit group, Stop Rail Now, launched a petition drive in April to put the rail issue on the November ballot. Although 40,000 signatures were collected, legal challenges prevented the referendum from officially qualifying. The Honolulu City Council recently voted unanimously to allow voters to decide whether to build a commuter rail system, but several hurdles remain before it can be placed on the ballot. Get on Board…Support Rail Transit Now! http://supportrailtransit.com/	Nov. 4, 2008 Approved 53% to 47%
15	KS	Lawrence	Type: Sales tax	The T system's financial struggles have led Lawrence City Commissioners to discuss the need for a new sales tax if the public transit system is to continue. Commissioners have placed two separate sales tax questions on the November ballot: a 0.20 percent transit proposal and a 0.30 infrastructure sales tax. http://www.lawrencetransit.org/	Nov. 4, 2008 Approved 70% to 30%
16	MI	Lansing	Type: Property tax	In Ingham County, voters will be deciding on whether to aprove an operating milage for the Capital Area Transportation Authority.. The millage would cost an average household with a taxable value of $100,000 about $78 a year. If the millage doesn't pass, CATA would face cutbacks, including weekend hours and ending services earlier on weekday nights.	Nov. 4, 2008 Approved
17	MI	Kalamazoo County	Type: Property tax	The Kalamazoo County Transportation Authority is seeking a millage to pay for transit services for the next four years. If voters approve the tax, the authority will levy 0.63 mills in 2008, gradually increasing the tax rate each year up to 0.86 mills by 2011. The first year of the new tax rate is expected to generate $5 million. The transportation millage would replace two expiring taxes: 1.38 mill for Kalamazoo city taxpayers and 0.38 mill for the rest of Kalamazoo County. Keep Kalamazoo County Moving! http://www.voteyesfortransit.com/	Nov. 4, 2008 Failed
18	MI	Spring Lake	Type: Property tax	The Village of Spring Lake has seen the costs of their local transportation service escalate dramatically in the past year and the Village Council is putting the future of the transit service in the voter’s hands in November. The ballot proposal asks village voters if they're willing to pay a separate tax levy of up to 0.85 mill for the demand-response bus program in exchange for a general fund reduction of 0.72 mill.	Nov. 4, 2008 Approved 76% to 24%
19	MO	Kansas City	Type: Sales tax	In November of 2006, Kansas City voters approved a plan to bring light-rail to their city. A year later, the city council voted to overturn the results of the election on the grounds that the approved plan was underfunded and unfeasible. This November voters will be presented with a measure for a 25 year, 3/8-cent sales tax increase to fund a 14-mile light rail starter route. The total cost of for the starter route is projected at $815 million. Vote Yes on Question 1 http://www.kcrail.com	Nov. 4, 2008 Failed 44% to 56%
20	MO	St. Louis	Type: Sales tax	Proposition M asks voters to approve a half-cent increase in the transit sales tax to support mass transit. The tax increase would be applied in two parts; the first quarter-cent for maintenance of the existing transit system, and the second quarter-cent for expansion of the MetroLink system. Originally scheduled for the February 2008 ballot, the measure was postponed until this November. Vote Yes on Proposition M http://moremetrolink.com	Nov. 4, 2008 Failed 48% to 52%
21	NC	Greensboro	Type: Bonds Amount of funding at stake on ballot: $134 million	Residents of Greensboro will be asked to vote on a $134 million transportation and street improvement bond. This bond will support more than 70 transportation projects throughout the city of Greensboro, including new sidewalks, bridge repairs, bike lanes, road widening, installation of new traffic lights and signals, and more.	Nov. 4, 2008 Approved
22	NM	Bernalillo, Sandoval and Valencia Counties	Type: Sales tax Amount of funding at stake on ballot: $19 million annually (rising to $27 million by 2015)	Voters in the Rio Metro Transit District, which includes Bernalillo, Sandoval and Valencia counties, will be asked to decide whether to raise the gross receipts tax by one-eighth cent per dollar. Half of the tax revenue will be dedicated to the New Mexico Rail Runner Express commuter train. The other half will go to surface transportation projects within the counties. Rio Metro – Get Connected http://www.getconnectednm.com/	Nov. 4, 2008 Approved
23	NM	Santa Fe, Los Alamos, Rio Arriba and Taos Counties	Type: Sales tax Amount of funding at stake on ballot:$8 million annually	Voters in the North Central Regional Transit District, which includes Santa Fe, Los Alamos, Rio Arriba and Taos counties, will be voting on a measure identical to the one appearing in the Rio Metro Transit District. Only Santa Fe county would dedicate half of its revenue to Rail Runner, the other counties would keep the tax revenue for local bus and van projects.	Nov. 4, 2008 Approved
24	NV	Washoe County	Type: Sales tax Amount of funding at stake on ballot: $30 million annually	In November, voters will decide whether to increase the sales tax by 1/8 of a cent for operation and maintenance of the public transit system. Unless this additional funding is approved, existing transit service will likely be cut by about 20%.	Nov. 4, 2008 Failed 38% to 62%
25	OH	Mahoning County	Type: Sales tax Amount of funding at stake on ballot: $7 million annually	The sales tax measure that failed in March will be back on the ballot in November. Without its approval the transportation system will likely shut down. If the sales tax is approved, it would raise about $7 million annually for WRTA. The agency would then eliminate the Youngstown levies that currently fund the system.	Nov. 4, 2008 Approved 55% to 45%
26	OR	Bend	Type: Property tax Amount of funding at stake on ballot: $1.4 million annually (est.)	City councilors have unanimously agreed to send a property tax measure to the November ballot that would create a separately funded transit district to support Bend Area Transit (BAT). The proposed property tax rate would be $0.393 per $1,000 assessed property value. Measure 9-60 http://citizensforbendareatransit.giving.officelive.com/default.aspx	Nov. 4, 2008 Failed 49% to 51%
27	OR	Salem	Type: Property tax Amount of funding at stake on the ballot: $30.4 million over five years	TheSalem-Keizer Transit District has placed a five-year, $30.4 million local option tax levy on the November ballot to fund the transit district's operations. The measure asks taxpayers for 49 cents per $1,000 of assessed value. Officials at the transit agency plan to cut jobs and services if the tax measure fails. Measure 24-247 –Yes for Cherriots Salem-Keizer Transit http://www.yesforcherriots.com	Nov. 4, 2008 Failed 48% to 52%
28	RI	Statewide	Type: Bonds Amount of funding at stake on ballot: $87.2 million	On the November ballot, voters will be presented with $87.2 million in state transportation bonds. Of the bond total, $80 million will fund highways, roads and bridges and the remaining funds will be allocated to mass transit.	Nov. 4, 2008 Approved 76% to 24%
29	UT	Eagle Mountain	Type: Sales tax	In November, residents will decide whether to raise their sales tax one quarter-cent to join the Utah Transit Authority's coverage area. If approved UTA will begin express bus service to and from Salt Lake City.	Nov. 4, 2008 Approved 78% to 22%
30	UT	Saratoga Springs	Type: Sales tax	In November, residents will decide whether to raise their sales tax one quarter-cent to join the Utah Transit Authority's coverage area. If approved UTA will begin express bus service to and from Salt Lake City.	Nov. 4, 2008 Approved 66% to 34%
31	WA	Seattle	Type: Sales tax Ballot History: 2nd attempt at the ballot box Amount of funding at stake on ballot: $17.8 billion over 20 years	In November 2008, voters defeated Proposition 1, a 20-year "Roads & Transit" construction plan. Sound Transit has fast-tracked a new proposal that is stripped of all the road and highway provisions and is much cheaper, costing around $17.8 billion and financed with an increase in sales taxes. It promises fewer deliverables than last year's plan, but will included 34 additional miles of light rail, expanded bus service and it promises to make things happen in 15 years, not 20. A final decision is expected to be made July 24. Vote Yes on Proposition 1 http://www.masstransitnow.org/	Nov. 4, 2008 Approved 59% to 41%
32	WI	Milwaukee	Type: Sales tax Amount of funding at stake on the ballot: $130 million annually	A question was placed on the November ballot to allow Milwaukee County to levy a 1% sales tax for parks, recreation and culture; transit; and emergency medical services. The tax is expected to generate $130 million annually, with at least $67 million of that going to lower county property tax.	Nov. 4, 2008 Approved 51% to 49%

2008 Completed Transit Ballot Measures

STATE	CITY		SUBJECT	STATUS
1	AZ	Flagstaff	Type: Sales tax	There are five propositions to improve the Mountain Line Bus System on the May 20th ballot.Voters will be able to choose to do any, all or none of the following: a.Continue the existing .00175 tax for another 10 years; b. Establish a .0002 tax to upgrade the Hybrid Electric Fleet; c. Establish a .0002 tax to build a new Bus Rapid Transit route in the central business district; d. Establish a .0004 tax to expand coverage or e. Establish a .0004 tax to decrease headways. http://www.mountainline2008vote.info	May 20, 2008 Approved by 78% of voters
2	CA	Statewide	Type: Gas tax	In 2002, voters passed a measure (Prop. 42) to dedicate gas tax funds to transportation. Proposition 91 was designed to close loopholes that the state was using to apply the funds to other purposes. In 2006, voters passed Propositions 1A and 1B, which closed the loopholes and created new transportation infrastructure funding. The original proponents of Prop 91 are telling voters to vote 'no', as the measure is now redundant and unnecessary. But Southern California Transit Advocates insist that the measure is still necessary and are encouraging voters to approve it.	Feb. 5, 2008 Failed 43% to 57%
3	FL	Statewide	Type: Property tax	Amendment 1 is proposal that was placed on the ballot in October 2007 by the state legislature increases the state's homestead exemption to $50,000 from $25,000. This will translate into a tax break of about $240 year for the average homeowner. If approved, this proposal is projected cut taxes by $9.3 billion over the next five years which will result in reduced funding for government services including transportation.	Jan. 29, 2008 Approved 64% to 36%
4	GA	Gwinnett County	Type: ADVISORY MEASURE	On July 15, there was a non-binding referendum on the Democratic and Republican primary ballots in Gwinnett County, Georgia. The measure asked voters whether they would support an additional penny sales tax to extend the MARTA rail line into the county.	July 15, 2008 Voters Split Republican Ballot 37%-63% Democratic Ballot 70-30%
5	MI	Genesee County	Type: Property tax Ballot History: Renewal measure Amount of funding at stake on ballot: $4 million annually	An official for the Mass Transportation Authority says a renewal of a 0.4 mills property tax will allow the agency to maintain current services countywide. But without continuation of the property tax, the MTA would have no choice but to make cuts in services. The countywide millage has been in place since voters approved it in 1994.	August 5, 2008 Approved 69% to 31%
6	MI	Roscommon County	Type: Property tax Ballot History: Renewal measure	On August 5, voters will decide the fate of three countywide services including public transportation. The measure asks residents to renew the county's 0.5-mill expired transportation authority funding. Millage rollbacks have reduced the transit system's millage rate to 0.47 mills in recent years. If approved, this measure would restore the 0.5-mill levy that voters already approved.	August 5, 2008 Approved 60% to 40%
7	MO	Kansas City	Type: Sales tax Ballot History: Renewal measure	On April 8, voters will be asked to renew the three-eighth cent bus sales tax that is set to expire in April 2009. If voters approve ballot question # 1, the tax will be extended for fifteen years. Voters originally approved it in 2003. The future of this tax for the Kansas City Area Transportation Authority’s buses has been uncertain since November 2006, when voters approved a plan that would take revenue from the tax and apply it to the development of light rail.	April 8, 2008 Approved 65% to 35%
8	MO	St. Joseph	Type: Sales tax	To avoid transit service reduction, the city council voted to place a measure to increase the city's sales tax on the primary ballot in February. The measure would increase the current sales tax of 0.15 percent to 0.44 percent.	February 5, 2008 Approved by 70%
9	OH	Summit County	Type: Sales tax Amount of funding at stake on ballot: $18 million	If approved by voters, collection of the 0.25 percent sales tax would begin July 1, and it is expected to generate $18 million, according to transit officials. METRO officials said the revenue generated by the sales tax is needed to address a $1.8 million deficit projected for 2008 and a $1 million deficit in 2009	March 4, 2008 Approved by 52% of voters
10	OH	Mahoning County	Type: Sales tax Amount of funding at stake on ballot: $7 million annually	Mahoning County Commissioners unanimously approved Western Reserve Transit Authority's request to put a 0.25-percent sales tax on the ballot for countywide bus service.	March 4, 2008 Failed 43% to 57%
11	WA	Spokane	Type: Sales tax Ballot History: Renewal measure	Transit ridership in Spokane is up 10% from last year and 12% from the year before. On May 20, 2008, voters living within the Public Transportation Benefit Area were asked to vote on a reauthorization of the three-tenths of one percent sales tax for operations. Voters first approved the tax in 2004 and after the reauthorization the tax will be permanent.	May 20, 2008 Approved 65% to 35%
12	WV	Wheeling	Type: Property tax	Ohio County Commissioners have introduced a resolution calling for the placement of the city of Wheeling’s bus levy on the county’s May 13 primary ballot. The measure would ask voters to renew levies to be imposed on city residents to fund Wheeling’s share of Ohio Valley Regional Transportation Authority (OVRTA) public transit service costs.	May 13, 2008 Approved 77% to 23%