POST-ELECTION SNAPSHOT: VOTERS GREENLIGHT $31+ BILLION IN PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION BALLOT MEASURES ACROSS U.S. IN 2026
In Tuesday’s election, voters have thus far supported 22 of 27 measures in favor of public transit, with results for all 27 measures now available on CFTE’s website.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Yesterday, on Tuesday, November 3, voters voiced overwhelming support for public transit by approving 22 of 27 transit ballot measures across the country, most by overwhelming margins. As of today, there have been 56 wins out of 66 measures for public transit in 2026, about an 85% win rate. You can find results for ballot measures on our 2026 election scorecard, which has the most up-to-date information.
“Local measures are the truest gauge of public priorities, and this year’s ballot results send a clear message. Voters across the country are choosing public transit,” said APTA President and CEO Paul P. Skoutelas. “Voters approved 56 of 66 transit measures, or 85 percent, proving that maintaining and modernizing our transit systems is a non-negotiable priority for communities nationwide. That support reflects a shared commitment to public transportation networks that expand access to jobs, reduce congestion, and build economic resilience. The 2026 vote is an endorsement of public transportation and an investment in connected communities that work for everyone.”
“This week’s election results indicate this to be a banner year for public transit. Voters across the nation, from red and blue states to urban and rural areas, united to support transit in 85% of initiatives across the country,” said Jessica Grennan, Executive Director of APTA’s Center for Transportation Excellence. “The broad success of these ballot measures, from county-level results to statewide initiatives, indicates that voters are increasingly prioritizing transit to improve quality of life, expand job opportunities, and stimulate economic growth for all.”
Through the November 3 Transit Ballot Measures, voters approved $27.4 billion in long-term dedicated funding to support public transportation services and improvements, bringing total funding for public transit in 2026 to over $31 billion. These results show that residents understand the importance of putting our public transit systems on the road to recovery—because good public transportation means a brighter and easier future for communities.
You can find this year’s victories for public transit below.
2026 Transit Ballot Initiative Wins
| City/County | State | Ballot Proposal Summary | Total Known Transit Revenue | Pass Rate |
| Bay Area (San Francisco, Alameda, Contra Costa, San Mateo, and Santa Clara counties) | CA | Connect the Bay Area regional ballot measure created a 14-year sales tax (0.5% in Alameda County, Contra Costa County, San Mateo County, and Santa Clara County and 1% in San Francisco County) to generate about $1 billion annually to prevent major service cuts and improve regional transit systems including Bay Area Rapid Transit, San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency, Caltrain, and AC Transit. | $14,000,000,000 | 61.60% |
| Riverside County | CA | Riverside County voters decided to renew Measure A, the county’s half-cent transportation sales tax for transportation infrastructure and services, including highway and freeway improvements, local streets and roads, and public transportation, estimated to generate approximately $280,000,000 annually with no fixed expiration. | N/A | 70.00% |
| San Bernardino County | CA | San Bernardino County voters decided to extend Measure I, the county’s half-cent transportation sales tax, beyond its current March 2040 expiration, keeping it in place until repealed by voters. The extension will take effect April 1, 2040 and generate approximately $250,000,000 annually for local roads, regional highway and transit projects, and transit operations. 25% of San Bernardino Valley revenue and 10% of Mountain/Desert revenue will be dedicated to rail, transit, and senior and specialized transportation operations. The revenue estimates have been made using the expenditure plan’s estimate that it will generate $7.3 billion over the first 30 years. | $1,566,031,200 | 68.90% |
| San Francisco | CA | The “Stronger Muni For All” campaign aims to put a 15 years parcel tax measure on the November ballot that will generate around $160 million annually to fund Muni, with $150 million dedicated to reducing Muni’s budget deficit and $10 million dedicated to service quality improvements. Property owners will be billed based on property type and square footage: single-family properties at $129/year, multifamily at $249/year, and non-residential parcels at $799/year, with additional tax for larger properties. | $2,400,000,000 | 72.44% |
| Front Range District | CO | Voters in about 30 municipalities within the Front Range Passenger Rail District, from Fort Collins to Pueblo, decided to approve a new 0.333% sales and use tax with no sunset to fund the Colorado Connector passenger rail service. The tax would extend service south from Denver to Colorado Springs and Pueblo and increase train frequency. It is projected to generate approximately $295,000,000 in its first full year, with 100% dedicated to passenger rail. The measure will also authorize $580,000,000 in debt. Although it has no sunset, revenue for transit and total have been estimated based on a 20-year period for revenue tracking purposes. | $5,900,000,000 | 55.15% |
| Routt County | CO | Voters in the Yampa Valley Regional Transportation Authority district, which covers unincorporated Routt County and Steamboat Springs, Craig, Hayden, Oak Creek, and Yampa, decided to approve a new 0.5% sales tax to fund the regional transit authority voters created in 2025. It is estimated to generate approximately $7,700,000 annually to launch and expand regional bus service across the Yampa Valley. Although there is no sunset, total revnue estimates have been based on a 20 year period. | $154,000,000 | 60.49% |
| Cobb County | GA | Cobb County voters decided whether to renew the county’s 1% Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax for six years (2028–2033), projected to generate $1,200,000,000 for public safety, roads, parks, libraries, and other capital projects, including $13,250,000 for CobbLinc transit capital improvements. | $13,250,000 | 61.96% |
| Lawrence | KS | Lawrence voters decided whether to repeal the existing 0.2% transit sales tax, currently set to expire in 2029, and replace it with a 0.3% sales tax from April 1, 2027 through March 2037, to fund Lawrence Transit, maintain fare-free bus service and current route frequencies, and support a downtown transit center. It is estimated to generate approximately $6,000,000 annually, with 100% dedicated to public transit. | $60,000,000 | 55.92% |
| Benton Harbor | MI | Benton Harbor voters decided to renew the 1.25-mill property tax that funds the Twin Cities Area Transportation Authority (TCATA) Dial-a-Ride service for 20 years (2028–2047). The current millage, approved in 2007, expires in 2027. The renewal would provide the city’s local match for TCATA as the agency transitions into a new countywide transit authority. | $2,659,040 | 76.31% |
| Eaton County | MI | Eaton County voters decided to renew the 0.25-mill countywide property tax that funds the Eaton County Transportation Authority (EATRAN) demand-response and connector bus service for five years, estimated to generate approximately $1,306,667 in its first year. | $6,533,335 | 66.53% |
| Macomb County | MI | Macomb County voters decided to renew the countywide 0.94-mill property tax that funds SMART bus service for five years. The rate is slightly below the current 0.95 mills, and the millage is estimated to generate approximately $37,000,000 in its first year to maintain fixed-route, paratransit, and dial-a-ride service. | $185,000,000 | 65.36% |
| Stark County | OH | Stark County voters decided to renew SARTA’s existing 0.25% sales and use tax for 10 years for all transit purposes, generating approximately $19,000,000 annually. The current tax expires in June 2027. The renewal comes after voters narrowly rejected a proposal to increase the tax to 0.35% in the May 2026 primary. | $190,000,000 | 54.37% |
| Charleston County | SC | Charleston County voters decided to approve a new half-cent sales tax — replacing the current 2004 transportation sales tax set to expire in 2027 — for 25 years to fund roadway infrastructure, public transit, and land preservation, projected to generate $4,250,000,000 over the life of the measure, with approximately 20% directed to public transit. | $860,000,000 | 63.91% |
| Converse | TX | The City of Converse held a special election to consider withdrawal from VIA Metropolitan Transit. | N/A | 78.50% |
| Arlington County | VA | Arlington County voters decided to authorize up to $69,745,000 in general obligation bonds for capital projects for the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) and other transit, pedestrian, road, and transportation projects, including approximately $46,300,000 for the county’s share of Metro’s capital program. | $46,300,000 | 81.68% |
| Pierce County | WA | Pierce Transit Proposition 1 will raise the agency’s transit sales tax from 0.6% to 0.9% to fund a 47% increase in bus service. It will add four new routes, end hourly weekday waits, extend evening service, improve connections to light rail, expand paratransit, and make buses and paratransit fare-free for seniors 65+. It will be the first increase since 2002; the tax would take effect April 1, 2027, with improvements phased in through 2032. | $640,000,000 (for ten years) | 57.73% |
| Seattle | WA | Seattle voters will decide whether to approve a renewal and expansion of the Seattle Transit Measure — replacing the current 0.15% sales tax set to expire in March 2027 — doubling the rate to 0.3% for 10 years to fund King County Metro bus service, Seattle Streetcar operations, low-income ORCA passes, and transit infrastructure, projected to generate $1,380,000,000 over the life of the measure, with 100% directed to public transit. | $1,380,000,000 | 72.60% |
| Buchanan, Berrien County | MI | Buchanan voters approved a renewal of a 0.80-mill property tax levy for four years, from 2027 through 2030, to continue funding the city’s Dial-A-Ride public transportation system, operated by Niles Dial-A-Ride (DART). The levy is estimated to generate approximately $96,039 in its first year. | $384,156 | 64.02% |
| Grand Traverse & Leelanau Counties | MI | Voters approved a renewal of the 0.4589-mill levy for the Bay Area Transportation Authority (BATA), continuing local funding for public transportation services for seven years. The millage will support transit operations and capital expenses, including services for seniors and people with disabilities, and is estimated to generate approximately $6,041,755 annually. | $36,250,530 | 60% (combined) |
| Bennington Township, Shiawassee County | MI | Voters approved a 0.3333-mill property tax levy for two years, in 2027 and 2028, to provide public transportation within Bennington Township at a reduced cost through the Shiawassee Area Transportation Agency (SATA). The levy is estimated to generate up to $50,540 in its first year. | $101,080 | 56.98% |
| Owosso Charter Township, Shiawassee County | MI | Voters approved a 0.3333-mill property tax levy for four years to provide public transportation within Owosso Charter Township at a reduced cost through the Shiawassee Area Transportation Agency (SATA). The levy is estimated to generate up to $59,208 in its first year. | $236,832 | 66.49% |
| Flint City | MI | Flint voters approved a renewal of the existing 0.5956-mill property tax levy for six years, from July 1, 2027 through June 30, 2033, to fund Mass Transportation Authority (MTA) service within the city. The levy is estimated to generate approximately $653,025 in its first year. | $3,918,150 | 81.7% |
2026 Transit Ballot Initiative Wins: Pre-November 3
| City/County | State | Ballot Proposal Summary | Total Known Transit Revenue | Pass Rate |
| Pima County | AZ | The RTA sought voter approval of Proposition 419, which asks voters to consider a half-cent sales tax to fund the 20-year regional transportation plan (RTA Next/Proposition 418). | $726,000,000 | 58.92% |
| Pima County | AZ | The RTA sought voter approval of Proposition 418, which asks voters to consider a new regional transportation plan (RTA Next). Accompanying Proposition 419 asks voters for funding. Both ballot items passed and were approved for the regional transportation plan to be implemented over the next 20 years, with initial projects starting during the first year of the plan. The new plan would go into effect on April 1, 2026. | N/A | 61.15% |
| University Park | TX | The City of University Park held a special election on May 2, 2026 to consider withdrawal from the Dallas Area Rapid Transit System (DART). | N/A | 53.56% |
| Addison | TX | The City of Addison held a special election on May 2, 2026 to consider withdrawal from the Dallas Area Rapid Transit System (DART). | N/A | 70.01% |
| Holland and Holland Charter Township | MI | A 5-year 0.6-mill levy for Macatawa Area Express (MAX) Transit, combined a 0.4-mill renewal and restoration with a new 0.2-mill increase. | $12,274,910 | 70.26% |
| Athens | OH | A 0.2% increase to the City of Athens municipal income tax, raising the rate from 1.95% to 2.15%, effective January 1, 2027, to fund general municipal operations including the Transportation Assistance Fund at the city’s discretion. The Mayor of the City of Athens also pledged to restore Saturday bus service if the measure passed. | N/A | 70.26% |
| Belmont County | OH | A 3-year renewal of a 2.5 mill levy to fund the Eastern Ohio Regional Transit Authority | $10,000,000 | |
| Benwood | WV | The renewal of a 2.5 mills property tax levy to fund the Ohio Valley Regional Transportation Authority’s operating, capital, equipment, and facilities costs for the 2026 and 2027 fiscal years. | $260,000 | 69.1% |
| Cabell County | WV | A proposal to authorize additional levies for the fiscal years beginning July 1, 2027 through July 1, 2031 (five years) for multiple county services, including $1,605,122 annually to the Tri-State Transit Authority | $8,025,610 | 76% |
| Huntington | WV | A proposal to authorize additional levies for the years beginning July 1, 2027 through July 1, 2031 for the purpose of providing sufficient local funding to the Tri-State Transit Authority to continue bus service to the City of Huntington. | $9,845,795 | 81.2% |
| Clarke County | GA | The renewal of a 1% Transportation Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (TSPLOST) that would provide $70 million for transportation over 5 years to fund Athens Transit operations, bus replacement, new transfer station, service expansion, and bus stop improvements. | $70,283,000 | 56.4% |
| Jackson County | OR | Ballot Measure 15-240 would renew an existing property tax levy to maintain a countywide bus service. The tax levy continues an existing 13 cents per $1,000 on the assessed value of a house until it automatically expires in 5 years under Oregon law. | $14,000,000 | 61.7% |
| Sonoma & Marin Counties | CA | The SMART Initiative is a citizen-led extension of Measure Q, a quarter-cent retail transactions and use tax that funds the Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit (SMART) system, for 30 years beyond its current 2029 sunset. The measure will generate approximately $51 million annually to support operations, maintenance, and expansion. | $1,530,000,000 | 59.1% |
| Spokane County | WA | Spokane County voters decided to renew the existing 0.2% sales and use tax that funds Spokane Transit Authority services for 20 additional years (2029–2048), maintaining current service levels and supporting the Connect 2035 strategic plan, including the Division Street bus rapid transit line. | $600,000,000 | 50.4% |
| Alger County | MI | A 5-year increase in the Alger County Transit Authority’s (ALTRAN) millage from 0.75 to 1.0 mills to sustain countywide dial-a-ride service amid rising costs and a roughly 33% cut to Michigan’s statewide public transportation budget, generating an estimated $558 thousand in its first year. | $2,790,000 | 65.1% |
| Caledonia Township | MI | A 2-year renewal of a 0.19-mill levy to fund Shiawassee Area Transportation Agency (SATA) Dial-A-Ride service in the township, generating an estimated $48 thousand in its first year. | $95,840 | 69.94% |
| Charlevoix County | MI | A 4-year restoration of a 0.25-mill levy to fund Charlevoix County Transit’s countywide demand-response operations, generating an estimated $834 thousand in its first year. | $3,336,000 | 72.1% |
| Crawford County | MI | A 4-year renewal of a 0.6747-mill levy to fund the Crawford County Transportation Authority’s Dial-A-Ride service, generating an estimated $531 thousand in its first year. | $2,125,632 | 59% |
| Delta County | MI | A new 8-year, 0.689-mill countywide levy that will replace the existing city and township millages funding the Delta Area Transit Authority (DATA), expand service to seven unserved townships, and add early-morning, evening, and Saturday hours, generating approximately $1.1 million annually. | $8,800,000 | 65.2% |
| Frenchtown Township | MI | A 3-year renewal of a 0.75-mill levy to fund Lake Erie Transit’s (LET) local bus and dial-a-ride service, generating an estimated $1 million annually. | $3,000,000 | 65% |
| Genesee County | MI | A replacement of the Flint Mass Transportation Authority’s (MTA) expiring 1.2158-mill countywide levy with a 5-year, 1.5158-mill levy — the MTA’s first increase in nearly 15 years, generating approximately $7 million annually in new funding to keep pace with rising operating costs and growing ridership. | $100,000,000 | 64.13% |
| Ingham County | MI | A 6-year renewal and restoration of a 0.6-mill countywide levy funding Capital Area Transportation Authority (CATA) transportation for seniors and people with disabilities — including door-to-door Spec-Tran service, rural connector routes, and veterans’ medical transportation — generating more than $6.1 million in its first year. | $36,600,000 | 79.12% |
| Iosco County | MI | A 5-year renewal and 0.3-mill increase of the Iosco Transit Corporation levy, bringing the total to 0.445 mills. | $2,235,000 | 58.96% |
| Kalamazoo County | MI | A 7-year renewal and increase of the Kalamazoo County Transportation Authority (KCTA) levy from 0.3124 to 0.36 mills to fund Metro’s countywide Metro Connect and Metro Share on-demand services, generating an estimated $4.6 million in its first year. | $32,200,000 | 65.04% |
| Manistee County | MI | A 6-year renewal and increase of the county transit levy — combining a 0.5-mill renewal with a 0.25-mill increase for a total of 0.75 mill — to fund Manistee County Transportation’s Dial-A-Ride, expand service hours, and improve ride availability, generating an estimated $1.2 million in its first year. | $6,600,000 | 61% |
| Marquette County | MI | A 6-year renewal of a 0.6-mill countywide levy to fund Marquette County Transit Authority (Marq-Tran) operations, equipment, and facilities, generating an estimated $2.1 million in its first year. | $9,000,000 | 69.6% |
| Monroe | MI | A 3-year renewal of a 1-mill levy for Lake Erie Transit (LET) to continue providing local bus service in the City of Monroe, generating an estimated $2.1 million annually. | $6,300,000 | 75.3% |
| Ogemaw County | MI | A new 6-year, 0.47-mill levy to restore dedicated funding for Ogemaw County Public Transit after its previous millage lapsed following a failed 2024 renewal, generating an estimated $582 thousand in its first year. | $3,492,000 | 54.4% |
| Pere Marquette Charter Township | MI | An 8-year renewal of a 0.4-mill levy to fund the township’s contract with the Ludington Mass Transportation Authority (LMTA) for dial-a-ride service, generating an estimated $357 thousand in its first year. | $2,854,640 | 80% |
| St. Joseph County | MI | A 4-year renewal of a 0.33-mill levy to fund the St. Joseph County Transportation Authority (SJCTA), whose millage covers a third of its operating budget across 23 weekday and 5 Saturday routes, generating an estimated $975 thousand in its first year. | $3,900,000 | 68.05% |
| Saugatuck-Douglas area | MI | A 10-year renewal and increase of the Interurban Transit Authority’s levy from 0.5 to 1.0 mills across Saugatuck, Douglas, and Saugatuck Township, generating an estimated $1.1 million annually to maintain and grow demand-response service amid rising bus costs and uncertain state and federal funding. | $11,000,000 | 78% |
| Wayne County | MI | A new 10-year countywide levy of up to 0.9831 mills replacing SMART’s expiring millage and — following the state’s elimination of community opt-outs — distributing revenue to Wayne County, SMART, DDOT, and other community and regional transit providers to expand service countywide, generating an estimated $57.6 million in its first year. | $576,163,290 | 67.07% |
| Wexford County | MI | A 5-year renewal and restoration of a 0.6-mill countywide levy to fund the Cadillac/Wexford Transit Authority (WexExpress), generating an estimated $845 thousand in its first year | $4,225,090 | 65% |
| Fremont County | WY | A new 0.75% sales tax that will bring in an estimated $6.5 million annually to be split among Wind River Transportation Authority (WRTA) and other public transit providers, Central Wyoming Regional Airport, and the county’s ambulance service, taking effect January 1, 2027 and subject to resubmission to voters at the 2030 general election. A separate memorandum of agreement (MOA) between the county and participating municipalities outlines the intended split—currently drafted at 15% for public ground transportation—with flexibility to adjust the formula as costs change over time. | $3,900,000 | 55% |
APTA’s Center for Transportation Excellence tracks all of the measures at its website.
Contact: Mo Charlifue mo@cfte.org
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