Tom Warne Report, 13 November 2012
In This Report
Editor’s Note: Each year we dedicate this issue of The Tom Warne Report to the most recent election cycle and the ballot initiatives that were placed before the voters. Over the years the results have been an interesting barometer of public sentiment in general and more specifically regarding transportation. The historic passage rate for transportation referendums is high as noted in our records of major initiatives:
2011 – 70%
2010-69%
2009-55%
2008-69%
2007-63%
2006-63%
This year we followed 42 significant ballot measures of which 28 passed for a success rate of 67%. That compares favorably to years passed. Note that in some cases a failure of a measure was counted as a win by us if the alternative meant something detrimental to transportation in that state or community.
In the end there were few significant “wins” this year in transportation. Nothing like a few years ago when the self-help counties in California raised so much money in one election cycle.
The passage of MAP-21 this year gave a brief and probably unrealistic sense of optimism about the future of transportation funding. The “cliff” that awaits the Highway Trust Fund in October 2014 is real and grows even more difficult to solve the longer the grander budget problems continue at the national level. I would predict that one of the outcomes of that whatever solution is put in place at the federal level there will be more robust and meaningful ballot initiatives at the state level. This will lead to greater work opportunities for our industry. It speaks to the need for all of us to state engaged at the state level as these measures are formulated.
The key to the success of these measures are three irrefutable attributes. They are:
1-A specific list of projects
2-A specific time frame for when the projects will be delivered
3-A finite time frame for when the tax will expire and have to be reenacted
Getting involved at the local level is a major imperative for all of us. TW
STATE |
CITY |
SUMMARY |
DATE |
OUTCOME |
AL |
Statewide |
Proposition A, worth $453.5 million will generate $254.5 million for the state transportation agency for 17 highway and bridge projects and one aviation project.An additional $195.4 million will go to local agencies for highway, port and rail projects including (Anchorage port, $50 million and two Arctic Ocean ports at Nome and Kotzebue ($10 million each). |
November 6, 2012 |
WINApproved, 56%-44% |
AR |
Statewide |
Proposed 0.5% sales tax to back transportation bonds |
November 6, 2012 |
WINApproved 58%-42% |
AR |
Washington County |
A quarter-cent sales tax for Ozark Regional Transit on the May primary ballot. It would have generated $7.5 million in its first year. Benton County chose not to put a similar measure on the ballot. |
May 22, 2012 |
LOSSFailed, 36%-64% |
AZ |
Tucson |
Proposition 409 would allocate $100 million in bonds to restore, repair, resurface and improve the condition of streets over five years, by charging about $18 per $100,000 of assessed value during the next 30 years. |
November 6, 2012 |
WINApproved, 50.03% to 49.97% |
CA |
Napa County |
A 25-year, half-cent sales tax to be used exclusively for street and sidewalk repair and maintenance. This would be a renewal of the current sales tax for flood control projects. |
November 6, 2012 |
WINPassed, 74%-26% |
CA |
Alameda County |
A 1/2 cent sales tax increase to raise $7.8 billion over 30 years for transit, road, bicycle and pedestrian projects. This would double the current sales tax for transportation. The increase would have no expiration deadline. California is a super-majority state which will require 66.67% approval for the measure to pass. |
November 6, 2012 |
LOSSFailed, 65.5%-34.5% (66.67% required for approval) |
CA |
Los Angeles County |
A 30-year extension of a half-cent sales tax. Measure R was first approved by voters in 2008 as a 30-year tax. If approved, this would extend the expiration date from 2039 to 2069. An extension would advance projects from the “out” years to near-term construction. |
November 6, 2012 |
LOSSFailed, 65%-35% (66.67% required for approval) |
CA |
Newport Beach |
The vote will decide whether any photo enforcement, such as red light camera, can be used in the city of 86,000. Currently there are no devices currently in use in the city. |
November 6, 2012 |
WINApproved57% – Yes |
CA |
Los Angeles County |
A mail-in ballot for a special assessment to support the L.A. Streetcar. |
December 3, 2012 |
|
CO |
El Paso County |
A ten-year renewal of a 0.55% sales tax for the Pikes Peak Rural Transportation Authority. Revenue will be used to support 150 capital projects, approximately 3% of which are transit-related.The current tax is set to expire December 31, 2014. If approved, the tax would be extended until 2024. |
November 6, 2012 |
WINPassed, 72%-18% |
FL |
Alachua County |
A 3/4 cent transportation sales tax was on the November ballot, which contained a prohibition on transit spending. The tax, which would be in effect for 15 years, is estimated to generate $22.5 million annually. |
November 6, 2012 |
LOSSFailed, 33%-67% |
FL |
Pasco County |
Voters in the area north of Tampa were asked whether they want to renew the current penny sales tax in the county for another 10 years. The tax revenue benefits schools, public safety and transportation projects throughout the county. An extension is projected to raise about $502 million during the next decade. |
November 6, 2012 |
WINPassed – 71%-29% |
GA |
Atlanta |
A 1% sales tax increase for the ten-county metro Atlanta region to support a long list of transportation projects. Almost 52% of the funding was planned to go to transit projects.The measure was authorized by legislation passed in 2010 to create 12 special tax districts each with the authority to place a 1% sales tax on the ballot in 2012 for transportation projects. |
July 31, 2012 |
LOSSFailed, 63%-37% |
IL |
Stephenson County |
An advisory measure seeking voter support for a countywide transportation system supported by federal, state and local funds. |
November 6, 2012 |
WINPassed, 52%-48% |
LA |
Baton Rouge (Win); Baker (Win); Zachary (Loss) |
A 10-year, 10.6 mill property tax to support system improvements for CATS. If it is approved, the proposal would generate $16.7 million in Baton Rouge, $636,000 in Baker and $1.1 million in Zachary. |
April 21, 2012 |
WINPassed, 54%-46% |
LA |
New Orleans Area |
Ballots in Orleans, Jefferson and Plaquemines parishes will ask voters whether the collection of tolls to access the U.S. 90 crossing should be extended for 20 years. Toll collection on the nation’s fifth-busiest bridge is scheduled to end Dec, 31, 2012. The tolls generate about $21 million annually. |
November 6, 2012 |
Uncounted |
ME |
Falmouth |
Ordinance requiring the town of Falmouth to withdraw from METRO services at the end of their current contract in December 31, 2013. The town currently spends $117,000 a year for transit service. |
November 6, 2012 |
WINFailed, 30%-70% |
MI |
Various Counties, Townships and Cities |
Property taxes to raise revenue for local transit were approved in August in 6 out of 7 localities. |
May 08, 2012 |
WIN – 6 out of 7 regions approved |
MI |
Walker |
The measure seeks to end Walker’s participation with The Rapid transit service. Property owners passed a millage renewal last year so even with a vote to end this service, the current millage does not expire for six years. The measure is supported by the anti-tax Kent County Taxpayers Alliance. |
November 6, 2012 |
WINFailed, 27%-73% |
MI |
Kalamazoo |
Renewal of a 0.6 mill levy to support Metro Transit operations from 2013 to 2015. It is expected to generate about $1,024,425 annually. The levy was first approved in 1986 and has been renewed each time it has been placed before the voters ever since. |
November 6, 2012 |
WINApproved, 63%-37% |
MI |
Statewide |
Proposal 6 would require any new bridge or tunnel between Michigan and Canada be approved by a majority of the citizens of Michigan.In June, Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Republican Michigan Governor Rick Snyder signed an agreement that states Canada would pay for Michigan’s $550-million share of the approximately $1-billion bridge.Under the agreement, Michigan wouldn’t be obligated to pay any of the anticipated $1-billion cost of the bridge. If passed, the proposal could jeopardize a new international crossing between Windsor, Ont., and Detroit.The proposal would amend the Michigan Constitution and include any bridge or tunnel proposed after January 1, 2012. |
November 6, 2012 |
WINFailed 60%-40% |
NC |
Orange County |
A 0.5 percent sales tax increase for regional transportation investment. |
November 6, 2012 |
WINPassed, 59%-41% |
OH |
Mahoning County |
A five-year renewal of the 0.25-percent sales tax for the Western Reserve Transit Authority. It was last approved in 2008. The sales tax brought in $7.5 million in 2011. |
November 6, 2012 |
WINPassed, 60%-40% |
OH |
Perrysburg |
The measure asked voters if they support leaving the Toledo Area Regional Transit Authority (TARTA) with the intention of starting their own local service. |
April 21, 2012 |
WINPassed, 53%-47% |
OH |
Geauga County |
More than a half-dozen communities in Geauga County, located east of Cleveland, will decide whether to renew mill levies used to build and maintain roadways. |
November 6, 2012 |
WINPassed, 56%-44% |
OH |
Perrysburg |
A five-year, 1.45 mill levy to support new public transit service. Perrysburg voted in March to end their participation in TARTA in favor of the option to establish a separate system. |
November 6, 2012 |
LOSSFailed, 49%-51% |
OH |
Sylvania Township; Spencer Township |
This vote considers withdrawal from the Toledo Area Regional Transit Authority (TARTA). There is no plan to provide alternative public transportation in the community. |
November 6, 2012 |
WIN(Failed)Sylvania: 37%-63%; Spencer: 41%-59% |
OR |
Clackamas County |
Question seeks to require voter approval for any county resources to be used for the financing, design, construction, or operation of any public rail transit system. |
September 18, 2012 |
LOSSApproved, 60%-40% |
OR |
Tigard |
A charter amendment that would require a public vote prior to increasing local taxes or fees or imposing new ones to fund light-rail construction and expansion. It would expire after 10 years. |
November 6, 2012 |
LOSSPassed, 81%-19% |
OR |
Eugene |
Voters will be asked whether the city can issue up to $43 million in bonds to fund street repairs. |
November 6, 2012 |
WINPassed, 65%-35% |
SC |
Richland |
A 1-cent sales tax increase to support road improvements, bus service, greenways and bike lanes. Approximately 25% of funding would be reserved for bus service by the Central Midlands Regional Transit Authority. |
November 6, 2012 |
WINPassed, 53%-47% |
TN |
Memphis |
A 1-cent per gallon gas tax increase to support the Memphis Area Transit Authority. It is estimated that this would generate between $3 and $6 million per year. |
November 6, 2012 |
LOSSFailed, 38%-62% |
TX |
Houston |
Continued Transit Sales Tax Diversion. This measure asks voters if they support extending the current diversion of 25% of Metro’s 1-cent sales tax for construction and maintenance of streets, bridges, pedestrian and bike infrastructure, traffic signals, and streetlamps. This is known as the General Mobility Program (GMP), the diversion was first approved by voters in 2003 and is set to expire in 2014. If the referendum is approved, the diversion will continue through 2025. |
November 6, 2012 |
WINPassed, 79%-21% |
VA |
Virginia Beach |
Voters will be asked whether the support extending The Tide light rail line into the city. Final decision authority still lies with the city council. |
November 6, 2012 |
WINPassed, 62%-38% |
VA |
Arlington County |
A $31,946,000 bond to support capital projects for the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) and other transit, pedestrian, and road projects. |
November 6 2012 |
WINPassed, 80%-20% |
WA |
Clark County |
A 0.1-cent sales tax increase to generate $4.5 to $5.5 million would go to light rail operations and Bus Rapid Transit in Vancouver’s Fourth Plain corridor. |
November 6, 2012 |
LOSSResults: Failed, 44%-56% |
WA |
Pierce County |
A 0.3-cent sales tax increase to support Pierce Transit. It is expected to generate approximately $28 million annually and will allow the agency to restore recent service cuts. |
November 6, 2012 |
LOSSUnofficial, Failed: 50.18%-49.82% |
WA |
Everett |
City officials are discussing whether to ask voters to approve a sales tax increase for financially strapped Everett Transit. The agency cut service 14 percent last year. |
August 15, 2012 |
WINPassed, 56% – 44% |
WA |
King County |
Question seeks voter approval requirement before the city can spend any money on public transportation projects |
September 18, 2012 |
LOSSApproved, 57%-43% |
WA |
Lynden |
A 10-year, 0.2-cent sales tax road improvements, pedestrian trails and bridges. It is estimated to generate $300,000 annually. |
November 6, 2012 |
WINPassed, 54%-46% |
WI |
Weston |
This measure requires the village to provide public transit service at least 5 days a week beginning in 2013. |
June 05, 2012 |
WINPassed, 64%-36% |
WV |
Parkersburg; Vienna |
A two-year renewal of a property tax levy for the Mid-Ohio Valley Transit Authority, which operates Easy Rider. The levy would generate up to $745,125 in Vienna and up to $1,738,650 in Parkersburg. |
May 08, 2012 |
WINPassed, 75%-25% |
Primary sources for this election information are the Center for Transportation Excellence and Land Line Magazine. Visit http://www.cfte.org/ and Landlinemag.com for additional ballot initiative information.
We will be at the AASHTO Annual meeting in Pittsburgh this weekend so there will be no
Tom Warne Report published on November 16th. In addition, in light of
the Thanksgiving Holiday the following week we will not publish then either.
Look for the next issue of The Tom Warne Report on November 30th. We
will you all a safe and happy Thanksgiving.