AASHTO Journal, 6 November 2015
The first week of November showed numerous states and localities approving measures to boost funding to improve transportation infrastructure.
The week’s action included a long-sought revenue package out of the Michigan Legislature that will add billions in transportation revenue in coming years by shifting some money out of the state budget’s general fund and generating new receipts from higher motor fuel and vehicle registration fees. (See story in this week’s States section.)
It also saw voters approve a ballot measure in Texas to shift some future sales tax receipts into highway and bridge projects, and back an issuance of 10-year bonds in Maine to increase bridge upgrades while also providing money for high-priority highway projects and a variety of other transportation needs.
The American Road & Transportation Builders Association’s “Transportation Investment Advocacy Center” reported on a number of ballot measures that drew voter approval in at least eight states to boost project spending, and said 70 percent of statewide or local transportation measures passed on Nov. 3.
ARTBA said preliminary results from Utah showed voters in 10 of 17 counties had approved a ballot measure to increase a local-option sales and use tax by 0.25 percent to fund transportation maintenance and improvements including roads, bridges, pedestrian walkways and transit.
Seattle voters agreed to a $930 million property tax levy over nine years for various infrastructure projects and to expand the King County bus system.
ARTBA said voters in Colorado, Connecticut, Michigan, Oregon and Washington state also voted on transportation measures.