1.
2010 Ballot Initiative Report
Voters across the country approved eight state and local ballot initiatives worth over $376
million to increase funding for road, bridge or transit infrastructure investment on
November 2. Of those initiatives, four measures approved bond issues, three increased
local vehicle fees and one initiative increased a local sales tax.
On average, voters approved the measures by a rate of 63 percent. ARTBA tracked a total
of 27 transportation related measures, of which 13 initiatives called for increasing funding
for transportation investment through bonding, transfers or new tax revenues.
Some of the larger initiatives approved included a $120 million bond issue in Fairfax
County, Virginia, a $90 million transportation improvement package in Austin, Texas, and
$80 million in bonding for the state of Rhode Island.
Despite support from both gubernatorial candidates, voters did not pass a statewide
initiative in Alabama that would have transferred $1 billion over 10 years from the
Alabama Trust Fund, the state’s rainy day fund, for roads and bridges. Critics said the
money would have been spread too thin across the 67 counties and did not focus on key
transportation needs in the state. Voters also defeated four local initiatives that would
have raised either a sales tax or vehicle registration fees for transportation.
In addition to the 13 funding questions, there were an additional 14 initiatives related to
transportation diversions, funding cuts, or transit operations. Voters in San Mateo County,
California, approved an amendment that would prohibit the state from raiding existing
funds that are allocated to local government for a variety of purposes, including
transportation, even during times of severe fiscal hardship.
A local initiative in Denver, Colorado, to reduce vehicle registration fees and vehicle sales
taxes, among other charges, was defeated 77 to 23 percent.
Results were mixed when voters were asked about increasing local taxes or issuing bonds
for transit service. Five of these measures were defeated, three were approved, and two
sets of results have not yet been released.
In 2008 voters approved twenty‐five bond or tax measures (of 32 total) to raise $71 billion
in transportation investment with an average approval rating of 63 percent. Of the 27 state
and local ballot initiatives in 2006 asking voters to increase revenue for transportation
infrastructure, 77 percent, valued at over $40 billion, were approved. In 2004, voters
supported $28 billion for transportation investment through ballot initiatives. Thirty‐six
initiatives—representing 78 percent of the bond and tax measures—were approved.
A full list of the 2010 initiatives and their outcomes is provided below.

2. State Location Mode How It Relates to Transportation Type
Funding
Mechanism
Amount at
stake
Result % Yes % No
Alabama Statewide
Roads &
Bridges
Voters are asked to approve an amendment to the Constitution to
provide a total of $1 billion for a ten-year road, bridge and
transportation related construction and improvement program.
This investment would be funded with appropriations from the
Alabama Trust Fund and would also transfer funds to the County
and Municipal Government Capital Improvement Fund.
Increase
Funds
Transfer
$1 billion
over 10
years
Defeated 43% 57%
California
Local
(Alameda
Co.)
Multimodal
The Alameda County Congestion Management Agency board
have decided to ask voters to approve a $10 vehicle fee on the
November ballot. The fee increase is expected to raise $11 million
a year, which would be split among city and county roads (60
percent), congestion relief measures (25 percent), transportation
technology improvements (10 percent) and bicycle and pedestrian
improvements (5 percent).
Increase
Funds
Vehicle Fee
$11 million
annually
Approved 62% 37%
California
Local (Contra
Costa Co.)
Roads &
Bridges
Contra Costa County voters are asked to support an increase of
$10 to annual car registration fees. The Contra Costa
Transportation Authority voted unanimously to place the $8.5
million measure on the ballot. The revenue would mostly be spent
to maintain city and county roads.
Increase
Funds
Vehicle Fee
$8.5 million
annually
Defeated 45% 55%
California
Local (Marin
Co.)
Multimodal
The board of the Transportation Authority of Marin has approved
placing a measure on the November ballot to increase the vehicle
registration fee by $10. This would raise more than $2 million
annually for local transportation programs.The revenue will be
divided with 40 percent of the new revenue will go for roads
projects, 35 percent for transit and 25 percent for projects related
to climate change and pollution.
Increase
Funds
Vehicle Fee
$2 million
annually
Approved 60% 40%
California
Local (San
Francisco)
Multimodal
The San Francisco County Transportation Authority has approved
a $10 vehicle registration fee increase for the November ballot.
The measure would raise $5 million annually for congestion
mitigation, road maintenance, transit improvements and
pedestrian safety.
Increase
Funds
Vehicle Fee
$5 million
annually
Approved 62% 38%
Florida
Local (Polk
Co.)
Multimodal
A plan on the Nov. 2 ballot would increase the county sales tax by
1 cent to pay for new roads, enhanced bus service and a light rail
system. The new sales tax would apply to the first $5,000 of
purchases and generate $184 million per year starting in 2011.
Three-fourths of the money would be used to expand bus service
and build a light rail system. The remaining one-fourth would be
spent on roads.
Increase
Funds
Sales Tax
$1 Million
annually
Defeated 38% 62%
Florida
Local
(Hillsborough
Co.)
Multimodal
Voters will consider a 1-cent sales tax for transportation. 75% of
the revenue would go to public transportation and 25% would go
roads and other transportation projects.
Increase
Funds
Sales Tax Defeated 58% 42%
Maryland
Local
(Baltimore
Co.)
Multimodal
This ordinance would authorize Baltimore County to borrow $68
million for public works, which would include streets and highways,
bridges and storm drainage systems.
Increase
Funds
Debt/Bond $68 million Approved 72% 28%
State and Local Transportation Measures for November 2, 2010 Ballots
Measures to Increase Funding For Road, Bridge & Transit Infrastructure Investment

3. State Location Mode How It Relates to Transportation Type
Funding
Mechanism
Amount at
stake
Result % Yes % No
Rhode
Island
Statewide
Roads &
Bridges
The measure would allow the state to issue general obligation
bonds to match federal funds to improve state highways, roads
and bridges. The amount would not be able to exceed $80 million.
Another $4.7 million would be used to buy and improve buses for
the Rhode Island Public Transit Authority's bus fleet.
Increase
Funds
Debt/Bond $80 million Approved 73% 27%
South
Carolina
Local
(Richland Co.)
Multimodal
Voters will be asked to approve a 1-cent transportation sales tax.
Of the total revenue raised, 33% would go to fund the Central
Midlands Regional Transit Authority, 61% would be for road
improvements and 6% would go to bike/ped/greenspace projects.
The tax would sunset in 25 years.
Increase
Funds
Sales Tax Defeated 49% 51%
Texas Local (Austin) Multimodal
The City of Austin has scheduled a $90 million mobility bond. The
proposed projects address city mobility issues, including
investments in streets, sidewalks, bike paths, trails and transit
infrastructure in all parts of Austin.
Increase
Funds
Debt/Bond $90 Million Approved 55% 45%
Virginia
Local (Fairfax
Co.)
Multimodal
Voters were ask to approve a bond issue for $120 million for
transportation improvements in the county.
Increase
Funds
Debt/Bond $120 million Approved 69% 31%
Washington
Local
(Bellingham
Co.)
Multimodal
Voters will be asked in November to raise the sales tax by 0.2
percent for transportation projects. The City Council has voted to
create a citywide transportation benefit district. Then, acting as the
district board, the council will consider asking voters for the sales
tax increase that would be in effect for 10 years. The City Council
still needs to vote one last time to create the district. It'll consider
doing that on July 12.
Increase
Funds
Sales Tax Approved 55% 45%

4. State Location Mode How It Relates to Transportation Type
Funding
Mechanism
Amount at
stake
Result % Yes % No
California
Local (San
Mateo)
Roads &
Bridges
This ammendment, if approved, prohibits the state from raiding
existing funds that are allocated to local government for several
purposes, including transportation, even during times of severe
fiscal hardship.
Stop
Diversion
of
Funding
$1 Billion
annually
Approved 61% 39%
Colorado
Local
(Denver)
Multimodal
Proposition 101 will let voters decide whether to lower the state
income tax, to reduce vehicle registration fees to $10, to reduce
vehicle sales taxes and to eliminate all taxes and fees on phones
except for 911 service. Opponents say that passage would result
in a direct revenue cut for local governments that rely on the tax
money for general operations and to fund transportation, parks,
housing and day care.
Reduce
Funds
Reduce
various fees
Defeated 23% 77%
Idaho Statewide Air
The amendment would allow airports in the state to take on debt
for endeavors that would improve facilities, equipment and
acquisitions such as real property. Debts would have to be paid off
using airport revenues instead of using taxpayer money.
Debt
Authority
Debt/Bond Approved 55% 45%
Louisiana
Local (East
Baton Rouge
Parish)
Transit
The Capital Area Transit System board is seeking voter approval
for a 3.5-mill property tax that would generate $10.8 million a year
to support the bus system. It does not have a dedicated property
tax millage or other revenue stream and has been struggling
financially. If approved, it would nearly double the current $12.5
million budget of the Capital Area Transit System
Increase
Operating
Funds
Property Tax
$10.8
million
annually
Defeated 45% 55%
Michigan
Local (Eaton
Co.)
Transit
A measure identical to the failed August 3 measure will be back
on the ballot this November. The proposal would replace the
0.2469 mill levy with an 0.75 mill tax levy for five years, from 2012
through 2016. The county Board of Commissioners voted to put
this measure back on the ballot two weeks after the disappointing
August election.
Increase
Operating
Funds
Property Tax Defeated 40% 60%
Oregon
Local
(Portland
Metro Area)
Transit
Voters will be asked to approve a $125 million bond for TriMet.
Some of the funding would go to purchasing new buses to replace
older models.
Increase
Operating
Funds
Debt/Bond $125 million Approved 51% 49%
State and Local Transportation Measures for November 2, 2010 Ballots
Measures Related to Transportation Funding

5. State Location Mode How It Relates to Transportation Type
Funding
Mechanism
Amount at
stake
Result % Yes % No
South
Carolina
Local (Horry
Co.)
Transit
The referendum would ask voters if they support the county
continuing to fund mass transportation. It would be advisory,
which means council would not have to act on the vote. As of
August, the approved ballot language is: "Do you favor the
funding by Horry County, in an amount not to exceed 6/10ths of a
mill ($1,080,000.00) annually, for the operations of a regional
public mass transportation provider such as Coast RTA?"
Transit
Service
$1 Million
annually
Defeated 36% 63%
West
Virginia
Local
(Bethleham)
Transit
Voters will be considering renewals of property tax levies to
support the Ohio Valley Regional Transportation Authority. West
Virginia requires a supermajority to approve to pass levies.
Increase
Operating
Funds
Property Tax Approved 74% 26%
West
Virginia
Local
(McMechan)
Transit
Voters will be considering renewals of property tax levies to
support the Ohio Valley Regional Transportation Authority. West
Virginia requires a supermajority to approve to pass levies.
Increase
Operating
Funds
Property Tax n/a
West
Virginia
Local
(Moundsville)
Transit
Voters will be considering renewals of property tax levies to
support the Ohio Valley Regional Transportation Authority. West
Virginia requires a supermajority to approve to pass levies.
Increase
Operating
Funds
Property Tax Defeated 43% 57%
West
Virginia
Local
(Wheeling)
Transit
Voters will be considering renewals of property tax levies to
support the Ohio Valley Regional Transportation Authority. West
Virginia requires a supermajority to approve to pass levies.
Increase
Operating
Funds
Property Tax Approved 76% 24%
Wisconsin
53 of 71
counties
Roads &
Bridges
More than 50 counties have agreed to place an advisory
referendum on the November ballot, asking voters if the
Wisconsin Constitution should be amended to prohibit any further
transfers or lapses from the segregated transportation fund.
Revenue in the segregated transportation fund comes from the
state gas tax and vehicle registration fees. In recent years more
than a billion dollars has been diverted from the transportation
fund to shore up the general fund.
Actually amending the state constitution would require action by
two successive state legislature sessions and voter approval of a
binding statewide referendum.
Diverting
Funds -
Advisory
Question
n/a
Wisconsin
Local (Dane
Co.)
Transit
An RTA sales tax increase measure will be on the November
ballot in 42 different municipalities in Dane County. This measure
will ask for a half-cent sales tax increase to further fund the Dane
County Regional Transport Authority. This measure will not be
given to a county wide vote since the RTA area does not cover
the entire county.
Increase
Operating
Funds
Sales Tax Defeated 25% 75%
Wisconsin
Local
(Kenosha
Co.)
Transit
An effort to place a countywide advisory measure on the ballot in
Kenosha County failed, but several municipalities within that
county have decided to place a measure on the local ballot. The
towns and villages of Bristol, Paddock Lake, Randall, Salem,
Silver Lake, Twin Lake and Weatland will all ask voters if they
would support a new tax to support transit.
Increase
Operating
Funds
New Tax Defeated 17% 70%
Source: Intiatives were collected using a variety of news sources and websites, including the Center for Transportation Execllence and Ballotpedia.
Results were verified and compiled from State, County and Local Government sources as of November 4, 2010..