Center for Transportation Excellence Update
Special Election Preview Edition    
 
$60 Billion for Transportation at Stake on November 4
26 Transportation Measures in 15 States on Tuesday’s Ballots
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Next Tuesday, voters will decide the fate of at least $60 billion in new transportation-related investments.  More funding for transportation will be at stake on November 4 than in any single election day since CFTE began tracking ballot measures. In 2008, CFTE has monitored the status of 41 transportation ballot measures in 18 states. Fifteen measures were completed earlier in the year, leaving 26 measures in 15 states to be decided on the November ballot. Colorado, Missouri, Michigan, New Mexico and Oregon each have two regions with transportation ballot measures and California has seven measures, including one statewide high-speed rail referendum.

 
Once again states and communities across the nation are asking voters to approve new investments in vital transportation projects. The recent track record for these measures suggests that people are very willing to invest their tax dollars to improve transportation when the benefits are clear. Public opinion in favor of increased transportation options has resulted in positive outcomes for measures on the ballot earlier this year. High gas prices, the growing awareness of climate change and the call for energy-efficient living has created a very positive environment for public transportation and has also contributed to a ridership increase in many regions.

To date, 12 measures have been approved in favor of public transportation and will raise $40 million a year for local transit agencies in those regions. As has been the case in previous years, the majority of ballot measures are related to financing and sales taxes are the choice tool. Of 26 measures, 16 to sales tax increases or renewals, 5 are for property taxes and 3 are for bonds. Below are brief descriptions of three significant financing measures.

• Los Angeles County, California - The business community and local political leaders worked together to get  a 1/2 cent sales tax increase on the November ballot to finance new and existing transportation projects, including highways, local roads and mass transit. If approved by 2/3 of voters, the sales tax will raise up to $40 billion over 30 years.
• Seattle, Washington - Last year’s “Roads and Transit” plan was defeated because of its size and cost. This year, voters will decide on a sales tax increase to fund a redesigned transit-only plan that is expected to cost $17.8 billion over the next 20 years for Sound Transit.
• California, statewide - $10 billion bond proposal for high-speed rail from San Francisco to Los Angeles

For a complete list of ballot campaigns please visit www.cfte.org

Currently, 20 percent of our regional population is over the age of 65 and over the next two decades this number is expected to reach unprecedented numbers as America’s baby boom generation reaches retirement age.

Critical opportunities lie immediately ahead to provide our region’s aging population with greater independence and quality of life.   This need has been documented in several recent reports including;

• AARP — Enhancing Mobility Options for Older Americans
• Aging Americans: Stranded Without Options
• Expanding the Transportation Options in an Aging Society
• Harris Interactive — The Attitudes Of Older Americans Toward Mobility and Transportation

For more information on how transit choice impact the again community visit: www.publictransportation.org

The Brookings Institue released “A Bridge to Somewhere: Rethinking American Transportation for the 21st Century” on June 12, 2008.   Authored by the Brookings Institue Fellow Robert Puentes, the report calls on the federal government to empower major metropolitan areas by giving them direct transportation funding and the flexibility to make unbiased decisions between different modes of transportation. The federal government can then maximize performance by committing itself (and the recipients of federal funds) to an evidence-based, outcome driven, and benchmarked way of doing business.     

The report recommends the development of a the following three-pronged strategy for our national transportation program: 

• The federal government must lead in those areas where there are clear demands for national uniformity or else to match the scale or geographic reach of certain problems. The U.S. needs to define, design and embrace a new, unified, competitive vision for transportation policy—for both passenger and freight that includes its purpose, its mission, its overarching rationale.
• The federal government should empower states and metropolitan areas to grow in competitive, inclusive, and sustainable ways. Major metropolitan areas should be given more direct funding and project selection authority to enable them to embrace market mechanisms, pursue a strategy of “modality neutrality,” and develop truly integrated transportation, land use, and economic development plans.
• The federal government should optimize Washington’s own performance and that of its partners to maximize metropolitan prosperity. In order to rebuild public trust, the rationale for the federal program should be apparent to the American people and contain an explicit set of outcomes.

This report offers an interesting perspective on federal transportation policy and illustrates the challenges regions like Tampa Bay will face as we start to seek Federal Funding for our regional projects.  This report is definitely worth a quick review.  For the findings and recommendations click here to read the policy brief or click here to read the full report.

The day is dedicated to raising awareness that riding public transportation helps improve the environment and conserves fuel. It also offers the opportunity for people to beat the high price of gasoline and support public transportation as an important travel option that helps reduce our dependence on foreign oil as well as reducing the amount of harmful greenhouse gases that are emitted into our environment.

On June 19, public transportation agencies from coast to coast will join together to ask you to park your cars and ride public transportation instead.

To Learn more about bay area commuter options visit the Bay Area Commuter Services website at www.tampabayrideshare.org.

Frustrated by a lack of options, stay tuned to the work of the Tampa Bay Area Regional Transportation Authority, www.tbarta.com- they are working to bring transportation choices to Tampa Bay.

In the meantime you can take out your frustration by playing Whack the Pump. Click here to play the Whack-A-Pump game.

Here’s a video showing the new Charlotte NC light rail system. It’s a great opportunity to take a ride and learn how others are approaching these efforts.

We all know we have one of the best airports in the country. Imagine we would all get to it via a transit system. Here’s a great video animation showing the potential for serving TIA and Tampa Bay with a transit system.  

Tampa International Airport Regional Transit Way Video Animation

Governor Charlie Crist signed the 2008/09 budget today, which included a $2 million appropriation for the Tampa Bay Area Regional Transportation Authority (TBARTA). This appropriation is a huge step forward for our region and we extend our gratitude to Governor Crist and his administration for their support.
Our region has also been well served by the members of our Bay Area Legislative Delegation especially our Chair, Senator Mike Fasano and our Vice-Chair, Representative Seth McKeel. We also must extend thanks and appreciation to Representative Bill Galvano and Representative Will Weatherford for their efforts in securing these funds.
We would also like to acknowledge the hard work and leadership shown by the TBARTA Board as well as the support of the Florida Department of Transportation who have advanced the effort to this point.
Our community is demanding choices that provide cost efficient, environmentally sound and effective transportation options. This funding is a first step towards transportation choices in Tampa Bay.
It is not, however; the last step. This funding will provide start-up dollars that will allow TBARTA to establish a staff, utilize legal resources and increase its public outreach. TBARTA will still need to secure local funding dollars to design, build and operate a transit system.