Voters in multiple states to decide on transportation questions
States and counties around the country will ask voters this fall whether to authorize additional funding for transportation work.
Here is a breakdown of some notable initiatives on Nov. 7 ballots.
Georgia
Voters in multiple Georgia counties will decide on a transportation tax to cover improvements to local infrastructure.
The transportation sales tax referendum on ballots that include Baldwin, Barrow, Dougherty and Walker counties would authorize or extend a 1% tax solely for transportation purposes.
The Transportation Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax can be used for purposes that include roads, bridges, public transit and seaports.
At least 30% of sales tax revenue must be used for projects consistent with the state’s strategic transportation plan.
According to the Georgia Department of Revenue, 105 of the state’s 159 counties have enacted a transportation sales tax.
Maine
Question 4 on the Maine statewide ballot will ask voters whether to implement a Right to
Repair law.
Currently in the state, vehicle manufacturers are not required to provide diagnostic and repair information to vehicle owners and independent repair businesses. Necessary information for maintenance and repairs is limited to authorized dealerships.
A Right to Repair law is intended to give vehicle owners and independent repair shops access to information, tools and software needed to repair and maintain vehicles. If approved by Maine voters, vehicle owners and independent repair facilities in the state would be allowed to have access to vehicles’ on-board diagnostic systems.
According to Ballotpedia, passage of the ballot question would require manufacturers to equip vehicles that use a telematics system with an owner-authorized access platform and would require the platform to send commands to in-vehicle components for purposes of maintenance, diagnostics and repair.
An independent entity would administer access to vehicle-generated data. The entity would also be responsible for ensuring access to data is secure and for developing policies related to the access of data.
Minnesota
Voters in two Minnesota locales will decide whether to approve tax increases to benefit roads.
The city of Rochester’s ballot will include a question on extending the local option sales tax. In place since 1983 and extended in 2012, the half-cent tax covers multiple funding needs in the city.
Without an extension, the tax is scheduled to sunset in 2024. At that time, it will have raised the $139.5 million goal set in 2012. Extension of the tax is estimated to raise $205 million for projects that include road reconstruction over the next 16 years. Road reconstruction is slotted to receive $50 million.
St. Paul voters will decide whether to impose a 1% local sales tax.
The city’s penny tax is estimated to raise nearly $1 billion over the next two decades for improvements to roads and parks. An estimated $738 million will be allotted to repair and improve streets and bridges. Another $246 million is slotted for parks and recreation facilities.
Texas
Three Texas counties have ballot questions to bolster road revenue.
In Collin County, voters will decide whether to provide funding for road work. Proposition E would provide $380 million to pay for highway projects that include the development of the Collin County Outer Loop. Another project that would benefit from the funding is the ongoing expansion of U.S. Highway 380.
Travis County voters will decide whether to tap bonds to pay for $233 million in road and safety projects. Passage of Proposition A
would benefit projects that include the construction of a new four-lane divided highway from Blake Manor Road to Taylor Lane to Burleson Manor Road. The project has a $15.3 million price tag.
Funds would also go toward construction of a new four-lane divided roadway with sidewalks and bike lanes on Arterial A. The county’s estimated construction cost is $23.5 million.
Voters in Williamson County will be asked whether to use bonds to address transportation needs. Proposition A would apply $825 million in road bonds for constructing, acquiring, maintaining, expanding and improving nearly 40 road, bridge and state highway projects. LL