Voters weigh in on transportation issues
During the Nov. 7 election, voters in states around the country had their say on various transportation-related initiatives with billions of dollars at stake. Land Line tracked measures covering statewide, county and local ballot initiatives. Here is a state-by-state breakdown of how some notable initiatives fared on ballots.
Georgia
Ballots in at least five counties included questions about whether to authorize or renew a 1% tax to be used solely for local infrastructure that includes roads, bridges, public transit and seaports.
Voters in Dougherty and Effingham counties approved tax renewals. Voters in Baldwin, Barrow and Walker counties approved tax implementation. PASSED
Maine
Question 4: Statewide
Whether to implement an automotive “Right to Repair” law
Vehicle manufacturers currently are not required to provide diagnostic and repair information to vehicle owners and independent repair businesses in the state. Necessary information for maintenance and repairs is limited to authorized dealerships.
A Right to Repair law in Maine is intended to give vehicle owners and independent repair shops access to information, tools and software needed to repair and maintain vehicles.
Question 4 allowed voters to decide whether to allow independent repair facilities and all vehicle owners, including those of commercial vehicles and heavy-duty vehicles, access to vehicle 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 also would
be responsible for ensuring access to data is secure and for developing policies related to the access of data. PASSED
Minnesota
Question 1: City of Rochester
Whether to extend the city’s local option sales tax
In place since 1983 and extended in 2012, the half-cent tax covers multiple funding needs. Without an extension, the tax was 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. PASSED
Question 1: City of St. Paul
Whether to impose a 1% local sales tax
The 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, including 24 arterial and collector roads. Another $246 million is slotted for parks and recreation facilities. The tax will not be collected on food, clothing and other essential items. PASSED
Missouri
Question 1: Jackson County
Whether to establish a 1.38% local use tax for projects that include transportation work in the county that includes Kansas City
Use tax would be collected on purchases of goods for use in the county from out-of-state vendors when no sales tax is charged. The tax would raise about $35 million annually.
About one-third of the revenue would be applied for road and bridge construction within the county – including projects within corporate limits of cities located in the county. FAILED
Question 1: Kansas City
Whether to renew a 0.375% sales tax that is intended to provide commuters and others with an alternative to driving
The sales tax collected on retail sales of property or services has raised more than $370 million for public transit over the past decade. Initially approved in 2003, the tax was last renewed in 2008. The Kansas City Area Transportation Authority receives a portion of the revenue – $37 million over the past year.
Another renewal is estimated to raise $420 million over 10 years. All revenue will be routed to the transportation authority. If voters rejected renewal, the tax was set to expire next spring. PASSED
South Carolina
Question 1: Spartanburg County
Whether to apply a penny sales tax for road improvements
The six-year tax is estimated to raise $478 million for road repaving, resurfacing, intersection improvements, road corridor reconstruction, bridge replacements and road safety in the state’s fifth-most-populous county. Specifically, 577 roads will be repaved. More than one dozen intersections will be improved, and at least 10 bridges will be replaced.
One-third of the planned projects are county-owned and maintained. The South Carolina Department of Transportation owns and repairs most of the other roads eyed for repair in the county. The penny tax will be combined with state and other funds to fix roads on the project list.
The tax will be implemented May 1, 2024, and run through April 2030. PASSED
Texas
Four counties around the state asked voters whether to tap bonds for transportation projects.
Voters in Collin, Parker, Travis and Williamson counties approved questions to authorize a combined $1.5 billion for transportation work.
Collin County voters approved $380 million in bonds to pay for highway projects that include the development of the Collin County Outer Loop. Another project that would benefit is the ongoing expansion of U.S. 380. PASSED
Parker County voters authorized a $130 million transportation bond for 35 projects around
the county. PASSED
Travis County voters approved $233 million for projects that include construction of a new four-lane divided roadway on Arterial A. PASSED
Williamson County voters authorized $825 million for constructing, acquiring, maintaining, expanding and improving nearly 40 road, bridge and state highway projects. PASSED LL