Also on the ballot in many states were initiatives seeking voter approval to support investments in state and local transportation improvement projects. The American Road and Transportation Association (ARTBA), which has tracked local and state transportation funding initiatives for years, reports that voters approved 81 percent of the 294 state and local transportation funding measures, according to preliminary results. The measures—appearing on ballots in 22 states—will generate an estimated $20.3 billion to maintain and improve transportation infrastructure. The results continue a decade-long trend of voter support for transportation investment. ARTBA points out that this support comes despite voter concerns about the U.S. economy and affordability. Since 2017, voters have approved 85.3 percent of 3,300 state and local transportation ballot measures nationwide.
Carolyn Kramer Simons, ARTBA senior director of state funding policy, noted that most of those ballot measures renewed existing funding streams that were scheduled to expire, while 23 established new revenue sources to support local projects. She added that some approved funding will become available immediately through bond measures, while ongoing property, sales, and income tax measures allotted for transportation needs will generate revenue for up to 30 years.