Despite concerns about the U.S. economy and affordability, voters in Tuesday’s general election approved 81 percent of 294 state and local transportation funding measures, according to preliminary results analyzed by ARTBA’s Transportation Investment Advocacy Center (TIAC).

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.

Since 2017, voters have approved 85.3 percent of 3,300 state and local transportation ballot measures nationwide.

Background & Context

Some approved funding will become available immediately through bond measures, while ongoing property, sales and income taxes will generate revenue for up to 30 years.

Most measures renewed existing funding streams that were scheduled to expire, while 23 established new revenue sources to support local projects.

“Measures to increase taxes and fees faced significant national political headwinds in this year’s election,” said Carolyn Kramer Simons, ARTBA-TIAC senior director of state funding policy. “With affordability and the cost of living weighing heavily on voters, transportation funding was hardly an easy sell. Yet voters still approved over 80 percent of these measures, reinforcing a message we’ve seen consistently over the past decade: Americans recognize that investing in roads, bridges and public transit systems has a direct impact on their quality of life.”.”

The Big Picture

The results also underscore the importance of a strong federal-state-local partnership when it comes to making transportation improvements. Over the last decade, federal funding has accounted for over 50 percent of annual state highway and bridge capital outlays, making continued federal investment essential to addressing America’s infrastructure and mobility needs.

What Stands Out

Ohio: The state continued to lead the nation in the number of local questions on the ballot. Voters approved 82 percent of 140 measures. This approval rating matched the state’s 10-year average of 86 percent approval of nearly 1,500 measures since 2017.

Georgia: Voters in four of eight counties renewed local sales taxes for transportation, generating over $1 billion combined for road, bridge and public transit improvements over the next six years.

South Carolina: Charleston County renewed a local sales tax for transportation, generating more than $4 billion for infrastructure investment over the next 25 years.

California: Fresno County voters rejected the renewal of an expiring half-cent sales tax, securing $7.4 billion for the city’s transit system, sidewalks, and road improvements.

North Carolina: Voters in Charlotte and Raleigh approved bond measures for transportation infrastructure improvements.

Arizona: A statewide measure that could prohibit the state transportation department from pursuing a vehicle-miles-traveled tax or tracking vehicle mileage without consent is too close to call at time of publication. The Associated Press estimates only 83 percent of the vote has been counted, with the measure narrowly passing 50.7 percent to 49.3 percent. This measure was expected to pass with overwhelming support.

Texas Municipal Utility Districts: Municipal utility districts- new communities on vacant land outside of city limits- provided a combined $10 billion in bond revenue. This revenue will be paid back gradually with property taxes from future residents.

What’s Next

Final election results should be certified over the next two weeks. ARTBA-TIAC will continue updating its analysis at transportationinvestment.org.