Passenger Bus, Rail and Motorcoach Industry News

Twenty-one measures with a significant transit component were considered by voters in 12 states. Fourteen measures were approved; one remains undecided as votes continue to be counted in Pierce County, Wash.; and two more public transit measures will be decided in Los Angeles and Kansas City, Mo. next month.

Passage of Measure B1 by a two-thirds majority would make Alameda the first county in Northern California to increase its transportation sales tax from a half-cent.

Initiative Measure 3-401, which requires countywide voter approval before officials can spend money on rail lines in the county, passed 60% to 40%. The measure may not impact the Portland-Milwaukie light rail extension, currently under construction, but could severely limit future rail development in the county.

Voters in Oregon’s Clackamas County will decide on Ballot Measure 3-401, which would require county commissioners to get voter approval to spend money on new rail systems. If passed, the initiative could affect a light rail line currently under construction.

Fighting an anti-rail initiative on the ballot for a special election to be held September 18. The measure, if approved, would require countywide voter approval before officials can use funds to finance, design, construct or operate any rail lines in the county.

Looking into cutting in half or eliminating bus service in the most populous county it serves due to falling sales tax projections and previous service reductions causing a drop in ridership. However, if approved in November, a measure to increase the sales tax may help the struggling agency.

The election results bring the total so far in 2011 to 21 victories in 27 public transit elections. The numbers also reflect a long-term trend: since the year 2000, more than 73 percent of public transit ballot measures have passed.

Analysis reaffirms the importance of consensus among the business, elected and environmental communities, and the accompanying financial support. The updated study validated the difficulty of passing an initiative without well-funded, effective use of multimedia and experienced campaign consultants.

As a result of the economic recession and failure of Proposition 1, the Board of Commissioners directed staff to implement a 35 percent reduction in service by October 2011 to address the agency's budget shortfall.

Colorado, Michigan, Maine and Ohio passed pro-transit initiatives.