Passenger Bus, Rail and Motorcoach Industry News

Despite facing another uphill battle with the General Assembly after a defeat last year, will re-introduce a plan that asks two counties to increase local income taxes by 0.3%. The funds would double bus service and add light rail and express transit service.

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.

The county’s bus service, C-Tran, would have been funded had the so-called T-SPLOST referendum been passed by voters in July. The agency ceased operations in 2010 after commissioners voted against funding the service.

Fifty-nine percent of Californians surveyed would not vote in favor of the state’s high-speed rail project if given another chance, primarily due to project costs tripling and an extended construction deadline.

Transit officials and business leaders are teaming up to lobby the General Assembly to put a referendum to voters within the next two years to fund transit. Republicans are opposed, saying the timing is not right.