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SEARCHOverall, 41 transportation ballot measures in 18 states appeared on ballots in 2008, 15 of which were decided earlier, leaving 26 measures in 15 states still to be voted on.
On November 4, voters approved more than $75 billion in funding for transportation, according to the Center for Transportation Excellence. There were 32 measures on ballots from Rhode Island to Hawaii and 14 states in between.
More than 70 percent of measures were approved in favor of transportation, demonstrating the willingness of voters to invest in expanding choice, improving performance, and increasing competitiveness.
Included in the 23 approved measures were the three largest measures on this November’s ballot:
• Los Angeles County, California – A 1/2 cent sales tax increase was approved to finance new and existing transportation projects, including highways, local roads and mass transit. The sales tax is expected to generate $40 billion over the next 30 years.
• Seattle – Last year’s “Roads and Transit” plan was defeated because of its size and cost. This year, voters approved a sales tax increase for Sound Transit’s $17.8 billion plan to provide an additional 34 miles of light rail and expand bus service.
•California, statewide – Voters approved a $9.9 billion bond to support construction of a high-speed rail from San Francisco to Los Angeles.
2008 has been among the most successful election cycles ever in terms of overall investment and percentage of approved measures.
A complete list of 2008 ballot initiatives is available at http://www.cfte.org.
Amtrak will open grant applications March 23 for community projects near the Frederick Douglass Tunnel alignment in Baltimore as part of a $50 million investment tied to the B&P Tunnel Replacement Program.
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The Denmark Station $2.3 million construction investment project includes a new 280-foot concrete boarding platform, built eight inches above the top of rail, for improved accessibility for passengers with disabilities and families with small children and much more.
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The new bridge will begin carrying passenger trains on March 16, replacing a 116-year-old swing bridge that has long caused delays.
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Caltrain and its partners have implemented safety improvements at specific locations in response to known risk conditions, operational needs, and available funding since the agency’s founding.
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On a recent episode of METROspectives, METRO Magazine’s Executive Editor Alex Roman sat down with Ana-Maria Tomlinson, Director of Strategic & Cross-Sector Programs at the CSA Group, to explore a bold initiative aimed at addressing those challenges: the development of a National Code for Transit and Passenger Rail Systems in Canada.
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Competitive FTA grants will support accessibility upgrades, family-friendly improvements, and cost-efficient capital projects at some of the nation’s oldest and busiest transit hubs.
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The strategy outlines near- and long-term upgrades to ease congestion, support housing growth, and advance statewide climate goals.
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The 3.92-mile addition will soon take riders west beyond its current Wilshire and Western station in Koreatown, continuing under Wilshire Boulevard through neighborhoods and communities including Hancock Park, Windsor Square, the Fairfax District, and Carthay Circle into Beverly Hills.
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The procurement advances the agency's broader efforts to modernize its rail fleet and position Regional Rail for long-term improvement.
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Under the plan, all long-distance routes will transition to a universal single-level fleet, replacing today’s mix of bi-level and single-level equipment.
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