Governing
Jared Brey
13 November 2024
Local taxes to fund public transit fared well on Election Day. But state and federal election results could alter the outlook for infrastructure investment long term.
In Brief:
- Voters backed most of the local transportation funding measures on ballots last week, approving around $25 billion in revenue for public transit.
- Other election results could signal potential shifts in policies related to electric vehicles and transportation emissions.
- Congress faces longer-term challenges over the solvency of the Highway Trust Fund, which pays for most transportation infrastructure.
Most urban voters want to pay higher taxes for better transportation infrastructure.
It may seem surprising, given the broader political shifts illustrated last week. But in most cases where voters had a choice, that’s the message they sent. According to the American Public Transportation Association, 18 of the 25 transportation-related funding measures that appeared on ballots last week passed. Voters approved more than $50 billion in new revenue for transportation infrastructure, including everything from street repavings to light rail operations. About half of the total revenue is dedicated for public transit.
Read on: What the 2024 Election Could Mean for Transportation Policy
