VOTE
An Overview of Transit Referendum Campaigns and the Communities That Have Conducted Them
An Overview of Transit Referendum Campaigns and the Communities That Have Conducted Them
Alan C. WulkanSenior Vice PresidentParsons Brinckerhoff
Alan C. WulkanSenior Vice PresidentParsons Brinckerhoff
VOTE
Santa Clara Beats the Odds
Phoenix Voters Put Transit on Track
Kansas City Voters Reject Light Rail
Lawmakers Test Drive Transit Plan
Monorail in Seattle Springs Back to Life
Transit Tax Passes in MiamiThree Counties Support Transit Tax in Utah
METRO’s Train Comes In: Rail Plan Approved in Houston
High Speed Rail Service Wins in Florida
VOTE
National Election ResultsNational Election Results
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003
Pass Fail
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003
Pass Fail
Source: Center for Transportation Excellence
VOTE
National Election ResultsNational Election Results
Source: Center for Transportation Excellence
Tota
l #
of
Ele
cti
on
sTota
l #
of
Ele
cti
on
s
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003
Pass Fail
29%47%
69%71% 53%
31%
44%
56% 47%
53%
67%
33%
VOTE
Dade County - 1999 SummaryDade County - 1999 Summary
Special election
1% sales tax
Eliminate tolls
Replace general fund support
Expand metro rail and bus service
Special election
1% sales tax
Eliminate tolls
Replace general fund support
Expand metro rail and bus service
VOTE
Dade County - 1999StrategyDade County - 1999Strategy
Strong champion - Dade County mayor
Special election– Low turnout
Highly targeted– Quality voters
Strong champion - Dade County mayor
Special election– Low turnout
Highly targeted– Quality voters
VOTE
Dade County – 1999Strategy, continuedDade County – 1999Strategy, continued
Closely controlled campaign
Business community fund raising– $1.8 million
Appeal to special interests
Traffic vs. tolls
Polling results
Closely controlled campaign
Business community fund raising– $1.8 million
Appeal to special interests
Traffic vs. tolls
Polling results
VOTE
Dade County – 1999ResultsDade County – 1999Results
Defeated 2 to 1High turnout - 30%Anti-government voteHispanic and Anglo “no” voteAnti-tax moodFailed campaign strategyNo grassroots support
Defeated 2 to 1High turnout - 30%Anti-government voteHispanic and Anglo “no” voteAnti-tax moodFailed campaign strategyNo grassroots support
VOTE
Dade County - 2002 SummaryDade County - 2002 Summary
General election½% sales taxMaintenance of effort provisionTransit and local transportation
projectsExpand metro rail & bus
countywideLimited administrative costs
General election½% sales taxMaintenance of effort provisionTransit and local transportation
projectsExpand metro rail & bus
countywideLimited administrative costs
VOTE
Dade County – 2002StrategyDade County – 2002Strategy
People’s Transportation Plan
General election
Reduced tax from previous election
Mayor and County Commission directed
Low-key campaign
People’s Transportation Plan
General election
Reduced tax from previous election
Mayor and County Commission directed
Low-key campaign
VOTE
Dade County – 2002Strategy continuedDade County – 2002Strategy continued
Immediate results
Citizens Independent Transit Trust (CITT)
Learn from San Jose conference
Immediate results
Citizens Independent Transit Trust (CITT)
Learn from San Jose conference
VOTE
Dade County – 2002ResultsDade County – 2002Results
Approved 2 to 1
High turnout (52%)
Created CITT
Approved 2 to 1
High turnout (52%)
Created CITT
VOTE
Houston METRO - 2003 IssuesHouston METRO - 2003 Issues
Existing tax plan
Highly politicized issue
Tied to concurrent mayoral election
Third attempt over the past 20 years
Tremendous opposition – outspent proponents 3 to 1
Existing tax plan
Highly politicized issue
Tied to concurrent mayoral election
Third attempt over the past 20 years
Tremendous opposition – outspent proponents 3 to 1
VOTE
Houston METRO - 2003 StrategyHouston METRO - 2003 Strategy
Required political compromise– Extension of general mobility* funds
from 2009 to 2014 – Limited next phase to 22-miles of LRT
Public involvement process involved 100’s of meetings w/1,000’s of attendees
Strong local newspaper support
* 25% of 1% of the Sales Tax
Required political compromise– Extension of general mobility* funds
from 2009 to 2014 – Limited next phase to 22-miles of LRT
Public involvement process involved 100’s of meetings w/1,000’s of attendees
Strong local newspaper support
* 25% of 1% of the Sales Tax
VOTE
Houston METRO – 2003ResultsHouston METRO – 2003ResultsReferendum passed 52% to 48%
73-mile LRT plan approved for 2025
Bonding authority for first 22 miles of LRT approved
Total plan includes additional bus service & HOV lanes
Mayoral race undecided
Referendum passed 52% to 48%
73-mile LRT plan approved for 2025
Bonding authority for first 22 miles of LRT approved
Total plan includes additional bus service & HOV lanes
Mayoral race undecided
VOTE
City of Tempe, AZ – 1996Issues City of Tempe, AZ – 1996Issues
Strong citizen process with local emphasis
Very strong business community support
Low-profile political support
Strong citizen process with local emphasis
Very strong business community support
Low-profile political support
VOTE
City of Tempe, AZ – 1996Summary & Results City of Tempe, AZ – 1996Summary & Results
½-cent sales tax in perpetuity
Expanded bus, dial-a-ride, rail planning, and bike / pedestrian paths
Passed 54% to 46%
½-cent sales tax in perpetuity
Expanded bus, dial-a-ride, rail planning, and bike / pedestrian paths
Passed 54% to 46%
VOTE
City of Phoenix - 1997 Issues & StrategyCity of Phoenix - 1997 Issues & Strategy
Highly targeted campaign
Strong vote by mail campaign
Governor opposition
Rail issue
Anti-government voter
Highly targeted campaign
Strong vote by mail campaign
Governor opposition
Rail issue
Anti-government voter
VOTE
City of Phoenix - 1997 Summary & ResultsCity of Phoenix - 1997 Summary & Results
Half-cent sales tax for transitCitizens-based planStrong business community
supportMayor of Phoenix championSpecial electionDefeated by 122 votes
Half-cent sales tax for transitCitizens-based planStrong business community
supportMayor of Phoenix championSpecial electionDefeated by 122 votes
VOTE
City of Phoenix - 2000 Issues & StrategyCity of Phoenix - 2000 Issues & Strategy
Strong vote-by-mail campaign
Specifically defined plan
Address the opposition
Rail issue
Anti-government voter
Strong vote-by-mail campaign
Specifically defined plan
Address the opposition
Rail issue
Anti-government voter
VOTE
City of Phoenix - 2000 SummaryCity of Phoenix - 2000 Summary
.04% sales tax for transit
65% for bus improvements, 35% for light rail
Citizens-based plan
Strong business community support
Mayor of Phoenix champion
.04% sales tax for transit
65% for bus improvements, 35% for light rail
Citizens-based plan
Strong business community support
Mayor of Phoenix champion
VOTE
City of Phoenix - 2000 ResultsCity of Phoenix - 2000 Results
Approved 2 to 1
Citizens Transit Commission created via referendum
Ballot included maps of proposed improvements
Approved 2 to 1
Citizens Transit Commission created via referendum
Ballot included maps of proposed improvements
VOTE
PrinciplesPrinciples
Focus on winning
Follow keys to success
Survey early and often
Early fund raising
Keep it simple
Transit election unique
Focus on winning
Follow keys to success
Survey early and often
Early fund raising
Keep it simple
Transit election unique
VOTE
Keys to SuccessKeys to Success
Champion(s)
Professional political consultant
Grassroots support
Campaign funding
Champion(s)
Professional political consultant
Grassroots support
Campaign funding
VOTE
Keys to SuccessKeys to Success
Champion(s)– Recognized household name– No political interest– Time commitment– Examples
•Former Mayor - Austin, Texas•Chamber Leaders - Tempe, Arizona•Former City Council - Tempe, Arizona•Radio Station Owner - Dade County,
Florida
Champion(s)– Recognized household name– No political interest– Time commitment– Examples
•Former Mayor - Austin, Texas•Chamber Leaders - Tempe, Arizona•Former City Council - Tempe, Arizona•Radio Station Owner - Dade County,
Florida
VOTE
Keys to SuccessKeys to Success
Professional political consultant– Local vs. National
– Get the best available
– Listen to the consultant
– Issue campaign experience
– Realistic budget
– Campaign strategy critical
Professional political consultant– Local vs. National
– Get the best available
– Listen to the consultant
– Issue campaign experience
– Realistic budget
– Campaign strategy critical
VOTE
Keys to SuccessKeys to Success
Grassroots support– Business community
– Neighborhood groups
– Community organizations•League of women voters•Service organizations
– Speakers bureau
– Diverse support
Grassroots support– Business community
– Neighborhood groups
– Community organizations•League of women voters•Service organizations
– Speakers bureau
– Diverse support
VOTE
Keys to SuccessKeys to Success
Campaign funding– Committee chair key– Broad-based finance committee
•Set realistic budget•Money comes late•Big and small contributions•Know the law
Campaign funding– Committee chair key– Broad-based finance committee
•Set realistic budget•Money comes late•Big and small contributions•Know the law
VOTE
Election IssuesElection Issues
What’s in it for me?
The 1% myth
All rail systems over budget and little ridership
Transit should pay for itself
Cheaper options
What’s in it for me?
The 1% myth
All rail systems over budget and little ridership
Transit should pay for itself
Cheaper options
VOTE
Election IssuesElection Issues
Other priorities
Government mistrust
Empty buses
Transit does little for air quality
National anti-rail experts
Other priorities
Government mistrust
Empty buses
Transit does little for air quality
National anti-rail experts
VOTE
Elections SummaryLessons Learned Elections SummaryLessons Learned
Usually multiple attempts before a funding referendum is passed
Outcome often more influenced by other issues (the economy, government interest, etc.) than support for public transit
All local elections identified were “all or nothing” propositions
Usually multiple attempts before a funding referendum is passed
Outcome often more influenced by other issues (the economy, government interest, etc.) than support for public transit
All local elections identified were “all or nothing” propositions
VOTE
Elections SummaryLessons Learned Elections SummaryLessons Learned
Can succeed as stand-alone or in combination with highway proposition
The most successful campaigns had grassroots support and professional management
Many well-financed, well-endorsed tax initiatives fail due to grassroots opposition
Can succeed as stand-alone or in combination with highway proposition
The most successful campaigns had grassroots support and professional management
Many well-financed, well-endorsed tax initiatives fail due to grassroots opposition
VOTE
Elections SummaryLessons Learned Elections SummaryLessons Learned
Successful transit election is more likely if:– Specific projects are linked with
the funding request– Proposition is focused at the
short-term and immediate time frames
Successful transit election is more likely if:– Specific projects are linked with
the funding request– Proposition is focused at the
short-term and immediate time frames
VOTE
Elections SummaryLessons Learned Elections SummaryLessons Learned
Most transit elections usually are close because a relatively small number of direct constituencies benefit from the tax
Eventually, every urban area that has attempted to pass dedicated transit revenue has succeeded on the second or third attempt
Most transit elections usually are close because a relatively small number of direct constituencies benefit from the tax
Eventually, every urban area that has attempted to pass dedicated transit revenue has succeeded on the second or third attempt
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