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The Source for Public Transportation News and Analysis November 15, 2013
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Public Transit Wins at Ballot Box
 
On Nov. 12 in the final election of the 2013 election season, ­voters in Tulsa, OK, approved a $918.7 million capital improvement proposal that will extend a 1.1 percent sales tax and a $355 million bond package that provides $30 million to transit, including a Bus Rapid Transit project. The proposal, called Improve Our Tulsa, passed by about 70 percent.
 
In addition, on Nov. 5, six of seven public transportation measures passed. During 2013, 11 of 15 transit-related measures passed for an overall success rate of 73 percent. 
 
“The high passage rate of these initiatives demonstrates voters trust their public transit agency with their hard earned tax dollars to make their community better and more inviting to all,” said APTA President & CEO Michael ­Melaniphy. “Year in and year out voters support public transit because they see the impact these systems have on their communities.”
 
Many of this year’s recent initiatives were concentrated in smaller communities, indicating public transportation’s growing importance in these areas.
 
Laketran, Lake County, OH. Voters approved a ­measure to permanently set aside 0.25 percent of the local sales tax to fund Laketran, a move that will strengthen the agency’s ability to deliver service. Previously, said General Manager Ray Jurkowski, the levy came up for renewal every 10 years, starting in 1993. The measure passed with a 66 percent approval rating.
 
“The voter approval provides stability, offering Lake­tran’s first permanent source of revenue. Passing the ballot initiative mirrors what we are seeing nationwide—that suburban communities want more public transportation services,” Jurkowski said. “The local sales tax levy provides 60 percent of Laketran’s operating budget and matching funds for federally funded capital improvements. Failure was not an option.”
 
Jurkowski pointed to three factors that contributed to Laketran’s success: “We passed this levy with a lot of hard work, steady engagement, and a clear message. In eight weeks leading up to Election Day, employees, board members, and volunteers conducted over 75 media interviews and presentations to senior groups, Chambers of Commerce, and civic groups,” he said, adding that the agency received more than 35 endorsements from area businesses, business organizations, and health and human service agencies.
 
He said a public relations campaign helped keep the agency’s message in front of voters. “The messaging of the campaign focused on funding and services. Being a renewal levy, we clearly reminded voters the levy was not an increase in taxes, and it provided over 60 percent of our funding,” Jurkowski said. “It was about survival. Not just Lake­tran’s survival, but the survival of thousands of people we serve every day who rely on Laketran to access jobs, college, healthcare, and essential shopping.”
 
The agency also focused on the importance of providing public transportation to a growing population of older citizens. “Lake County’s aging population is expected to increase from one in three to one in five in the next 10 years,” he said. “A large part of the message was about providing access for seniors.”
 
Missoula Urban Transportation District, MT. Approximately 57 percent of voters approved the first property tax increase for the agency (known as the Mountain Line) since it was created in 1976.
 
The 14.5 mills increase is expected to generate $1.7 million annually, which will fund expanded service to older Americans and people with disabilities, increased hours of service with the extension of four popular weekday routes, and an additional bus route with high-frequency service.
 
“Most important in the voter approval is the community-wide mandate to continue building our modern public transit service—a service that continues to benefit us all,” agency ­General Manager Michael Tree said. The campaign was run by Friends of Mountain Line, a local advocacy group, and successfully brought together a wide array of supporters, including the local businesses.
 
Summaries of other approved measures follow:

Grays Harbor County, WA. ­Voters adopted a 0.1 percent sales tax by 71 percent, which will help restore the public transit service, cut ­earlier this year in response to a budget shortfall.
 
Okanogan County, WA. ­Voters adopted a 0.4 percent sales tax to support the creation of the ­Okanogan County Transit Authority. (The county—the state’s largest in terms of land mass—has no transit agency.) The increase, which passed by 56 percent, is expected to generate $2 million ­annually for bus service.
 
Schoolcraft County, MI. By 68 percent, voters passed a 0.87 millage property tax increase to prevent service cutbacks and fund expanded weekday service and new weekend operations.
 
Maine. By 72 percent to 28 percent, voters approved a $100 million bond issue for a variety of transportation and freight projects. The bond funds will be used to match an estimated $154 million in federal funds.

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