Report: Nearly 80 percent of state, local infrastructure measures approved on Election Day

A key 2018 transportation infrastructure victory was had in California, where voters turned back Proposition 6, an effort to repeal an increase in the state gasoline and diesel motor fuels tax that had been approved by the legislature as part of a 2017 transportation funding law. Photo: iStock.com/kozmoat98

Voters in 31 states showed their support for transportation infrastructure investments on Election Day, approving 272, or 79 percent, of 346 state and local ballot measures, according to the American Road & Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA).

In total, the approved initiatives are expected to generate more than $30 billion in one-time and recurring revenue, according to an ARTBA Transportation Investment Advocacy Center (TIAC) analysis.

Voters have now approved 78 percent of nearly 1,700 transportation investment ballot measures tracked by ARTBA-TIAC since 2009.

Unfortunately, not every ballot initiative resulted in an infrastructure victory. A proposed state gas tax increase in Missouri met unexpected resistance at the polls, with voters rejecting the measure 54 percent to 46 percent, according to ARTBA.

In Colorado, voters rejected two measures to provide new transportation investments: Proposition 109, a measure to provide one-time funding with a $3.5 billion bond, was rejected 39 percent to 61 percent. Proposition 110, which would have increased the state sales tax by 0.62 percent for 20 years and provided an initial jumpstart with a $6 billion bond, also failed, 40 percent to 60 percent.

Statewide measures to protect transportation funds from being diverted to non-transportation purposes fortunately passed in Connecticut and Louisiana, the association reports.