State and Local Votes Reveal Widespread Support for Public Transit

There's a narrative to be built from the results of state and local elections on issues of public transit funding: voters continue to support more funding for public transit projects and programs.

2 minute read

November 5, 2020, 12:00 PM PST

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


Capital Metro Metrorail

Austin Metrorail at Downtown Station in 2010. | Michlaovic / Wikimedia Commons

Looking over the results of numerous votes on matters of transit and transportation funding from the November 3 election, the results show consistent support for new taxes and bonds to raise new money for mobility improvements.

The American Public Transportation Association has already tallied up the sum of the funding enabled by voters on November 3, coming up with the lofty figure of $38 billion. That figure increases the total from the November 2018 election, when voters approved $33 billion for transportation.

Kea Wilson takes a different angle in describing the accomplishment of transit and transportation at the ballot box: "A whopping 13 out of 17 major transit measures on state and local ballots across the U.S. yesterday passed, bringing the public transportation industry’s 2020 win rate at the ballot box to a stunning 92 percent."

Wilson also notes that the $38 billion in funding enabled by state and local voters outpaces the $11 billion spent by the Federal Transit Administration to public transit in the entire year of 2019.

Wilson lists the biggest wins for public transit. Including Project Connect in Austin, Measure RR to fund Caltrain in a three-county area of the San Francisco Bay Area, and Proposition 1 in Seattle.

One notable failure at the ballot box belongs to the "Get Moving" plan in Portland, Oregon, which Wilson notes was a broader transportation plan that included some funding for transit in addition to car-centric projects.

Wednesday, November 4, 2020 in Streetsblog USA

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Cover CM Credits, Earn Certificates, Push Your Career Forward

Aerial view of town of Wailuku in Maui, Hawaii with mountains in background against cloudy sunset sky.

Maui's Vacation Rental Debate Turns Ugly

Verbal attacks, misinformation campaigns and fistfights plague a high-stakes debate to convert thousands of vacation rentals into long-term housing.

July 1, 2025 - Honolulu Civil Beat

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

July 9, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Map of Haussmann's redesign of Paris in the 1850s through 1870s under Napoleon III.

In Urban Planning, AI Prompting Could be the New Design Thinking

Creativity has long been key to great urban design. What if we see AI as our new creative partner?

June 30, 2025 - Tom Sanchez

Red and white "Wildfire Evacuation Route" sign on signpost.

Cal Fire Chatbot Fails to Answer Basic Questions

An AI chatbot designed to provide information about wildfires can’t answer questions about evacuation orders, among other problems.

4 hours ago - The Markup

Protester at Echo Park Lake, Los Angeles holding sign that says "Housing is a human right"

What Happens if Trump Kills Section 8?

The Trump admin aims to slash federal rental aid by nearly half and shift distribution to states. Experts warn this could spike homelessness and destabilize communities nationwide.

5 hours ago - Shelterforce Magazine

Aerial of rainbow painted crosswalks at large intersection in Castro District, Sna Francisco, California.

Sean Duffy Targets Rainbow Crosswalks in Road Safety Efforts

Despite evidence that colorful crosswalks actually improve intersection safety — and the lack of almost any crosswalks at all on the nation’s most dangerous arterial roads — U.S. Transportation Secretary Duffy is calling on states to remove them.

6 hours ago - Streetsblog USA

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.

Planning for Universal Design

Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.

Home and Land Services Coordinator

Appalachian Highlands Housing Partners

Associate/Senior Planner

Gallatin County Department of Planning & Community Development

Senior Planner

Heyer Gruel & Associates PA