Another Referendum for Infrastructure Funding in Tuesday's Elections

Voters around the country will go to the ballot box tomorrow to consider transportation- and infrastructure-related measures.

1 minute read

November 6, 2017, 12:00 PM PST

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


Polling Place

Joe Hall / Flickr

Robert Puentes surveys ballots from around the country for specific measures to watch closely tomorrow as results come in, and tries to located some larger trends about the state of infrastructure politics in a complicated and contentious era. "While is it not always easy to draw conclusions from these ballot box questions given their diversity, one thing is clear: Discussions about raising money and investing in transportation and infrastructure in Washington, D.C. are very different from what is happening in cities, states and metropolitan areas around the country," writes Puentes.

Puentes also notes that 2017 is an "off year" compared to last year's massive amount of infrastructure-related ballot measures approved by voters alongside an historic presidential election, but there are still plenty of ballot measures of interest. In addition to "routine proposals" in Athens-Clarke County, Georgia; Bath, Maine; and Chikaming, Michigan, Puentes notes a few "unique measures" in Kansas City, Dallas, and Denver.

Check back in later this week for a summary of the results of all these elections.

Wednesday, November 1, 2017 in U.S. News & World Report

Young Professional

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 and Environmental 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 and Environmental Planner

Get top-rated, practical training for planners

"Planetizen federal action tracker" logo superimposed over black and white image of US Capitol dome.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

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

September 16, 2026 - Zachary Whalen

Passengers board an Amtrak train under a cloudy sky.

Amtrak, CN end decades-long dispute with eight-year agreement

The new operating agreement establishes an updated framework for the companies to work together, including processes to resolve disputes.

September 18, 2026 - Mass Transit

The Gross Reservoir, a large body of water surrounded by trees and mountains.

Judges permit Denver to divert 77,000 acre feet from the Colorado River for reservoir expansion

Overuse and climate change have caused the Colorado River’s water levels to plummet.

September 18, 2026 - Inside Climate News

A painted bus lane in NYC.

NYC DOT wants faster, more permanent street upgrades

The city is examining ways to build more concrete infrastructure without getting entangled in 'decades-long' projects.

3 hours ago - NYC Streetsblog

A woman looks at a utility bill.

'Something we’ve never seen before:' rising utility rates could strain city finances nationwide

Data centers, climate change and other factors have caused utility rates in the United States to increase by 38% since 2020.

4 hours ago - Smart Cities Dive

A person scuba diving in a coral reef off Guam.

Trump to overrule local leaders, lease millions of acres of America’s Pacific Island territories’ seafloors to mining companies

International law says that the Indigenous people of America’s territories have a right to prior and informed consent regarding projects that impact their countries.

5 hours ago - Grist