NRC: Voter-approved ballot measures included rail projects

Seven of nine local and statewide transportation measures approved by voters on Nov. 7 will or could include investments in rail infrastructure, the National Railroad Construction and Maintenance Association (NRC) announced yesterday.

Voters in Georgia, Maine, Kansas, Pennsylvania and Colorado communities approved measures that could include rail projects, NRC officials said in a press release.

Among those measures:
• Adams County, Colorado, voters approved the formation of the Aerotropolis Regional Transportation Authority. The vote follows a Colorado Department Transportation study that found that infrastructure developed around the airport is key to attracting economic development. That effort would include capitalizing on the Regional Transportation District of Denver University of Colorado A Line, a commuter-rail line operating between downtown Denver and Denver International Airport.
• Athens-Clarke County, Georgia, voters passed a new sales tax that is expected to raise $104 million over five years for transportation projects that include public transit. Earlier this year, the Athens-Clarke Commission approved approved a projects list for the sales tax that includes $6 million to cover the cost of replacing a CSX bridge.
• Philadelphia voters passed a $172 million infrastructure bond package that includes $4.7 million for transit.

In November 2016, 34 out of 48 local and statewide transit measures and one port measure were approved.