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Rail News Home Rail Industry Trends

11/9/2006



Rail News: Rail Industry Trends

Voters approve transportation ballot measures


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On Tuesday, voters nationwide approved 21 of 33 transportation-related ballot measures that authorize more than $40 billion.

In California, Propositions 1A, 1B and 1C got the thumbs up. The first measure mandates the state motor vehicle fuel sales tax be used only for transportation improvements. The second — a $19.9 billion bond measure — will provide $4 billion to rehabilitate public-transit systems and $1 billion for transit system safety, security and disaster response. Finally, the third includes $300 million to help spur transit-oriented development near transit stations.

Meanwhile, Orange County voters renewed Measure M, a half-cent sales tax administered by the Orange County Transportation Authority. The measure will provide $11.8 billion for county transit and highway improvements during a 30-year period beginning in 2011, when the current Measure M expires. The funds include more than $2 billion to expand Metrolink service.

In Texas, Grapevine residents approved a half-cent sales tax increase to fund commuter-rail service connecting the city to Fort Worth. The measure will generate about $9 million annually.

And in Utah, Salt Lake and Utah county voters approved a quarter-cent sales tax increase to fund construction of more Utah Transit Authority light-rail lines, as well as the FrontRunner commuter-rail system.