By Kate Roetzer and Jillian Kinder

Following the November 2024 elections, significant uncertainty has emerged regarding the level of federal support transit will receive in the coming years. However, one thing remains certain -

Americans continue to support investments in public transportation!

In calendar year 2024, Americans have approved transit initiatives totaling more than $25 billion in areas all across the country.

There have been a total of 46 wins out of 53 measures for public transit, thus far – that’s a success rate of approximately 85%! This includes positive results for 19 out of 26 measures on the ballot during the general election, combined with an additional 27 transit measures that had already been approved by voters this year. 

“The success of these measures shows that voters are committed to improving mobility, increasing access to essential services, and ensuring all residents have the infrastructure needed to thrive, and get where they need to go,” said Jessica Grennan, Executive Director of APTA’s Center for Transportation Excellence.

Highlights include:

• Maricopa County, Arizona voters supported an extension of the county’s half-cent sales tax to fund maintenance and operation of public transportation 
• Nashville, Tennessee voters approved a half-cent sales tax to “Choose How You Move,” that will expand the bus system, build sidewalks, and upgrade traffic signals
• Miami-Dade, Florida voters signaled strong support for public transit in a ballot question/straw poll
• Seattle, Washington voters passed a $1.55 billion transportation levy for a range of transportation investments including safer roads and improved transit
• Columbus, Ohio voters approved a half-cent sales tax increase for the LinkUs Initiative, which will fund additional transit service, including bus rapid transit and adjacent projects

Please check out the American Public Transportation Association’s (APTA) press release and election scorecard for more complete results on all of the 2024 transit ballot measures.