An Overview of Transit Referendum Campaigns and the Communities That Have Conducted Them

VOTE

An Overview of Transit Referendum Campaigns and the Communities That Have Conducted Them

An Overview of Transit Referendum Campaigns and the Communities That Have Conducted Them

Alan C. WulkanSenior Vice PresidentParsons Brinckerhoff

Alan C. WulkanSenior Vice PresidentParsons Brinckerhoff

VOTE

Santa Clara Beats the Odds

Phoenix Voters Put Transit on Track

Kansas City Voters Reject Light Rail

Lawmakers Test Drive Transit Plan

Monorail in Seattle Springs Back to Life

Transit Tax Passes in MiamiThree Counties Support Transit Tax in Utah

METRO’s Train Comes In: Rail Plan Approved in Houston

High Speed Rail Service Wins in Florida

VOTE

National Election ResultsNational Election Results

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003

Pass Fail

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003

Pass Fail

Source: Center for Transportation Excellence

VOTE

National Election ResultsNational Election Results

Source: Center for Transportation Excellence

Tota

l #

of

Ele

cti

on

sTota

l #

of

Ele

cti

on

s

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003

Pass Fail

29%47%

69%71% 53%

31%

44%

56% 47%

53%

67%

33%

VOTE

Dade County - 1999 SummaryDade County - 1999 Summary

Special election

1% sales tax

Eliminate tolls

Replace general fund support

Expand metro rail and bus service

Special election

1% sales tax

Eliminate tolls

Replace general fund support

Expand metro rail and bus service

VOTE

Dade County - 1999StrategyDade County - 1999Strategy

Strong champion - Dade County mayor

Special election– Low turnout

Highly targeted– Quality voters

Strong champion - Dade County mayor

Special election– Low turnout

Highly targeted– Quality voters

VOTE

Dade County – 1999Strategy, continuedDade County – 1999Strategy, continued

Closely controlled campaign

Business community fund raising– $1.8 million

Appeal to special interests

Traffic vs. tolls

Polling results

Closely controlled campaign

Business community fund raising– $1.8 million

Appeal to special interests

Traffic vs. tolls

Polling results

VOTE

Dade County – 1999ResultsDade County – 1999Results

Defeated 2 to 1High turnout - 30%Anti-government voteHispanic and Anglo “no” voteAnti-tax moodFailed campaign strategyNo grassroots support

Defeated 2 to 1High turnout - 30%Anti-government voteHispanic and Anglo “no” voteAnti-tax moodFailed campaign strategyNo grassroots support

VOTE

Dade County - 2002 SummaryDade County - 2002 Summary

General election½% sales taxMaintenance of effort provisionTransit and local transportation

projectsExpand metro rail & bus

countywideLimited administrative costs

General election½% sales taxMaintenance of effort provisionTransit and local transportation

projectsExpand metro rail & bus

countywideLimited administrative costs

VOTE

Dade County – 2002StrategyDade County – 2002Strategy

People’s Transportation Plan

General election

Reduced tax from previous election

Mayor and County Commission directed

Low-key campaign

People’s Transportation Plan

General election

Reduced tax from previous election

Mayor and County Commission directed

Low-key campaign

VOTE

Dade County – 2002Strategy continuedDade County – 2002Strategy continued

Immediate results

Citizens Independent Transit Trust (CITT)

Learn from San Jose conference

Immediate results

Citizens Independent Transit Trust (CITT)

Learn from San Jose conference

VOTE

Dade County – 2002ResultsDade County – 2002Results

Approved 2 to 1

High turnout (52%)

Created CITT

Approved 2 to 1

High turnout (52%)

Created CITT

VOTE

Houston METRO - 2003 IssuesHouston METRO - 2003 Issues

Existing tax plan

Highly politicized issue

Tied to concurrent mayoral election

Third attempt over the past 20 years

Tremendous opposition – outspent proponents 3 to 1

Existing tax plan

Highly politicized issue

Tied to concurrent mayoral election

Third attempt over the past 20 years

Tremendous opposition – outspent proponents 3 to 1

VOTE

Houston METRO - 2003 StrategyHouston METRO - 2003 Strategy

Required political compromise– Extension of general mobility* funds

from 2009 to 2014 – Limited next phase to 22-miles of LRT

Public involvement process involved 100’s of meetings w/1,000’s of attendees

Strong local newspaper support

* 25% of 1% of the Sales Tax

Required political compromise– Extension of general mobility* funds

from 2009 to 2014 – Limited next phase to 22-miles of LRT

Public involvement process involved 100’s of meetings w/1,000’s of attendees

Strong local newspaper support

* 25% of 1% of the Sales Tax

VOTE

Houston METRO – 2003ResultsHouston METRO – 2003ResultsReferendum passed 52% to 48%

73-mile LRT plan approved for 2025

Bonding authority for first 22 miles of LRT approved

Total plan includes additional bus service & HOV lanes

Mayoral race undecided

Referendum passed 52% to 48%

73-mile LRT plan approved for 2025

Bonding authority for first 22 miles of LRT approved

Total plan includes additional bus service & HOV lanes

Mayoral race undecided

VOTE

City of Tempe, AZ – 1996Issues City of Tempe, AZ – 1996Issues

Strong citizen process with local emphasis

Very strong business community support

Low-profile political support

Strong citizen process with local emphasis

Very strong business community support

Low-profile political support

VOTE

City of Tempe, AZ – 1996Summary & Results City of Tempe, AZ – 1996Summary & Results

½-cent sales tax in perpetuity

Expanded bus, dial-a-ride, rail planning, and bike / pedestrian paths

Passed 54% to 46%

½-cent sales tax in perpetuity

Expanded bus, dial-a-ride, rail planning, and bike / pedestrian paths

Passed 54% to 46%

VOTE

City of Phoenix - 1997 Issues & StrategyCity of Phoenix - 1997 Issues & Strategy

Highly targeted campaign

Strong vote by mail campaign

Governor opposition

Rail issue

Anti-government voter

Highly targeted campaign

Strong vote by mail campaign

Governor opposition

Rail issue

Anti-government voter

VOTE

City of Phoenix - 1997 Summary & ResultsCity of Phoenix - 1997 Summary & Results

Half-cent sales tax for transitCitizens-based planStrong business community

supportMayor of Phoenix championSpecial electionDefeated by 122 votes

Half-cent sales tax for transitCitizens-based planStrong business community

supportMayor of Phoenix championSpecial electionDefeated by 122 votes

VOTE

City of Phoenix - 2000 Issues & StrategyCity of Phoenix - 2000 Issues & Strategy

Strong vote-by-mail campaign

Specifically defined plan

Address the opposition

Rail issue

Anti-government voter

Strong vote-by-mail campaign

Specifically defined plan

Address the opposition

Rail issue

Anti-government voter

VOTE

City of Phoenix - 2000 SummaryCity of Phoenix - 2000 Summary

.04% sales tax for transit

65% for bus improvements, 35% for light rail

Citizens-based plan

Strong business community support

Mayor of Phoenix champion

.04% sales tax for transit

65% for bus improvements, 35% for light rail

Citizens-based plan

Strong business community support

Mayor of Phoenix champion

VOTE

City of Phoenix - 2000 ResultsCity of Phoenix - 2000 Results

Approved 2 to 1

Citizens Transit Commission created via referendum

Ballot included maps of proposed improvements

Approved 2 to 1

Citizens Transit Commission created via referendum

Ballot included maps of proposed improvements

VOTE

PrinciplesPrinciples

Focus on winning

Follow keys to success

Survey early and often

Early fund raising

Keep it simple

Transit election unique

Focus on winning

Follow keys to success

Survey early and often

Early fund raising

Keep it simple

Transit election unique

VOTE

Keys to SuccessKeys to Success

Champion(s)

Professional political consultant

Grassroots support

Campaign funding

Champion(s)

Professional political consultant

Grassroots support

Campaign funding

VOTE

Keys to SuccessKeys to Success

Champion(s)– Recognized household name– No political interest– Time commitment– Examples

•Former Mayor - Austin, Texas•Chamber Leaders - Tempe, Arizona•Former City Council - Tempe, Arizona•Radio Station Owner - Dade County,

Florida

Champion(s)– Recognized household name– No political interest– Time commitment– Examples

•Former Mayor - Austin, Texas•Chamber Leaders - Tempe, Arizona•Former City Council - Tempe, Arizona•Radio Station Owner - Dade County,

Florida

VOTE

Keys to SuccessKeys to Success

Professional political consultant– Local vs. National

– Get the best available

– Listen to the consultant

– Issue campaign experience

– Realistic budget

– Campaign strategy critical

Professional political consultant– Local vs. National

– Get the best available

– Listen to the consultant

– Issue campaign experience

– Realistic budget

– Campaign strategy critical

VOTE

Keys to SuccessKeys to Success

Grassroots support– Business community

– Neighborhood groups

– Community organizations•League of women voters•Service organizations

– Speakers bureau

– Diverse support

Grassroots support– Business community

– Neighborhood groups

– Community organizations•League of women voters•Service organizations

– Speakers bureau

– Diverse support

VOTE

Keys to SuccessKeys to Success

Campaign funding– Committee chair key– Broad-based finance committee

•Set realistic budget•Money comes late•Big and small contributions•Know the law

Campaign funding– Committee chair key– Broad-based finance committee

•Set realistic budget•Money comes late•Big and small contributions•Know the law

VOTE

Election IssuesElection Issues

What’s in it for me?

The 1% myth

All rail systems over budget and little ridership

Transit should pay for itself

Cheaper options

What’s in it for me?

The 1% myth

All rail systems over budget and little ridership

Transit should pay for itself

Cheaper options

VOTE

Election IssuesElection Issues

Other priorities

Government mistrust

Empty buses

Transit does little for air quality

National anti-rail experts

Other priorities

Government mistrust

Empty buses

Transit does little for air quality

National anti-rail experts

VOTE

Elections SummaryLessons Learned Elections SummaryLessons Learned

Usually multiple attempts before a funding referendum is passed

Outcome often more influenced by other issues (the economy, government interest, etc.) than support for public transit

All local elections identified were “all or nothing” propositions

Usually multiple attempts before a funding referendum is passed

Outcome often more influenced by other issues (the economy, government interest, etc.) than support for public transit

All local elections identified were “all or nothing” propositions

VOTE

Elections SummaryLessons Learned Elections SummaryLessons Learned

Can succeed as stand-alone or in combination with highway proposition

The most successful campaigns had grassroots support and professional management

Many well-financed, well-endorsed tax initiatives fail due to grassroots opposition

Can succeed as stand-alone or in combination with highway proposition

The most successful campaigns had grassroots support and professional management

Many well-financed, well-endorsed tax initiatives fail due to grassroots opposition

VOTE

Elections SummaryLessons Learned Elections SummaryLessons Learned

Successful transit election is more likely if:– Specific projects are linked with

the funding request– Proposition is focused at the

short-term and immediate time frames

Successful transit election is more likely if:– Specific projects are linked with

the funding request– Proposition is focused at the

short-term and immediate time frames

VOTE

Elections SummaryLessons Learned Elections SummaryLessons Learned

Most transit elections usually are close because a relatively small number of direct constituencies benefit from the tax

Eventually, every urban area that has attempted to pass dedicated transit revenue has succeeded on the second or third attempt

Most transit elections usually are close because a relatively small number of direct constituencies benefit from the tax

Eventually, every urban area that has attempted to pass dedicated transit revenue has succeeded on the second or third attempt

VOTE

An Overview of Transit Referendum Campaigns and the Communities That Have Conducted Them

An Overview of Transit Referendum Campaigns and the Communities That Have Conducted Them

Alan C. WulkanSenior Vice PresidentParsons Brinckerhoff

Alan C. WulkanSenior Vice PresidentParsons Brinckerhoff