Transit wins big in elections

While the Trump administration feuds with major public transit carriers in New York, Philadelphia, and Charlotte N.C., voters approved ballot measures in four states that will funnel over $11 billion into a variety of infrastructure projects across the country. 

“Voters have sent a powerful message: public transportation is essential infrastructure that America needs and deserves,” said Paul P. Skoutelas, president and CEO of the American Public Transportation Association.

“These ballot victories represent more than just transit funding—they’re investments in our national economy.” 

Transit measures passed in 13 out of 16 races in North Carolina, Colorado, Michigan, New Mexico, Texas, Washington, and Oklahoma. 

The referendums include sales and excise tax approvals, the formation of regional transportation authorities, and the elimination of ridership limits. 

Albuquerque, New Mexico is approved to issue $1.63 million of its general obligation bonds to plan, develop and renovate public transportation equipment and facilities. 

Oklahoma City voters approved 11 propositions that make up a $2.7 billion bond program. Proposition 9 includes funding for a new transit operations and maintenance headquarters facility and modernizing EMBARK’s transit fleet.

“Even in an off-year election, voters still turn out for public transit,” said Jessica Grennan, executive director of APTA’s Center for Transportation Excellence. “We continue to see broad support from urban to rural areas and across the political spectrum.” 

Politics figures to continue playing a major role in how much the federal government kicks in for transit measures. 

Mecklenburg County, North Carolina passed a sales tax increase, part of which will go to the Charlotte Area Transit System, which U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy suggested “pulling money back,” from following a brutal murder on one of its trains. 

New York City’s Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani ran his campaign on the notion of providing free bus service which would have to be cleared by the New York Metropolitan Transit Agency who is skeptical about an expensive idea. 

“Our projection is that bus revenue is going to start to push closer to a billion dollars a year in the next couple of years, as we’ve gotten customers back,” said MTA Chair and CEO Janno Lieber. 

Trump continues to bedevil the congestion pricing system in New York City via posts on Truth Social.  

In early October White House budget director, Russ Vought announced that “roughly $18 billion in New York City infrastructure projects have been put on hold to ensure funding is not flowing based on unconstitutional DEI principles.” 

In August the Trump administration announced the DOT was going assume operational control of Union Station in Washington D.C.

A similar announcement brought the renovation of New York’s Penn Station under federal control. 

In March Duffy sent letters to the heads of the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority and the New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority charging them to boost safety measures or face the possibility of federal funds being withheld.

 Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro got a similar letter from Duffy last week with safety complaints targeting the beleaguered Southeast Pennsylvania Transportation Authority.