VOTE An Overview of Transit Referendum Campaigns and the Communities That Have Conducted Them Alan C. Wulkan Senior Vice President Parsons Brinckerhoff Alan C. Wulkan Senior Vice President Parsons 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 Miami Three 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 Results Source: Center for Transportation Excellence

VOTE National Election Results Source: Center for Transportation Excellence Total # of Elections 29% 47% 69% 71% 53% 31% 44% 56% 47% 53% 67% 33%

VOTE Dade County 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 Strategy 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 – 1999 Strategy, 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 – 1999 Results Defeated 2 to 1 High turnout - 30% Anti-government vote Hispanic and Anglo “no” vote Anti-tax mood Failed campaign strategy No grassroots support Defeated 2 to 1 High turnout - 30% Anti-government vote Hispanic and Anglo “no” vote Anti-tax mood Failed campaign strategy No grassroots support

VOTE Dade County Summary General election ½% sales tax Maintenance of effort provision Transit and local transportation projects Expand metro rail & bus countywide Limited administrative costs General election ½% sales tax Maintenance of effort provision Transit and local transportation projects Expand metro rail & bus countywide Limited administrative costs

VOTE Dade County – 2002 Strategy 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 – 2002 Strategy 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 – 2002 Results Approved 2 to 1 High turnout (52%) Created CITT Approved 2 to 1 High turnout (52%) Created CITT

VOTE Houston METRO 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 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 – 2003 Results 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 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 – 1996 Issues 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 – 1996 Summary & 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 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 Summary & Results Half-cent sales tax for transit Citizens-based plan Strong business community support Mayor of Phoenix champion Special election Defeated by 122 votes Half-cent sales tax for transit Citizens-based plan Strong business community support Mayor of Phoenix champion Special election Defeated by 122 votes

VOTE City of Phoenix 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 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 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 Principles 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 Success Champion(s) Professional political consultant Grassroots support Campaign funding Champion(s) Professional political consultant Grassroots support Campaign funding

VOTE Keys 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 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 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 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 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 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 Summary Lessons 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 Summary Lessons 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 Summary Lessons 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 Summary Lessons 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 Alan C. Wulkan Senior Vice President Parsons Brinckerhoff Alan C. Wulkan Senior Vice President Parsons Brinckerhoff