Building the Transit Vote Coalition June 2, 2009 J. Barry Barker Executive Director, Transit Authority of River City Louisville, KY Vice Chair – Government Affairs, APTA

2008 Transit-related Ballot Measures 4 37 Approved in 15 states –AK, AZ, CA, CO, HI, KS, MI, MO, NC, NM, OH, RI, UT, WA, WI 4 10 Defeated in 5 states –CA, CO, KS, MO, NV, OR 79% approval rate

Can’t win an election on your own... 4 Employers 4 Riders 4 Workers 4 Community groups 4 Environmental activists 4 Civic leaders

Examples of Transit Supportive Business Coalitions 4 Kentuckians for Better Transportation 4 Citizens for Modern Transit (St. Louis) 4 New Jersey Alliance for Action 4 Silicon Valley Manufacturing Group 4 Friends of Transit (Phoenix)

Grassroots Coalitions 4 Environmentally Focused (1000 friends) 4 Community Focused 4 Coalitions Interested in Transit Generally 4 Or Supporting Specific Election/Project 4 Transit Advisory Committees (to engage)

APTA Programs 4 National Alliance of Public Transportation Advocates (NAPTA) 4 Coalition Grant Program 4 Coalition Training 4 Transit Vote 4 Move America Now

National Campaign Trends all Favorable: 4 Long term favorable ridership trend 4 Population/demographic/energy/ environmental trends 4 Time for a new vision and direction 4 Movement to a green economy 4 Transit-friendly Administration

National Legislative Agenda 4 Surface Transportation Authorization 4 Climate & Energy Legislation 4 High-Speed Rail 4 Economic Recovery (ARRA)

APTA’s RCA Campaign 4 Research 4 Communications 4 Advocacy

Campaign Research 4 Public Opinion Polling / Research: Positioning and Messaging 4 3 Es and a Q

APTA Survey Summary 4 Public Transportation, while not the most important priority, is important and people are hearing and reading about it. 4 There is strong support for funding Public Transportation –Super majority supports use of tax dollars to improve and expand –Majority supports Congress INCREASING level of spending

Summary and Implications 4 There are many strong messages that are effective in building support for Public Transportation –Economic, Environmental, and Energy messages all are compelling Relative weight of these three is virtually equal There are many arrows in the message quiver 4 Energy and Economic individual messages play strong

Public Transit Benefits Q807 The benefits of public transportation generally fall into 3 broad areas: economic benefits, environmental benefits, and energy related benefits. Comparing these types of benefits, about what percent of these benefits fall into each of these categories (your responses should total 100%)? Economy Energy Environment

Strong Support for Funding PT Expansion & Improvement 91% 73% Q685 Do you support or oppose the allocation of your tax dollars toward the expansion and improvement of public transportation services in your community?

Strong Support for Increasing Congressional Spending for PT 80% 55% Q690 Every five years the US Congress reviews its spending priorities for public transportation. All things considered, which of the following best describes what you believe the US Congress should do with the level of spending for public transportation?

No Support for Gas Tax 56% 28% Some people believe increasing the federal gas tax by a few cents would be a good thing because it will force us to reduce consumption of fossil fuels, provide funding for alternative fuels and increase usage of greener and more efficient modes of transportation, and ultimately lessen congestion on our busy roadways. Other people believe increasing the federal gas tax by a few cents would be a bad thing because it would increase the tax burden of the very people that most need a tax break right now and would make it harder for the economy to recover.

Message Testing Summary ENERGY INDEPENDENCE: The U.S. is at the mercy of our enemies. The Middle East cartels and unstable foreign governments are growing rich while we struggle. We can change that by reducing our dependence on foreign oil, which ultimately keeps our country more secure. Public transportation helps solve our energy crisis. ECONOMY: With a country in recession and unemployment on the rise, we face tough economic times. Public transportation can be a solution and help pave the way to a stronger economy. Public transportation projects will put tens of thousands of Americans to work, revitalize our communities with construction and manufacturing opportunities and provide affordable transportation options to get the U.S. back on track economically. Public transportation creates jobs and can stimulate our economy. QUALITY OF LIFE: When you take public transportation you attain a significant portion of the recommended minimum daily exercise and greatly reduce your travel time, reducing stress and lessening congestion on our busy roadways. Public transportation leads to improved health and an improved quality of life. ENVIRONMENT: Public transportation is the responsible environmental choice. By reducing smog-producing pollutants and greenhouse gases, public transportation improves air quality and reduces the climate crisis. Total % Agree 26% Strongly 40% Strongly 32% Strongly 35% Strongly 29% Strongly 54% Strongly 15% Strongly 28% Strongly Women 86% Women 83%

Campaign Particulars 4 Media on National News Shows 4 Inside the Beltway media 4 Earned Media Showcasing New Research (e.g., Needs/Jobs/Benefits) 4 Enhanced Education 4 Information and Messaging 4 Policy Forums/Events/Special Initiatives

Authorization: Desired Outcomes 4 Quantum leap for transit - $123 billion over six years 4 Expedite program delivery–time is money 4 Reaffirm the funding guarantees 4 Connect the dots: transit/energy/climate /housing/economic growth

National Partnerships 4 State & Local Government 4 Construction/Developers/Builders 4 Environmental Organizations 4 Transportation Reform Coalitions 4 Labor 4 Health and Human Service Organizations 4 Persons with Disabilities 4 Older Adults 4 U.S. Chamber of Commerce 4 Other Transportation Stakeholders 4 Hundreds more

J. Barry Barker Executive Director Transit Authority of River City Louisville, KY