From Palo Alto, California, to Horry County, South Carolina, the 2024 ballot measures revealed a refreshing consensus: people say yes to public transportation.
Transit wins support across the country.
As of Nov 6, 46 out of 53 measures regarding transit development passed in 2024, reaching a remarkable 86.7% success rate. During the 2024 election, 19 out of 26 pro-transit measures passed. Since the start of this year, voters have authorized over $25 billion in new funding for public transit initiatives, signaling a growing recognition of transit as essential to economic growth and mobility.
The success of transit ballot measures this month was broad — covering both cities with Democratic mayors and conservative leaning counties. This tracks with Via’s in-house research on the appeal of expanding transit. We found that our tech-enabled transit partnerships are split nearly equally across Democrat- and Republican-won congressional districts.
📖 Read: The widespread appeal of advancing economic mobility with better transit
A growing desire to expand on-demand microtransit.
Transit ballot measures ran the gamut: some communities extended sales taxes to fund the maintenance and operation of transit, others expanded the bus system, and still others authorized building sidewalks and upgrading traffic infrastructure.
Notably, among the approved measures, voters showed strong support for a relatively new but widely adopted form of public transportation: on-demand microtransit. For example, in Columbus, Ohio, 57.3% of voters endorsed the LinkUS initiative, which will add eight new microtransit service zones designed to complement the local transit agency’s traditional fixed-route transit. Microtransit offers flexibility and accessibility for areas where traditional bus routes may not be feasible, bridging the gaps in first- and last-mile connectivity.
“It’s a growth strategy for Central Ohio,” said Monica Tellez-Fowler, CEO of the Central Ohio Transit Authority (COTA), in a recent APTA webinar. “We have a comprehensive plan to address growth and provide mobility options that help reduce congestion and make transit more accessible and equitable for both current and future customers.”
Tellez-Fowler explained that the funding will enable a significant increase in COTA services: the new on-demand zones will complement an expansion of regular fixed route bus lines and bus rapid transit:.“This would lead us to 45% more COTA service, 8 new on-demand zones, 14 new fixed route lines within the future 5 years, 5 rapid transit lines. It will make the connection to work, home, entertainment, add access to over 380,000 jobs, and help support new housing units in the next ten years.”
Looking ahead.
This year’s ballot measures send a clear message: Americans are willing to invest in smarter, more adaptable public transit that meets the needs of diverse populations and fuels local economies. With communities voting in favor of transit improvements from coast to coast, Columbus’s approach serves as a blueprint for other cities looking to expand and modernize their transit systems.
