Voters across the country approved ballot measures that could support hundreds of billions of dollars in infrastructure spending on new or existing projects.
Initiatives addressing a variety of infrastructure, ranging from transportation projects to water and freight infrastructure, were approved on November 8th.
ARTBA reported that voters in 22 states approved some $201 billion in new or renewed transportation funding. California was among the most noteworthy ballot measures. Los Angeles voters approved a 1 percent sales tax set to support $120 billion in infrastructure spending over 40 years.
Voters in Illinois and New Jersey also approved so-called “lockbox” measures, which prohibit the reallocation of transportation funds toward other budget items.
The Brookings Institution also highlighted other infrastructure investments green-lit by voters. Rhode Island approved $70 million in bonding to support port improvements, while voters in Missouri renewed a sales tax that will in part support water infrastructure.
The support for these ballot initiatives comes as President-elect Donald Trump, who campaigned for office by promising to rebuild U.S. infrastructure, readies an effort to pursue new federal infrastructure spending in 2017.
