A Conference on Transit Referenda and Why They Succeed Or Fail
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MTI Report S-01-03 Norman Y. Mineta International Institute for Surface Transportation Policy Studies Created by Congress in 1991 Lessons Learned: A Conference on Transit Referenda and Why They Succeed or Fail Mineta Transportation Institute San Jos é State University San Jose, CA 95192-0219 MTI Report S-01-03 Lessons Learned: A Conference on Transit Referenda and Why They Succeed or Fail June 29- July 31, 2001 San Jose, CA a publication of the Mineta Transportation Institute College of Business San José State University San Jose, CA 95192-0219 Created by Congress in 1991 Technical Report Documentation Page 1. Report No. 2. Government Accession No. 3. Recipient’s Catalog No. FHWA/CA/IR-01/03 4. Title and Subtitle 5. Report Date Lessons Learned: A Conference on Transit Referenda and Why They November 2001 Succeed or Fail 6. Performing Organization Code 7. Authors 8. Performing Organization Report No. Symposium S-01-03 9. Performing Organization Name and Address 10. Work Unit No. Mineta Transportation Institute College of Business San José State University 11. Contract or Grant No. San Jose, CA 95192-0219 65W136 12. Sponsoring Agency Name and Address 13. Type of Report and Period Covered California Department of Transportation U.S. Department of Transportation Final Report Sacramento, CA 95819 Research and Special Programs Administration 14. Sponsoring Agency Code 400 7th Street, SW Washington, DC 20590-0001 15. Supplementary Notes This research project was financially sponsored by the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Research and Special Programs Administration (RSPA) and by the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans). 16. Abstract This year, the Mineta Transportation Institute joined the American Public Transportation Association, as well as authorities in transportation to join in a conference on July 29 through July 31, 2001, entitled Lessons Learned: A Conference on Transit Referenda and Why They Succeed or Fail. The purpose of the conference was to discuss the history of successful and unsuccessful transportation measures that have existed in various cities across the United States. Participants represented members from transportation agencies nationwide. Each table was presented with issues to discuss and present to the conference. Short presentations were made by var- ious authorities in the transportation and political arenas. The conference included several question and answer sessions. The moderators were Pete Cipolla and Rod Diridon. This publication, a transcript and summary of the July conference is a next step in the information transfer effort. This conference brought together a nationwide representation of transportation authorities as follows: •Dr. Peter Haas, Professor, Political Science and Transportation Management, San José State University •Dr. Richard Werbel, Professor, Polictical Science and Transportation Management, San José State University •Bill Lind, Director of the Center of Cultural Conservatism at the Free Congress Foundation, Washington D.C. •Pete Cipolla, General Manager, Valley Transportation Authority •Gary Richards, Columnist, “Mr. Roadshow,” San Jose Mercury News •Max Besler, Campaign consultant, Townsend Raimundo, Besler and Usher •Carl Guardino, President and CEO, Silicon Valley Manufacturing Group •Jude Barry, CEO, Catapult Strategies and former Chief of Staff for San Jose Mayor Ron Gonzales There were over 100 conference participants from various transportation agencies across the country. 17. Key Words 18. Distribution Statement Public information programs; Public transit; Surveys; Transportation No restrictions. This document is available to the public industry; Transportation system through the National Technical Information Service, management Springfield, VA 22161 19. Security Classif. (of this report) 20. Security Classif. (of this page) 21. No. of Pages 22. Price Unclassified Unclassified avg is 196 $15.00 Form DOT F 1700.7 (8-72) Copyright © 2001 by The Mineta Transportation Institute Library of Congress Catalog Card Number: 2002101528 To order this publication, please contact the following: Mineta Transportation Institute College of Business BT-550 San José State University San Jose, CA 95192-0219 Tel (408) 924-7560 Fax (408) 924-7565 E-mail: [email protected] http://transweb.sjsu.edu ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The Mineta Transportation Institute would like to thank the following co-sponsoring organizations as well as the following individuals for assisting in producing the “Lessons Learned: A Conference on Transit Referenda and Why They Succeed or Fail.” Without their hard work and dedication leading up to the conference, or during the three-day event, which included a Federal Transit Administration “New Starts” Workshop, this symposia would not have been the success it was. Event co-sponsors included: •The American Public Transportation Association •The Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority •The Center for Transportation Excellence •The Mineta Transportation Institute Thanks to the following individuals: •Art Guzzetti, Director of Policy Development and Member Mobilization, the American Public Transportation Association; •The Santa Clara County Chapter of the League of Women Voters and Virginia Holtz; •Presenters Peter Haas, Ph.D., Bill Lind, Robert Puentes, Richard Werbel, Ph.D., Alan Wulkan, and panelists Jude Barry, Max Besler, Carl Guardino and Gary Richards; and •Peter Cipolla, General Manager, Valley Transportation Authority; and Jeff Hanan, Halik Associates, both of whom acted as moderators for the event. Additional thanks to the following: •San Jose Hyatt Saint Claire Hotel •San Jose Convention Center •Valley Transit Authority •Mirassou Vineyards Thanks also to MTI staff, including Research Director Trixie Johnson, and Communications Director Leslee Hamilton, Research and Publications Assistant Sonya Cardenas, transcriber Noel Celene Major, editorial associates Jimmy Young and Catherine Frazier, and student graphic designer Cedric Howard. Table of Contents i TABLE OF CONTENTS FOREWORD . 1 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY. 5 WELCOMING REMARKS . 7 AN OVERVIEW OF TRANSIT REFERENDUM CAMPAIGNS AND THE COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE CONDUCTED THEM. 13 PASSING LOCAL TRANSPORTATION TAX MEASURES: A FOLLOW-UP STUDY . 35 TWELVE ANTI-TRANSIT MYTHS:A CONSERVATIVE CRITIQUE 53 BROOKINGS INSTITUTE UPDATE ON ELECTION DAY 2000 BALLOT MEASURES. 63 DOING IT RIGHT: SANTA CLARA’S NOV. 2000 ELECTION . 83 GROUND RULES FOR DISCUSSION . 129 ORGANIZING THE CAMPAIGN . 133 IMPORTANCE OF THE MEDIA . 143 HANDLING THE CRITICS . 159 THE ESSENCE OF WHAT WINS AN ELECTION . 183 CLOSING DISCUSSIONS . 195 ABBREVIATIONS AND ACRONYMS. 205 APPENDIX . .A-1 Mineta Transportation Institute Table of Contents ii Mineta Transportation Institute Foreword 1 FOREWORD At the beginning of the 21st century, providing funding for transportation improvements remains a challenge. With numerous programs competing for local, state and federal funding, transportation planners must often seek special funding for necessary projects. Taxpayer referenda provide an important means of securing dedicated funding for transportation projects. Transportation proponents in Santa Clara County, California, have been among the most well-informed and proactive when it comes to passing transportation tax measures. The most recent success occurred in November 2000, when a one-half percent sales tax was extended for an additional 30 years to provide funds for the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority, and for the BART extension to the Silicon Valley. It made perfect sense for the Mineta Transportation Institute to become involved in the American Public Transportation Association’s “Lessons Learned: A Conference on Transit Referenda and Why They Succeed or Fail,” which was held on July 29 and 30, 2001. This was another in a series of symposia presented by the Institute on issues of national importance to the transportation community. MTI research focuses on transportation management and policy concerns, and we are the proud publisher of two important studies, MTI Report 00-01, Why Campaigns for Local Transportation Initiatives Succeed or Fail: An Analysis of Four Communities and National Data, and MTI Report 01-17 Factors Influencing Voting Results of Local Transportation Funding Initiatives with a Substantial Transit Component: Case Studies of Ballot Measures in Eleven Communities. The conference provided an opportunity for over 100 attendees to examine and discuss the latest information about transportation tax measures. Presentations included “A Overview of Transit Referendum Campaigns and the Communities That Have Conducted Them,” by Alan Wulkan; “Twelve Anti-Transit Myths: A Conservative Critique” by Bill Lind; “Brookings Institute Update on Election Day 2000 Ballot Measures” by Robert Puentes; and “Passing Local Transportation Tax Measures-A Follow-Up Study” by Dr. Peter Haas and Dr. Richard Werbel. Panelists for the expert panel “Doing It Right: Santa Clara's November 2000 Election” included Jude Berry, Max Besler, Carl Guardino and Gary Richards. Mineta Transportation Institute 2 Foreword I would like to take the opportunity to personally thank all the organizations and individuals who gave their time and talent to make this important symposium a success. • The Santa Clara County Chapter of the League of Women Voters, and especially Virginia Holtz, were instrumental in organizing the activities of the two-day conference. • Thank you to the conference presenters as well as our moderators Peter Cipolla, General Manager of the Santa Clara