Working with Transit to Win Ballot Measures Alliance for Biking & Walking Mutual Aid Call Wednesday,

July 24, 2013

Its a rising trend across the country: successful transportation funding ballot measures include bicycle and pedestrian projects. On this call, advocates tallk about the work that is happening around the country. Panelists also brainstorm ways to collaborate and strengthen ballot measures that improve transportation choices and investment.

Advice from Alison Leach Manager, Center for Transportation Excellence

About ballot measures
Since 2000, we have seen over 450 transportation ballot measures in almost all states. The pass rate for ballot measures generally is only 30%, but infrastructure ballot measures have a much better rate: 72% of the measures introduced since 2000 have been approved. Dispense with the Prepare to lose before you win. Measures often fail the first vague. To be suctime, and organizers must regroup to win. cessful, ballot measures need to Dispense with the vague. To be successful, ballot measures be specific. need to be specific. Measures should correspond to a map, show specifically where improvements will be, and show

Structuring your campaign

Be transparent and accountable. The community needs to know who is responsible and should be able to feel good about the group behind the ballot measure effort. The community should hear from you first, not your critics. Build relationships and reach out to the community early. Let people know about the ideas behind the measure and how these changes will improve the community. Build a strong ground game during the campaign. Voters are always going to ask, whats in it for me? Know how to answer this question. Identify your messaging for all groups. Find strong champions to get people excited. Having champions like business leaders, elected officials, community leaders or university officials is a great way to get support. Look to previous successes for inspiration. Richmond County, South Carolina successfully passed a penny sales tax measure to fund transit and bike/ped. Linden, Washington also instituted a sales tax increase that paired transit with active transportation.

Working with Transit to Win Ballot Measures Alliance for Biking & Walking Mutual Aid Call Wednesday, July 24, 2013
Advice from Dave Campbell Program Director, East Bay Bicycle Coalition
Campaign recap: Measure B1
Measure B1 was a proposed penny sales tax for Alameda County that would fund multimodal transportation. The transportation commission put the measure to voters last fall. In California, a win would require 2/3 of the county to support the measure. EBBCs first success as an organization in this campaign was being allowed to serve on the citizens committee to help develop the B1 expenditure plan. It was an advisory body, which wasnt perfect but EBBC got in the room and won access to information. This campaign was by far the most successful fundraising campaign for EBBC we raised $25,000 through this effort. Thanks to this fundraising, we were able to hit the streets and get the word out to large array of groups.

Unfortunately, Measure B1 fell just short of passing. However, the campaign still strengthened EBBC and boosted up the organizations public image. The campaign also strengthened relationships between EBBC and agency officials and helped show how the biking community can deliver important ballot measure support.

Advice for other organizations

Set up regular meeting with the elected officials who are on the decision-making body. Meet with them and with a group of stakeholders from a wide array of organizations. Get on the campaign committee. Having information about the campaigns functions and having a voice in the campaign planning is really important.

Advice from Rhonda Smyth Policy & Advocacy Manager, Trailnet

Show officials what the people want. EBBC did several rounds of polling to see what voters were saying about the measure. It was important to sit down with elected officials and show them what voters wanted.

Campaign recap: Proposition C

The Proposition C measure was proposed in 2000. It would create two new taxes one in Missouri and one in Illinois to generate funding for parks and transportation. It passed overwhelmingly, generating $22 million a year on just the Missouri side. Funding was used to create the River Ring, a system of trails in Missouri. The people came up with the plan for Proposition C, and there was a lot of community support. Half of all funding went to local/county parks, which got a lot of support from the community.

Campaign recap: Proposition P

Missouris next ballot initiative, Proposition P, was used to connect the St. Louis Arch to downtown. This 2013 ballot initiative created a 3/16 tax. The measure was passed in 2 counties, and one opted out. 2

Working with Transit to Win Ballot Measures Alliance for Biking & Walking Mutual Aid Call Wednesday, July 24, 2013
Because Proposition P had started as a private fundraising effort, there was no community input. The measure gave money both to parks district and to local governments.

Advice for other organizations

Be sure to pay attention to local policy. A policy in one county prohibited bike lanes, so in the future, Trailnet will be careful to look carefully at local laws to make sure policies align with ballot measure. Describe the benefits Describe the benefits of the measure for everybody. Often, of the measure for evmessaging for biking and walking does not resonate with erybody. Use messagelected officials and with the larger public. Use messaging ing that is positive and that is positive and forward thinking. forward thinking. Use proactive messaging. Missouri advocates have had success with messages about economic development and how biking, walking, and transit funding helps to retain population.

Advice from Andrew Austin Founding Executive Director, Americans for Transit
Advice for bike/ped advocates
Relationships are key. Working with businesses, labor and other groups is important so that biking and walking priorities are heard and addressed. There are opportunities to use money on biking and walking even if the funds are not dedicated. In Seattle, money that was labeled for station access is being used to build bike/ped facilities to connect to stations. Its essential to explain to people no matter their transportation modes how the measure will help them. Explain how building transit, bike and pedestrian infrastructure will help everyone. Use a unified coalition and unified messaging. Talking about safety can be really effective. Anti-transit ballot measures are a growing trend, but luckily many of these are failing. Doing proactive work can help to show political support for transit and ward off attacks.

Additional Resources
Center for Transportation Excellency - CFTE provides resources for winning transportation ballot measures, including example campaigns and webinars. Americans for Transit - For assistance and support in doing transit rider advocacy, contact Americans for Transit. Americans for Transits Organizing Directory - A comprehensive list of organizations who are organizing riders and building grassroots power for transit across the country. Telephone Survey of Alameda County Voters - Findings from East Bay Bicycle Coalitions polling on messaging, as presented to the Alameda County Transportation Commission 3