US voters back local transit taxes as federal infrastructure law expires

Overview

Updated 1 hour ago

On Nov. 3, voters approved 22 of 26 transit ballot measures across the country, committing about $31 billion to rail and bus programs, according to the American Public Transportation Association. The largest was a 14-year Bay Area sales tax expected to raise up to $14 billion for BART, Caltrain, AC Transit and Muni.

The local money arrives as the 2021 federal infrastructure law reaches its end. Federal transit funding rose from about $12.8 billion to $21.4 billion a year under that law, and Congress must act by Dec. 12 to keep highway and transit programs running. Local taxes can close operating gaps, but they cannot cover a repair backlog the Federal Transit Administration estimated at more than $140 billion.

Why it matters

Local taxes are now the reliable money for US transit, while federal support depends on a December vote.

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Key Indicators

$31B

Transit funding approved in 2026 ballot measures

Nationwide total reported by the American Public Transportation Association.

22 of 26

Transit measures passed

Municipal ballot measures funding rail and bus programs.

$14B

Bay Area sales tax proceeds

Up to $14 billion over 14 years for BART, Caltrain, AC Transit and Muni.

62%

Support for Bay Area Proposition RTM

The regional sales tax measure that averted service cuts.

72%

Support for Stronger Muni For All

A 15-year parcel tax raising $2.4 billion for San Francisco's transit agency.

$140B

National transit repair backlog

Federal Transit Administration estimate of accumulated capital needs as of 2022.

Voices

Curated perspectives — historical figures and your fellow readers.

People Involved

Bob Powers

General manager, Bay Area Rapid Transit

Leading BART as the agency absorbs new sales tax revenue

Andrew Fremier

Executive director, Bay Area Metropolitan Transportation Commission

Overseeing implementation of regional transit taxes

Ron Mitchum

Executive director, Charleston Area Regional Transportation Authority

Planning a bus rapid transit system with new sales tax revenue

Jessica Grennan

Executive director, APTA Center for Transportation Excellence

Tracking transit ballot results nationwide

Ward McCarragher

Vice president for government affairs and advocacy, APTA

Pressing Congress on federal transit reauthorization

Organizations Involved

American Public Transportation Association

Industry Association

Tracks ballot measures and lobbies Congress on federal transit funding

The trade group representing US transit agencies, which tallied the 2026 ballot results and is pressing Congress to maintain federal funding.

Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART)

Transit agency

Receiving new sales tax revenue after voters passed Proposition RTM

The commuter rail system serving the San Francisco Bay Area, which faced station closures before the regional tax passed.

Metropolitan Transportation Commission

Regional transportation agency

Coordinating implementation of Bay Area transit taxes

The regional body that plans and finances transportation across the nine-county Bay Area.

Charleston Area Regional Transportation Authority

Transit agency

Planning a 21-mile bus rapid transit line with new sales tax revenue

The transit authority for Charleston, South Carolina, which won $860 million from a 25-year sales tax.

Timeline

November 2021 November 2026

4 events Latest: Yesterday

Tap a bar to jump to that date

November 2026
Engineering News-Record reports the results
Latest Media

The trade publication detailed the ballot wins and APTA's federal legislative goals.
Yesterday
APTA reports $31 billion total
Statement

The American Public Transportation Association tallied the results at a post-election webinar.
2 days ago
Voters approve 22 of 26 transit measures
Election

Ballot measures in the Bay Area, Charleston and elsewhere committed about $31 billion to transit.
4 days ago
November 2021
Bipartisan infrastructure law signed
Federal policy

The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act raised annual federal transit funding from about $12.8 billion to $21.4 billion through 2026.
November 15th, 2021

Scenarios

Congress passes full-year transportation funding before December 12

Possible Resolves by Dec 12, 2026

Discussed by: APTA's Ward McCarragher, who said a bipartisan goal is to finish full-year bills while the current Congress is in place

Lawmakers fold highway and transit programs into full-year appropriations before the Dec. 12 deadline. That keeps federal formula and discretionary funding near current levels and gives agencies a stable planning horizon. The incoming Democratic majority would then take up reauthorization in 2027.

Bay Area agencies use new tax revenue to avoid service cuts

Likely Resolves by Jul 1, 2027

Discussed by: BART general manager Bob Powers and MTC executive director Andrew Fremier

BART, Muni, Caltrain and AC Transit adopt budgets that keep stations open and routes running, funded by the 14-year sales tax and the Muni parcel tax. The agencies also conduct the financial efficiency reviews Fremier promised, which could determine whether voters trust future requests.

Federal transit funding falls under the BUILD America 250 Act

Possible Resolves by Q3 2027

Discussed by: The Pew Charitable Trusts, which analyzed the House proposal

The House surface transportation bill would cut public transit funding by 14% over five years and shift money from guaranteed advance appropriations to annual appropriations. It would also eliminate the Low or No Emission Grant Program, which provided about $1.1 billion a year for bus electrification. If enacted, agencies would scale back projects or seek more local money.

A stopgap keeps federal transit money flat into 2027

Uncertain Resolves by Q1 2027

Discussed by: APTA and Pew, both noting the December 12 deadline

Congress passes a short-term continuing resolution that extends current funding past December but leaves long-term capital planning uncertain. Agencies proceed with local projects but delay decisions that depend on federal grants, and the reauthorization fight moves into the new Congress.

Historical Context

2 moments from history that rhyme with this story — and how they unfolded.

November 2021

Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (2021)

Congress passed a bipartisan infrastructure law that raised annual federal transit funding from about $12.8 billion to $21.4 billion through 2026. Only four House and 10 Senate Republicans supported it. The law also created new competitive grants for bus electrification and station accessibility.

Then

Transit agencies received record federal money for repairs, fleet modernization and accessibility upgrades.

Now

The boost was temporary. With the law expiring, state and local governments again face the question of how much transit to fund themselves.

Why this matters now

The 2026 ballot measures are local governments answering that question while federal support is uncertain.

1956–2026

The long shift to local transit funding (1956–2026)

Over seven decades, state and local contributions to transit more than doubled, according to Pew. Federal money became a larger share during the infrastructure law but never replaced local funding as the base.

Then

Local taxes and fares became the dependable revenue for day-to-day operations.

Now

Transit agencies grew dependent on ballot measures for major expansions and, increasingly, for basic service.

Why this matters now

The 2026 results continue a pattern: voters, not Congress, are the most reliable source of new transit money.