In 2026, voters across the U.S. did something extraordinary. In a political climate focused on affordability, voters overwhelmingly approved ballot measures that invest tax dollars in local transit, transportation, resilience, infrastructure, and housing.
Accelerator for America Action (AFA Action) tracked measures across the country, along with our partners at APTA and ARTBA. According to preliminary results analyzed by ARTBA’s Transportation Investment Advocacy Center, voters approved 81% of the 294 state and local transportation funding measures ARTBA tracked, and 56 of the 68 public transportation-specific ballot initiatives, or 82%, tracked by APTA’s Center for Transportation Excellence won approval at the ballot box.
These successes reflect local voters' willingness to directly invest in safer roads, expanded public transportation, and vital community and resilient infrastructure, including housing. It also shows what’s possible when leaders work to earn the trust of their constituents.
AFA Action works alongside local leaders in support of local revenue measures in communities nationwide, providing expert counsel, polling and policy research, and connections to national peers and best practices to advance initiatives that reflect community priorities. To date, AFA Action has worked with communities to secure more than $102 billion in funding for local priorities through ballot measures.
AFA Action’s Local Infrastructure Funding Table (LIFT) convened more than 40 individual organizations twice monthly to go deep on the measures going before voters this cycle, understand their unique opportunities and challenges, and distribute resources and support to bring them to victory. Over the last year, LIFT has hosted briefings with campaign leadership from Connect Bay Area, Stronger Muni for All, Yes for CHS, Keep Pierce Moving, and more. These sessions allowed campaign teams to interface directly with LIFT coalition partners across the transportation, housing, and energy sectors and gather valuable insights and best practices to guide their strategy.
Join us on November 12
Join AFA Action for an upcoming webinar featuring local leaders from cities with successful 2026 ballot measures as they share key insights and lessons learned. This year’s successes lay the foundation for an even bigger support effort by AFA Action over the next two years, with exciting measures already on the horizon in as many as ten communities.
DATE: Thursday, November 12, 2026
TIME: 4 p.m. ET / 1 p.m. PT
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Voters in California's Bay Area decisively backed a pair of complementary initiatives: Measure H ("A Stronger Muni for All”) and the regional transportation initiative, Measure RTM ("Connect Bay Area.") This critical influx of funding will help local transit networks avert an impending fiscal cliff.
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| AFA Action’s role: AFA Action supported “Connect Bay Area” and “Stronger Muni For All” as a collective campaign from start to finish, including assisting in the qualitative and quantitative research phases. | |||
| Why it matters: Funding from the sales tax will avert catastrophic cuts to transit providers, BART, Muni, Caltrain and AC Transit, which are facing fiscal cliffs. It will also improve safety, cleanliness, and more. |
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| AFA Action’s role: AFA Action supported “Connect Bay Area” and “Stronger Muni For All” as a collective campaign from start to finish, including in the qualitative and quantitative research phases. | |||
| Why it matters: Funding from the parcel tax will reduce Muni’s $307 million annual structural operating deficit, help maintain existing bus and rail service, and avoid major service reductions. |
In Charleston, S.C. in 2024, a ballot measure renewing the half cent sales tax failed with 39% of the vote, winning in only 11 precincts. This week, it won 175 of Charleston's 182 districts with more than 60% voting in favor. This outcome highlights how campaign messaging and a plan that responds to resident priorities can shift voter opinion in favor of a ballot measure.
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| AFA Action’s role: AFA Action helped shape polling development, while providing the campaign a national and historical perspective on messaging language and strategy that has been effective in previous campaigns. | |||
| Why it matters: The renewed sales tax will fund resurfacing and maintenance of existing roads, safety improvements, a signal coordination program, debt service financing for major roadway projects, and the local share of Charleston’s seawall project to address flooding. It will also provide millions for the region's first rapid transit line, parks, and conservation. |
Transit in Pierce County, WA has been under-invested and undersized, operating on the same funding level since 2002 when voters approved the last transit ballot measure. Similar to other transit agencies, Pierce Transit was facing a fiscal cliff in the early 2030s. Fifteen years after a failed campaign in 2011, a strong majority approved this week’s transit ballot measure.
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(718 of 745 precincts reporting, as of 11/5/2026)
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| AFA Action’s role:In addition to technical support on polling, AFA Action served as a sounding board and advised on evolving campaign strategies. | |||
| Why it matters: The 0.3% sales tax increase will expand transit service with four new bus routes, greater frequency, two bus rapid transit line overhauls, expanded paratransit, and free fare for youth and seniors. |
Eugene, OR’s Clean Energy Fund received endorsements from more than 100 local businesses, community leaders, organizations, and unions before voters went to the ballot box. This broad base of local support played a key role in driving the measure to victory.
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| AFA Action’s role:AFA Action supported the campaign throughout, including opinion research and strategies for organized opposition. | |||
| Why it matters: Profits from the business license fee will fund green infrastructure, renewable energy and energy-efficiency programs, clean-energy job training, apprenticeships, and contractor support. |
AFA Action remains close with Charlotte-Mecklenburg County officials following the 2025 “Yes for Meck” transit ballot measure win and advised Charlotte officials on this year’s housing bond campaign.
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| AFA Action’s role:AFA Action featured the housing bond campaign on a national webinar, as well as provided strategic guidance during the campaign. | |||
| Why it matters: The housing bond will fund the city's Housing Trust Fund and Housing Diversity Program, supporting new construction and rehabilitation of both single family and multifamily housing, along with rental housing production, preservation and anti-displacement efforts, supportive housing and shelter capacity, and homeowner assistance. |
If your community is considering a ballot measure or other increase in local revenue for dedicated investment in new transit, transportation, resilience, infrastructure, or housing, we want to know and help! Please reach out to Ross van Dongen, ross@acceleratoraction.org.