Shortly after Mayor Kate Gallego took office, she faced a well funded anti-transit ballot proposition that sought to overturn an earlier voter approved tax increase to fund light rail expansion. The anti-tax effort was funded by an organized, out of state political operation that in the previous year had played a role in defeating a high-profile transit measure in Nashville, TN.

Mayor Gallego, knew of the Accelerator’s specific expertise in transit-oriented ballot measures and reached out to us to participate in the strategy that ultimately led to voters rejecting Prop 105, opting to protect the city’s investment in light rail. Despite a strong opposition campaign, Prop 105 was rejected in every single city council district, including those that are majority Democrat, majority Independent, and majority Republican.

If not defeated, Prop 105 would have prevented the $1 billion, five-mile light rail extension connecting Downtown and South Phoenix that is now underway. Instead, today, the 28-mile-long system now runs from Phoenix to Tempe and Mesa featuring 38 stations, 472 identified projects and over $16 billion in total capital investment. Regional transportation officials want to expand it to 66 miles by 2034. Due to Valley Metro’s continued development, 2,974 affordable housing units have access to public transportation and increased opportunity throughout Phoenix.