Voters Approve $31B in Transit Funding, but Bids Are Years Out
Voters passed 22 of 26 transit measures on municipal ballots Nov. 3, adding about $31 billion in transit funding nationwide, ENR reports. The measures cover rail and bus programs in Colorado, South Carolina and California.
Market Impact
Jessica Grennan, executive director of the APTA Center for Transportation Excellence, gave the $31 billion figure in a Nov. 5 post-election webinar. Two projects stand out for field work. One measure helps fund a commuter rail extension from Denver to Pueblo, Colorado. Another supports a $625 million, 21-mile bus rapid transit system in Charleston, S.C.
In Charleston, a 25-year, half-cent sales tax provides $860 million for transit out of $4.25 billion in expected revenue. The rest goes to highways and green spaces. Ron Mitchum, executive director of the Charleston Area Regional Transportation Authority, said highway flood mitigation work will also reduce flooding disruptions to transit routes.
In the Bay Area, two measures keep agencies from major cuts. Prop RTM passed with 62% and adds up to $14 billion over 14 years through a sales tax. That money is shared among BART, Caltrain, Alameda-Contra Costa Transit District buses and Muni. BART General Manager Bob Powers said failure would have closed stations and route segments. Stronger Muni For All passed with 72%. It is a 15-year parcel tax providing $2.4 billion to close Muni’s operations budget gap and improve service.
The source does not give bid dates, procurement methods or package sizes for any of these projects. Based on that, our read is that most construction work is 12 to 36 months from bid. The Bay Area money is described as service and operations support, not new construction.
What It Means for Subcontractors
- Civil and drainage (Charleston, S.C.): The $625 million, 21-mile BRT project and the highway flood mitigation work funded by the $4.25 billion measure are the clearest civil scopes. Check the Charleston Area Regional Transportation Authority’s procurement page for early design and GC solicitations before bidding opens.
- Track, electrical and utility relocation (Denver to Pueblo): The commuter rail extension is the main rail construction opportunity in the source. Funding was just approved, so expect design and procurement steps first. Pre-qualify now and line up utility-relocation capacity for the corridor.
- Bay Area (BART, Caltrain, AC Transit, Muni): The $14 billion and $2.4 billion measures mainly keep service running. Do not budget for large new lettings from them. O&M, station upkeep and maintenance contracts are the likelier near-term work, though the source does not confirm this.
- Federal deadline, Dec. 12: APTA’s Ward McCarragher said highway and transit programs shut down if Congress does not act by Dec. 12. Federal-aid-dependent lettings could stall, so ask GCs now how a lapse would affect your notices to proceed.
- Electrical and clean energy transit: APTA wants Inflation Reduction Act energy tax credits restored. Until Congress acts, price electrification scopes with that uncertainty in mind.
