Voters Approve 19 Public Transit Ballot Measures

Voters across Michigan and Washington State voiced their overwhelming support for public transit by approving 19 out of 19 transit ballot measures Aug. 4. There has been a total of 32 wins out of 36 measures for public transit in 2026, an 89 percent win rate.

Successes in Michigan

Alger County
A five-year increase in the Alger County Transit Authority’s (ALTRAN) millage from 0.75 to 1.0 mills to sustain countywide dial-a-ride service amid rising costs and a roughly 33 percent cut to Michigan’s statewide public transportation budget, generating an estimated $558,000 in its first year.

Caledonia Charter Township
A two-year renewal of a 0.19-mill levy to fund Shiawassee Area Transportation Agency (SATA) Dial-A-Ride service in the township, generating an estimated $48,000 in its first year.

Charlevoix County
A four-year restoration of a 0.25-mill levy to fund Charlevoix County Transit’s countywide demand-response operations, generating an estimated $834,000 in its first year.

Delta County
A new eight-year, 0.689-mill countywide levy that would replace the existing city and township millages funding the Delta Area Transit Authority (DATA); expand service to seven unserved townships; and add early-morning, evening, and Saturday hours, generating approximately $1.1 million annually.

Frenchtown Township
A three-year renewal of a 0.75-mill levy to fund Lake Erie Transit’s (LET) local bus and dial-a-ride service, generating an estimated $1 million annually.

Genesee County
Ballot Proposal Summary: A replacement of the Flint Mass Transportation Authority’s (MTA) expiring 1.2158-mill countywide levy with a 5-year, 1.5158-mill levy—MTA’s first increase in nearly 15 years, generating approximately $7 million annually in new funding to keep pace with rising operating costs and growing ridership.

Ingham County
A six-year renewal and restoration of a 0.6-mill countywide levy funding Capital Area Transportation Authority (CATA) transportation for seniors and people with disabilities—including door-to-door Spec-Tran service, rural connector routes, and veterans’ medical transportation—generating more than $6.1 million in its first year.

Iosco County
A five-year renewal (with restoration) of a 0.145-mill levy to fund Iosco Transit Corporation’s dial-a-ride operations, generating an estimated $447,000 in its first year.

Kalamazoo County
A seven-year renewal and increase of the Kalamazoo County Transportation Authority (KCTA) levy from 0.3124 to 0.36 mills to fund countywide Metro Connect and Metro Share on-demand services, generating an estimated $4.6 million in its first year.

Manistee County
A six-year renewal and increase of the county transit levy—combining a 0.5-mill renewal with a 0.25-mill increase for a total of 0.75 mill—to fund Manistee County Transportation’s Dial-A-Ride, expand service hours, and improve ride availability, generating an estimated $1.2 million in its first year.

Marquette County
A six-year renewal of a 0.6-mill countywide levy to fund Marquette County Transit Authority (Marq-Tran) operations, equipment, and facilities, generating an estimated $2.1 million in its first year.

Monroe
A three-year renewal of a 1-mill levy for Lake Erie Transit (LET) to continue providing local bus service in the City of Monroe, generating an estimated $2.1 million annually.

Ogemaw County
A new six-year, 0.47-mill levy to restore dedicated funding for Ogemaw County Public Transit after its previous millage lapsed following a failed 2024 renewal, generating an estimated $582,000 in its first year.

Pere Marquette Charter Township
An eight-year renewal of a 0.4-mill levy to fund the township’s contract with the Ludington Mass Transportation Authority (LMTA) for dial-a-ride service, generating an estimated $357,000 in its first year.

St. Joseph County
A four-year renewal of a 0.33-mill levy to fund the St. Joseph County Transportation Authority (SJCTA), whose millage covers a third of its operating budget across 23 weekday and five Saturday routes, generating an estimated $975,000 in its first year.

Saugatuck-Douglas
A 10-year renewal and increase of the Interurban Transit Authority’s levy from 0.5 to 1.0 mills across Saugatuck, Douglas, and Saugatuck Township, generating an estimated $1.1 million annually to maintain and grow demand-response service amid rising bus costs and uncertain state and federal funding.

Wayne County
A new 10-year countywide levy of up to 0.9831 mills replacing SMART’s expiring millage and—following the state’s elimination of community opt-outs—distributing revenue to Wayne County, SMART, DDOT, and other community and regional transit providers to expand service countywide, generating an estimated $57.6 million in its first year.

Wexford County
A five-year renewal and restoration of a 0.6-mill countywide levy to fund the Cadillac/Wexford Transit Authority (WexExpress), generating an estimated $845,000 in its first year.

Successes in Washington

Spokane
A 20-year renewal of the existing 0.2 percent sales and use tax funding Spokane Transit Authority (STA) operations from 2029 through 2048, generating approximately $30 million annually to maintain current service levels and fund the Connect 2035 plan, including the Division Street bus rapid transit line.

APTA’s Transit Ballot Initiatives Workshop, Dec. 14–16 in Nashville, TN, will explore the messages, strategies, and tactics that make the difference in transit referenda as well as state and local legislative initiatives. Registration details coming soon.

The Center for Transportation Excellence (CFTE), a project of APTA, is a clearinghouse for information in support of quality transportation choices. CFTE is committed to two main objectives: (1) defending the merits of transit and (2) equipping local leaders with the information they need to be successful with their public transportation initiatives and ballot measures. Learn more.