Transportation initiatives can help fund clean transit projects

This November 8, millions of Americans will be voting to select their governors, representatives and senators. In 19 states, counties, and localities, they will also be voting on something that may have less of a national profile, but is vital to the functioning of cities, as well as our fight against climate change – various sales, property, and income taxes that would fund public transportation as well as electric vehicle rebates and charging. For some localities like Boulder County, Colorado, the election will simply be a vote to continue to extend existing taxes that fund transit. In others like Orange County, Florida, the election will determine whether the county’s public transportation system will get more funding to improve and expand its service. After the passage of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act last year, this kind of funding can be especially important, as it may determine which are eligible for federal grant programs, which often require localities to put up matching funds.