Voting "Yes" to Change

There are many public sectors in Pima County in need of funding, and local infrastructure and transportation are no exception. A poll conducted by ORC International for the American Public Transportation Association shows that 76% of Americans surveyed support the use of public funds for transportation improvements, and while citizen support is seemingly high, finding sources for this much needed funding remains at a an all time low. Each precinct has its challenges but across the board, politics and all that it encompasses, remains a large hurdle in this process. 

During this past election cycle, a 25-member citizen committee requested that seven bond proposals be placed on the ballot, none of which passed. All of the bonds would have funded projects around the region ranging from tourist promotion to area conservation and preservation. Two propositions in particular would have funded road and highway improvements, as well as flood control and drainage systems. While these categories are not specifically public transportation, in Tucson where the sole form of widespread public transportation is on the bus, road improvements and public transportation are undoubtedly connected.

So, if most citizens support funding public transportation, why did these propositions fail? This question of course is too broad and the conversation is multifaceted. Is the vote a “no” to the projects? The taxes? The method of distribution? Or is it a vote of “no” to the people the money would be allocated to? Current voting methods do not give any insight to the real reason for the outcome of the vote. Either way, all of these issues are not a direct cause or effect of poor infrastructure of public transportation. How then, do we go around these related, yet outside issues, and green light local improvements?