What does it take for voters to support higher taxes in exchange for better transit? In this episode, we hear from leaders in Columbus, Ohio, and Nashville, Tennessee, about the years-long process of putting transit-related measures on the ballot, and how those projects are now coming to fruition.
Americans want better transit, and they’re making it known at the ballot box. Across the country, voters are approving policies that fund new infrastructure and reinforce existing transit services. In 2024 alone, 51 ballot measures passed nationwide, collectively securing over $25 billion in transit funding.
In today’s episode, we head to the boomtown of Columbus, Ohio to see how City Council President Shannon Hardin and COTA CEO Monica Tellez-Fowler collaborated on a years-long effort to design a transit initiative that truly resonated with voters.
We also head to Nashville, Tennessee to speak with Sabrina Sussman about how lessons learned from a failed past campaign informed a successful transit campaign in 2024. Finally, we explore how both cities are putting these funds to work—from launching new rapid bus lines to laying down hundreds of miles of new sidewalks.
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