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Harris County Metro Transit Authority, Texas, Proposition A, Issuing Bonds for Transportation (November 2019)
| Proposition A: Harris County Metro Transit Authority Bond Issue |
|---|
|
| The basics |
| Election date: |
| November 5, 2019 |
| Status: |
 Approved
|
| Topic: |
| District bonds Tax: 75% of existing sales tax revenue Matures in: 40 years |
| Related articles |
| District bonds on the ballot November 5, 2019 ballot measures in Texas Harris County, Texas ballot measures Local transportation on the ballot |
| See also |
A bond authorization for transportation was on the ballot for Harris County Metro Transit Authority voters in Harris County, Texas, on November 5, 2019. It was approved.
| A yes vote was a vote in favor of authorizing the Harris County Metro Transit Authority to issue up to $3.5 billion in bonds to be repaid through sales tax revenue. |
| A no vote was a vote against authorizing the Harris County Metro Transit Authority to issue up to $3.5 billion in bonds to be repaid through sales tax revenue. |
Election results
|
Harris County Proposition A |
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|---|---|---|---|---|
| Result | Votes | Percentage | ||
|
|
222,863 | 67.86% | ||
| No | 105,576 | 32.14% | ||
Text of measure
Ballot question
The ballot question was as follows:[1]
| “ |
IN ORDER TO ENHANCE MOBILITY AND EASE TRAFFIC CONGESTION WITHIN METRO'S TERRITORY AND SERVICE AREA, WITH NO RESULTING INCREASE IN THE CURRENT RATE OF METRO'S SALES AND USE TAX, AUTHORIZATION OF METRO TO ISSUE BONDS, NOTES AND OTHER OBLIGATIONS PAYABLE, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, FROM 75% OF METRO'S SALES AND USE TAX REVENUES IN AN AGGREGATE PRINCIPAL AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $3,500,000,000, FOR METRO'S TRANSIT AUTHORITY SYSTEM, INCLUDING CREATION OF "METRORAPID" (A NEW BUS RAPID TRANSIT SYSTEM), IMPROVEMENTS TO METRO'S REGIONAL EXPRESS NETWORK OF TWO-WAY HIGH OCCUPANCY VEHICLE LANES AND DIAMOND LANES, CONSTRUCTION OF A PHASE III OF METRORAIL AND RELATED PARKING FACILITIES, IMPLEMENTATION OF BOOST & SIGNATURE SERVICE AND OTHER METRO BUS SERVICES, SYSTEM ENHANCEMENTS (INCLUDING ACCESSIBILITY TO BUS STOPS FOR SENIORS, THE DISABLED AND OTHERS) AND CONSTRUCTION OF NEW FACILITIES, KNOWN COLLECTIVELY AS THE METRONEXT PLAN (WHICH PLAN IS MORE PARTICULARLY DESCRIBED IN EXHIBIT A OF METRO RESOLUTION NO. 2019-71), APPROVAL OF SUCH PLAN AND THE CONSTRUCTION OF A PHASE III OF METRO'S RAIL SYSTEM FOR PURPOSES OF THE CITY CHARTER OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON, AND DEDICATION OF UP TO 25% OF METRO'S SALES AND USE TAX REVENUES THROUGH SEPTEMBER 30, 2040, TO STREET IMPROVEMENTS, MOBILITY PROJECTS AND OTHER FACILITIES AND SERVICES, AS AUTHORIZED BY LAW.[2] |
” |
Full text
The full text of the resolution calling for Proposition A to be put on the ballot is available here.
Support
If you are aware of any supporters or arguments that should be listed here, please e-mail them to editor@ballotpedia.org.
Arguments
- Mark Cover, chairman of the Greater Houston Partnership's transportation committee, said, "The ability of Houstonians to more efficiently move around our region is essential to our continued economic success — both for our businesses and our employees and their families."[3]
Opposition
If you are aware of any opponents or arguments that should be listed here, please e-mail them to editor@ballotpedia.org.
Arguments
- Anthony Dolcefino, city council candidate, said, "Metro has to explain why these expansions are needed when the last two rail line extensions have such low ridership."[3]
Background
Proposed projects
Metro Next, the official website for the future plans of Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County, listed the following projects as part of its Moving Forward Plan:[4]
- 110 miles of Regional Express Network, including two-way HOV Lanes;
- 21 new or improved transit centers;
- 16 miles of additional light rail, including an extension to Hobby Airport;
- 75 miles of additional bus service, including an extension to Bush Airport; and
- 290 miles of BOOST and Signature bus service, including handicap accessibility improvements.
Funding sources
The total cost for the proposed projects was estimated to cost approximately $7.5 billion. The following were listed as funding sources:[4]
- $3.5 billion in bonds proposed by Proposition A
- $3 billion in federal funds
- $500 million in local funds
Path to the ballot
The Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County Board voted on August 13, 2019, to put Proposition A on the ballot through the approval of Resolution 2019-71.[5]
See also
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External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Harris County Election Services, "Sample Ballot," accessed October 15, 2019
- ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Houston Chronicle, "Metro supporters have nine weeks to sell bond plan to voters," September 3, 2019
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Metro Next, "Moving Forward Plan," accessed October 30, 2019
- ↑ Harris County Metro, "Resolution 2019-71
