Railways ballot measures

Voters have decided on railways ballot measures across the U.S. As a state ballot measure topic, this includes measures regarding funding, infrastructure, and policies related to railways and trains. The topic is grouped within the infrastructure policy area.

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Upcoming ballot measures

See also: 2026 ballot measures and 2027 ballot measures

The following is a list of state ballot measures related to this topic that are certified or potential for this year and future elections:

2026

1. Colorado Increase Transportation Funds for Road Transportation and Decrease Funds for Other Forms of Transportation Amendment (2026) - Potential

List of state ballot measures

Click the tabs to view state ballot measures related to this topic, organized by year or state.

Years

States

2026

1. Colorado Increase Transportation Funds for Road Transportation and Decrease Funds for Other Forms of Transportation Amendment (2026) - Potential

2018

1. Florida Amendment 11, Repeal Prohibition on Aliens' Property Ownership, Delete Obsolete Provision on High-Speed Rail, and Repeal of Criminal Statutes' Effect on Prosecution Amendment (2018)

2010

1. Maine Question 3, Transportation Infrastructure and Job Creation Bond Measure (June 2010)

2004

1. Florida Amendment 6, Repeal of the High Speed Ground Transportation System Initiative (2004)

2003

1. Maine Question 6, Bond Issue for Transportation Improvements Measure (2003)

2002

1. Washington Referendum 51, Transportation Improvements Measure (2002)

2001

1. Maine Question 3, Bond Issue to Fund the Department of Transportation Measure (2001)

2000

1. Florida Amendment 1, Monorail System Initiative (2000)

1999

1. Maine Question 3, Bond Issue to Fund Transportation Infrastructure Measure (1999)

1990

1. Alaska Measure 1, Laws Governing Railroad Operations Initiative (August 1990)
2. Maine Question 2, Bond Issue to Fund Railway Acquisition Measure (1990)

1985

1. Maine Question 5, Bond Issue to Fund Rail Line Acquisition Measure (1985)

1982

1. Minnesota Amendment 4, State Bonding Authority for Railroad Facilities Amendment (1982)

1979

1. Maine Question 2, Public Fish Piers, Airports and Transportation Improvements Bond Measure (1979)

1978

1. Michigan Proposal R, Railroad Redevelopment Authority Amendment (1978)

1977

1. Washington HJR 57, Shared Earnings for Common Carriers Amendment (1977)

1974

1. Minnesota Amendment 3, Allowing the Legislature to Determine the Rate and Method of Railroad Taxes Amendment (1974)
2. New York Proposition 1, Railway Transportation Bond Measure (1974)

1966

1. Washington Initiative 233, Repeal of Freight Train Crew Law Measure (1966)

1964

1. California Proposition 17, Railroad Labor Initiative (1964)
2. North Dakota Daily Passenger-Freight Train Requirements, Initiative 5 (1964)
3. North Dakota Five-Man Train Crew, Initiative 4 (1964)
4. North Dakota Repeal Required Crew on Freight Trains, Initiative 3 (1964)

1962

1. Nebraska Amendment 2, State Railway Commission Amendment (1962)

1961

1. New York Amendment 3, Purchase of Railroad Commuter Cars Amendment (1961)

1948

1. California Proposition 3, Number of Brakemen on Trains Initiative (1948)

1941

1. New York Amendment 1, Use of Railroad Bonds for Highways and Parkways Amendment (1941)

1938

1. New York Amendment 3, Railroad Grade Crossings Amendment (1938)

1934

1. South Dakota Referred Law 1, Abolish Railroad Commission Referendum (1934)

1932

1. Minnesota Amendment 1, Taxation of Railroad Companies and Banking Associations Amendment (1932)

1930

1. Georgia Amendment 11, City of Lakeland Railway Measure (1930)

1927

1. New York Amendment 2, City Debt Limit Amendment (1927)
2. New York Amendment 3, Elimination of Railroad Grade Crossings Amendment (1927)

1925

1. New York Amendment 2, Bond Issue for Elimination of Railroad Grade Crossings Amendment (1925)

1924

1. Missouri Amendment 16, Corporate Stock Regulation Measure (February 1924)

1922

1. California Proposition 30, Railroad Franchises Initiative (1922)

1920

1. South Dakota Amendment C, Municipal Debt for Street Railways and Lighting Measure (1920)

1917

1. Michigan State Control of Railroad Property Amendment (April 1917)

1914

1. California Proposition 31, Public Utilities Property Valuation Amendment (1914)
2. Missouri Amendment 5, Increase Debt Limit for Subway Construction Measure (1914)
3. Missouri Proposition 9, Minimum Train Crew Size Requirement Referendum (1914)

1912

1. Arizona Measure Nos. 304-305, Train Employee Regulations Referendum (1912)
2. Arizona Measure Nos. 306-307, Train Headline Regulations Referendum (1912)
3. Arizona Measure Nos. 308-309, Train Engineer and Conductor Regulations Referendum (1912)
4. Arizona Measure Nos. 310-311, Train Car Limits Referendum (1912)
5. Arizona Measure Nos. 312-313, Passenger Train Rates Referendum (1912)
6. South Dakota Measure 2, Headlights on Locomotives Required Referendum (1912)

1911

1. California Proposition 12, Railroad Commission Control and Regulation of Services Amendment (October 1911)
2. California Proposition 16, Railroad Commission Amendment (October 1911)
3. California Proposition 19, Free or Reduced Price Railroad Tickets for Government Officials Amendment (October 1911)
4. California Proposition 23, Railroad Rate Increase Procedures Amendment (October 1911)
5. California Proposition 5, Railroad Eminent Domain Amendment (October 1911)

1910

1. South Dakota Headlights on Locomotives Required Referendum (1910)

1908

1. Missouri Amendment 8, Indebtedness for Subway Construction Measure (1908)

1906

1. Nebraska Amendment 1, Establish Board of Railway Commissioners Measure (1906)

1880

1. Michigan Aid for a Railroad Bridge or Tunnel Amendment (1880)

1872

1. Minnesota Amendment 3, Restrict Issuance of Railroad Bonds Measure (1872)

1871

1. Minnesota Amendment 1, Requiring Popular Approval of Railroad Tax Measure (1871)

1860

1. Minnesota Amendment 1, Repeal Authority for Railroad Bonds and Authorize State Taxes Measure (1860)

1858

1. Minnesota Amendment 1, Authorizing Railroad Bonds Measure (April 1858)

Alaska

1. Alaska Measure 1, Laws Governing Railroad Operations Initiative (August 1990)

Arizona

1. Arizona Measure Nos. 304-305, Train Employee Regulations Referendum (1912)
2. Arizona Measure Nos. 306-307, Train Headline Regulations Referendum (1912)
3. Arizona Measure Nos. 308-309, Train Engineer and Conductor Regulations Referendum (1912)
4. Arizona Measure Nos. 310-311, Train Car Limits Referendum (1912)
5. Arizona Measure Nos. 312-313, Passenger Train Rates Referendum (1912)

California

1. California Proposition 12, Railroad Commission Control and Regulation of Services Amendment (October 1911)
2. California Proposition 16, Railroad Commission Amendment (October 1911)
3. California Proposition 17, Railroad Labor Initiative (1964)
4. California Proposition 19, Free or Reduced Price Railroad Tickets for Government Officials Amendment (October 1911)
5. California Proposition 23, Railroad Rate Increase Procedures Amendment (October 1911)
6. California Proposition 3, Number of Brakemen on Trains Initiative (1948)
7. California Proposition 30, Railroad Franchises Initiative (1922)
8. California Proposition 31, Public Utilities Property Valuation Amendment (1914)
9. California Proposition 5, Railroad Eminent Domain Amendment (October 1911)

Colorado

1. Colorado Increase Transportation Funds for Road Transportation and Decrease Funds for Other Forms of Transportation Amendment (2026) - Potential

Florida

1. Florida Amendment 1, Monorail System Initiative (2000)
2. Florida Amendment 11, Repeal Prohibition on Aliens' Property Ownership, Delete Obsolete Provision on High-Speed Rail, and Repeal of Criminal Statutes' Effect on Prosecution Amendment (2018)
3. Florida Amendment 6, Repeal of the High Speed Ground Transportation System Initiative (2004)

Georgia

1. Georgia Amendment 11, City of Lakeland Railway Measure (1930)

Maine

1. Maine Question 2, Bond Issue to Fund Railway Acquisition Measure (1990)
2. Maine Question 2, Public Fish Piers, Airports and Transportation Improvements Bond Measure (1979)
3. Maine Question 3, Bond Issue to Fund Transportation Infrastructure Measure (1999)
4. Maine Question 3, Bond Issue to Fund the Department of Transportation Measure (2001)
5. Maine Question 3, Transportation Infrastructure and Job Creation Bond Measure (June 2010)
6. Maine Question 5, Bond Issue to Fund Rail Line Acquisition Measure (1985)
7. Maine Question 6, Bond Issue for Transportation Improvements Measure (2003)

Michigan

1. Michigan Aid for a Railroad Bridge or Tunnel Amendment (1880)
2. Michigan Proposal R, Railroad Redevelopment Authority Amendment (1978)
3. Michigan State Control of Railroad Property Amendment (April 1917)

Minnesota

1. Minnesota Amendment 1, Authorizing Railroad Bonds Measure (April 1858)
2. Minnesota Amendment 1, Repeal Authority for Railroad Bonds and Authorize State Taxes Measure (1860)
3. Minnesota Amendment 1, Requiring Popular Approval of Railroad Tax Measure (1871)
4. Minnesota Amendment 1, Taxation of Railroad Companies and Banking Associations Amendment (1932)
5. Minnesota Amendment 3, Allowing the Legislature to Determine the Rate and Method of Railroad Taxes Amendment (1974)
6. Minnesota Amendment 3, Restrict Issuance of Railroad Bonds Measure (1872)
7. Minnesota Amendment 4, State Bonding Authority for Railroad Facilities Amendment (1982)

Missouri

1. Missouri Amendment 16, Corporate Stock Regulation Measure (February 1924)
2. Missouri Amendment 5, Increase Debt Limit for Subway Construction Measure (1914)
3. Missouri Amendment 8, Indebtedness for Subway Construction Measure (1908)
4. Missouri Proposition 9, Minimum Train Crew Size Requirement Referendum (1914)

Nebraska

1. Nebraska Amendment 1, Establish Board of Railway Commissioners Measure (1906)
2. Nebraska Amendment 2, State Railway Commission Amendment (1962)

New York

1. New York Amendment 1, Use of Railroad Bonds for Highways and Parkways Amendment (1941)
2. New York Amendment 2, Bond Issue for Elimination of Railroad Grade Crossings Amendment (1925)
3. New York Amendment 2, City Debt Limit Amendment (1927)
4. New York Amendment 3, Elimination of Railroad Grade Crossings Amendment (1927)
5. New York Amendment 3, Purchase of Railroad Commuter Cars Amendment (1961)
6. New York Amendment 3, Railroad Grade Crossings Amendment (1938)
7. New York Proposition 1, Railway Transportation Bond Measure (1974)

North Dakota

1. North Dakota Daily Passenger-Freight Train Requirements, Initiative 5 (1964)
2. North Dakota Five-Man Train Crew, Initiative 4 (1964)
3. North Dakota Repeal Required Crew on Freight Trains, Initiative 3 (1964)

South Dakota

1. South Dakota Amendment C, Municipal Debt for Street Railways and Lighting Measure (1920)
2. South Dakota Headlights on Locomotives Required Referendum (1910)
3. South Dakota Measure 2, Headlights on Locomotives Required Referendum (1912)
4. South Dakota Referred Law 1, Abolish Railroad Commission Referendum (1934)

Washington

1. Washington HJR 57, Shared Earnings for Common Carriers Amendment (1977)
2. Washington Initiative 233, Repeal of Freight Train Crew Law Measure (1966)
3. Washington Referendum 51, Transportation Improvements Measure (2002)

See also

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Footnotes

State ballot measures

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