Thesis on Local Transportation Sales Taxes

Abstract

This research seeks to analyze the equity of a recent trend in transportation funding: voter-approved local transportation sales taxes (LTSTs) with a dedicated transit component. As transportation agencies struggle to find permanent and lucrative funding sources, the LTST has emerged as a politically expedient and publicly popular funding method, capable of great returns at a marginal increase. However, for the tax increases to be approved, transit agencies must tweak their priorities to convince voters, transit riders and car drivers alike, and the changes made can have long-term effects on equitable access to transportation. This research involves two case studies of recent large-scale transit development plans funded by LTSTs in two American cities that have had historically distinct responses to previous transit development efforts: Atlanta, Georgia, and Los Angeles, California. Through analysis of the measures, the routes and systems proposed, and the response from the public, the transportation agencies’ strategies are assessed, and recommendations are made for how LTST plans can be made more equitable.