Lessons Learned: A Conference on Transit Referenda and Why They Succeed or Fail

In the summer of 2001, the Mineta Transportation Institute co-sponsored, with the American Public Transportation Association, Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority, and the Center for Transportation Excellence, a two-day symposium on July 29 through July 31, entitled “Lessons Learned: A Conference on Transit Referenda and Why They Succeed or Fail.” The purpose of the conference was to discuss the history of successful and unsuccessful transportation measures that have existed in various cities across the United States . Participants represented members from transportation agencies nationwide. Each table was presented with issues to discuss and present to the conference. Short presentations were made by various authorities in the transportation and political arenas. The conference included several question and answer sessions. The moderators were Pete Cipolla and Jeff Hanan This publication, a transcript and summary of conference is a next step in the information transfer effort.

This year, the Mineta Transportation Institute joined the American Public Transportation Association, as well as authorities in transportation to join in a conference on July 29 through July 31, 2001, entitled Lessons Learned: A Conference on Transit Referenda and Why They Succeed or Fail. The purpose of the conference was to discuss the history of successful and unsuccessful transportation measures that have existed in various cities across the United States . Participants represented members from transportation agencies nationwide. Each table was presented with issues to discuss and present to the conference. Short presentations were made by various authorities in the transportation and political arenas. The conference included several question and answer sessions. The moderators were Pete Cipolla and Rod Diridon. This publication, a transcript and summary of the July conference is a next step in the information transfer effort.

This conference brought together a nationwide representation of transportation authorities as follows:

• Dr. Peter Haas, Professor, Political Science and Transportation Management, San José State University

• Dr. Richard Werbel, Professor, Polictical Science and Transportation Management, San José State University

• Bill Lind, Director of the Center of Cultural Conservatism at the Free Congress Foundation, Washington D.C.

• Pete Cipolla, General Manager, Valley Transportation Authority

• Gary Richards, Columnist, “Mr. Roadshow,” San Jose Mercury News

• Max Besler, Campaign consultant, Townsend Raimundo, Besler and Usher

• Carl Guardino, President and CEO, Silicon Valley Manufacturing Group

• Jude Barry, CEO, Catapult Strategies and former Chief of Staff for San Jose Mayor Ron Gonzales

There were over 100 conference participants from various transportation agencies across the country.