Voters in Several States Approve Highway Bond Measures

oters in several states Tuesday approved more than $5 billion of bonds for transportation projects and economic development, Bloomberg reported.

And in New Jersey, voters approved a measure to change the state’s constitution to allow some revenue from taxes levied on businesses to be used to put soot-reducing filters on publicly owned or operated diesel trucks and buses, the Associated Press reported.

New York voters passed a $2.9 billion bond measure to fund subway and rail improvements in New York City and highway and bridge projects upstate, while Ohio voters authorized $2 billion of debt for road construction and investments to foster business development, Bloomberg reported.

The state plans to spend half of the $2.9 billion of bond proceeds in New York City, including a new subway line, a Long Island Rail Road extension to Grand Central Terminal and new buses and subway cars. The other half would be spent on road and bridge projects across the state.

Ohio's proposal passed with 54% of the vote, with 79% of precincts reporting. About $1.35 billion of the Ohio bond proceeds are to be used for roads and other infrastructure projects such as water and sewer systems, Bloomberg reported.

In Texas, voters approved the creation of a rail relocation and improvement fund, which authorizes grants to relocate train tracks from heavily populated areas, such as San antonio where a toxic waste spill last year killed three people and injured 50, the San Antonio Express-News reported.

The fund would also provide financing for the expansion of rail facilities in the state.