The Voter Initiative as a Form of Citizen Participation in Swiss Transportation Policy

Abstract

With few exceptions (notably bond issues to finance capital expenditures for public transit), transportation questions almost never come before the electorate in the United States. Yet the potential for a significant form of broad-based, innovative citizen participation in transportation policy—namely, the voter initiative—exists in a substantial portion of the United States. Thirty-two states (plus Guam) currently have initiative provisions for local and/or state levels of government.¹ While specific provisions vary from state to state, in general signatures of anywhere from 3 to 5% of the electorate voting in the previous election (sometimes with geographic distribution requirements) can place most any matter on the ballot, which then becomes law if passed by the voters.