Tactics and Strategies for Organizing a Successful Ballot Measure Campaign Center for Transportation Excellence Conference Dec. 9, 2003 Kelly Nordini Transit Alliance

Transit Alliance 4 Founded in Coalition of 39 groups 4 Local governments 4 Business organizations 4 Community groups

Transit Alliance 4 Our purpose is to contribute to the economic vitality, the quality of life, and the environment of the Denver Metropolitan region by promoting public transit as part of a balanced, multi-modal transportation network.

1997 Guide the Ride Campaign 4 Lost 44 to 56% 4 4/10 cent sales tax increase for RTD, decreasing to 2/10 after system built 4 Regional network of 100 miles of rapid transit 4 Circulator buses, suburban bus service 4 $2.1 Billion capital, $3.5 Billion total through 2015

1997 Guide the Ride Campaign 4 Pro –Coalition of over 100 groups, Denver Post –Raised $650,000 4 Anti –RTD Board Member Jon Caldara –“Clear the Air” -- RTD Chair Ben Klein –Rocky Mtn News, State Treasurer Bill Owens, several counties –Raised $50,000

1997 Campaign Post-Mortem 4 Campaign failed because: –Divided agency (i.e. 8-7 vote, board member led opposition) –Unfinished plan (i.e. didn’t know what going to Boulder) –Package too big –No “real” proven successful LRT project (“starter” line only)

1997 Campaign Post-Mortem 4 Traffic problem not going away 4 Voters did not reject light rail 4 Pursue an incremental approach 4 Keep the coalition together

Activities Pro-transit RTD board elected Transit Alliance formed 4 Corridor planning process continues

1999 Metro Moves Campaign 4 RTD - Wins by 66% –No new taxes –Allowed bonding for SE light rail –Allowed RTD to keep “excess” revenue for SE through 2026 –Provided 40% local match for federal grant 4 TRANS –No new taxes –Bonding for 28 priority projects, including SE Corridor

1999 Metro Moves Campaign 4 Pro –Broad coalition including Gov. Owens, Rocky Mtn News –Raised nearly $1 Million (light rail), $1.2 Million (TRANS) 4 Anti –Jon Caldera, RTD Director Dick Sargent, Doug Bruce –Negligible funding

2004 Campaign Years Before –Form a transit advocacy group/build coalition continued to expand Transit Alliance, added 9 new members formed Transit Alliance Action Fund, raised $70K for lobbying effort, built coalition of 45 groups –Do the transit planning RTD released 1st draft of FasTracks plan 2001 continued corridor planning process –Reform/Build agency/transit image

2004 Campaign Years Before continued... –Demonstrate transit success RTD opened 2 more LRT lines on-time and on- budget, exceeding ridership projections –Demonstrate traffic crisis Denver 3rd most congested city in the country –Voter research to identify key messages/issues and test package elements Alliance raised $30K for poll Showed 78% support for tax increase for transit

2004 Campaign Years Before continued… –Public education Alliance reached over 25,000 people in last 2 years through presentations, booth at summer events 21,000 postcards in support of transit, 300 new potential volunteers identified Held training workshops for more than 170 activists Mail newsletter 3/year to over 3,500 community leaders and volunteers Website receives 2,000 visits monthly Host leadership forums on key transit issues

2004 Campaign Years –Begin finalizing the transit plan RTD sent FasTracks plan to MPO for review, Nov. ‘03 –Establish exploratory/campaign committee Alliance facilitated convening Citizens for FasTracks Success, began meeting May ‘03 –Voter research to assess viability, issues, messages –Engage stakeholders, continue coalition building –Continue public education

Factors for Success 4 Public concern about traffic 4 Successful projects & agency 4 Organized, broad-based (electeds, business, environmental) political support 4 Well-funded, well-organized campaign 4 Messages that resonate