Route to Transit Ballot Success: Paths to the Ballot

Join the American Public Transportation Association’s Center for Transportation Excellence (CFTE) for an engaging webinar on Wednesday, March 25 at 2:00 p.m. ET (11:00 a.m. PT, 1:00 p.m. CT). This session will explore the different pathways transit measures can take to reach the ballot—and what each approach means for timing, cost, risk, and political strategy.

Moderated by Art Guzzetti, APTA’s Vice President of Policy, the discussion will feature insights from leading practitioners who have successfully navigated these processes in multiple regions.

Jessica Grennan, Executive Director of the Center for Transportation Excellence, will share national perspectives on ballot access strategies and draw on her experience supporting successful citizen-led transit initiatives across the country.

Maggie Muir of KMM Strategies is the lead campaign consultant for Connect Bay Area, which is currently gathering signatures to qualify a measure for the November 2026 ballot that would generate roughly $1 billion annually to prevent major service cuts and improve transit service across the region.

Kirk Hovenkotter, Executive Director of the Transportation Choices Coalition, brings experience from several successful transit ballot efforts, including the Seattle Transportation Levy (which reached the ballot through referral), Yes on Ellensburg Transit (which reached the ballot through the city council), and the upcoming Pierce Transit campaign.

Together, they will walk through the practical realities of getting transit initiatives on the ballot—from signature gathering and referrals to coalition-building and campaign planning. The session will conclude with a live Q&A, giving attendees the chance to ask questions and learn directly from experts working in the field.

Don’t miss this opportunity to gain practical insights, compare approaches, and better understand the routes that can lead to transit ballot success.