By Brenna Goth and Dustin Gardiner | The Arizona Republic
Phoenix voters approved a major boost in transportation funding for new light rail lines, bus expansion and street improvements over the next several decades in Tuesday’s election.
Unofficial returns for Proposition 104 show 55 percent of voters supporting the initiative with 45 percent voting against it.
The city’s 0.4 percent sales tax for transit will increase to 0.7 percent for transportation, beginning Jan. 1 and lasting 35 years. The sales tax is the foundation of a $31.5 billion plan that will be funded by a variety of sources including federal grants and fares.
Phoenix Mayor Greg Stanton re-elected for second term
Phoenix Mayor Greg Stanton won re-election in a landslide Tuesday, vowing to continue his work to reshape the city through light-rail expansion and redevelopment projects in the once-sleepy urban core.
Stanton beamed as he spoke to hundreds of supporters gathered at Desoto Central Market, a historic red-brick eatery in the downtown arts district.
The crowd of political activists and operatives stirred as unofficial results showed he easily beat two lesser-known challengers with more than 65 percent of the vote.
