6 May 2000: Voters in Bexar County, Texas (San Antonio) overwhelmingly rejected a plan by VIA Metropolitan Transit to build 54 miles of light rail. The 70% to 30% loss was the worst transit tax referendum in the nation loss in at leat 15 years and may have been the worst in US transit history.
The final tally was 53,230 "no" and 22,827 "yes." The "yes" vote total was considerably less than the projected daily ridership on the system (52,000).
According to campaign reports, proponents spent nearly $250,000 as of 26 April, more than $10.00 per "yes" vote.
Opponents of the one-half cent tax increase proposal noted that planning documents did not project perceivable traffic impacts, capital costs were considerably underestimated and the VIA planning process was seriously flawed. The opposition was assisted by Tom Rubin, John Charles and Wendell Cox
