Turns out Lawrence voters aren’t alone in supporting increased spending for transit and other transportation-related initiatives.

In communities from Hawaii to Virginia, nearly three out of four ballot efforts to boost taxes for transportation-related projects or services won approval this month.

That’s more than $71 billion in spending endorsed by the very people who will be paying the bills.

“When voters are given an opportunity to approve a tax increase on something that they think is an important community service or project, in many cases they will approve it — both here and nationwide,” said David Corliss, Lawrence city manager. “This shows we were not alone.”

Lawrence voters approved all three transportation-related initiatives proposed by Lawrence city commissioners:

• A 0.3 percent sales tax to pay for rebuilding and maintaining major streets, along with buying fire trucks, upgrading a rails-to-trails recreational path and building a pump station in North Lawrence. The tax passed with 73 percent of the vote.

• A 0.2 percent sales tax to maintain operations of the T, the city’s public-transportation service that includes fixed-route buses and by-appointment, door-to-door service for riders who are elderly or have disabilities. The tax passed with 70 percent of the vote.

• A 0.05 percent sales tax to help enhance transit services, with potential for merging the city’s T system with the established bus system used by Kansas University students. The tax passed with 69 percent of the vote.

All three initiatives won approval in each and every voting precinct in Lawrence, a prospect considered a long shot leading into Election Day. But now, after looking at results from similar efforts in other communities nationwide, Lawrence officials can see that their plans fit in with what could be a national movement.

“You don’t want to be complacent about it,” Corliss said. “You want to encourage people to see the merits of the proposal. We were very heartened by the results.”

At least nine other transportation-related initiatives proposed to be powered by sales taxes were taken to voters elsewhere, and seven of them passed. Only one — extending a 2 percent sales tax for 30 years in Santa Barbara, Calif. — carried more support than those in Lawrence; the Santa Barbara question, expected to generate more than $1 billion in revenue, won with 78 percent of the vote.

Similar support has been evident in previous election cycles, as state and local governments continue to search for ways to cover the gap between federal spending programs and project and program expenses, said Jeff Solsby, of the American Road & Transportation Builders Association.

The federal government finances about 45 percent of all highway spending nationwide, he said, and revenue sources — such as taxes on gasoline and diesel fuel — have been unable to keep pace with needs.

Voters often jump at the opportunity to do something about making up the difference, Solsby said.

“The issue is widely supported,” he said. “And the political reality shows that when voters are given a clear choice between investing in transportation, when that investment is directly to a benefit that they receive, they’re supportive of it.

“Transportation is a winning issue with voters.”