70% Voters Dissatified with State's Efforts to Reduce Congestion

Washington Policy Center Poll Shows Nearly 70% of Voters are Unhappy with the State’s Performance on Reducing Congestion
New Statewide Survey Reveals How Important Traffic Relief is to Washington Voters

by Michael Ennis,
Director, Center for Transportation
January 16, 2008

Washington Policy Center has released the results of a statewide poll that asked voters about the importance of traffic relief both in the Puget Sound region and across Washington State.

The poll revealed the following key findings:

Traffic Congestion

* 70% of voters statewide say traffic congestion is an “extremely” or “fairly” important issue for state government to address
* But only 25% rate the state’s efforts as “excellent” or “good,” while 69% rate those efforts “not so good” or “poor.”
* On a statewide basis, voters place a higher priority on reducing traffic congestion (51%) than funding other transportation needs (38%).

Proposition 1

* Of those who voted against Prop. 1 in November in the Puget Sound area, 44% said they would have voted for it if they had been convinced the measure would reduce traffic congestion.

Tolling Policy

* State law requires that gas tax revenues must be used for road and highway projects. 81% of voters think that toll revenues should also be used only for road and highway projects, not for general spending.
* 57% of voters said the government should charge tolls on new roadways only, not on existing roads.

The finding that nearly half of those who voted against Prop. 1 would have supported the measure if it reduced congestion demonstrates to policymakers the importance of mobility.

Traffic congestion is not only on the minds of voters in the Puget Sound but also among those who live in Eastern Washington. According to the poll, 56% of voters in Eastern Washington also think that reducing traffic congestion is important.

Overall, these results show that voters think congestion relief should be a higher priority all across Washington.

The full poll results can be found on our website.

Washington Policy Center Traffic Congestion Poll

WASHINGTON VOTERS (N=500 + 140 OVERSAMPLE IN KING/PIERCE/SNOHOMISH)
DECEMBER 1-2, 2007

As you may know, there was a measure on the ballot earlier this month called Proposition One, Regional Roads and Transit System, also known as the Roads and Transit Measure.

Did you vote for or against Proposition One?

IF DID NOT VOTE: Regardless of whether or not you were able to vote, were you for or against Proposition One?



King/Pierce/
Snohomish voters

for


30%

don't remember/wouldn't say/don't know


29%

against


41%


Would you have voted for or against Prop One if you were convinced that it would have reduced congestion?

for


44%

don't know


8%

against


48%


In 1996, Sound Transit said they would roll back Sound Move taxes, the first phase of Sound Transit, if a second phase extension was rejected by voters. Prop One included this second phase extension and voters rejected it. Do you think Sound Transit should continue with their current tax rates, or reduce tax rates as they promised?

continue with current tax rates


30%

don't know


20%

reduce tax rates


50%


When spending your transportation tax dollars, do you think state government’s first priority should be to reduce traffic congestion, or to fund other transportation needs? Do you feel strongly about that?



All voters

strongly reduce traffic congestion


28%

reduce traffic congestion


23%

Total reduce traffic congestion


51%

don't know


11%

Total fund other transportation needs


38%

fund other transportation needs


17%

strongly fund other transportation needs


21%


As you think about the government’s role in transportation, how important to you personally is reducing traffic congestion?

extremely important


32%

fairly important


38%

Total extremely/very important


70%

Total somewhat/not at all important


29%

only somewhat important


23%

not important at all


6%

don't know


1%


How would you rate state government’s performance on relieving traffic congestion?

excellent


1%

good


24%

Total excellent/good


25%

Total not so good/poor


69%

not so good


40%

poor


29%

don't know


5%


Would you vote for or against a major tax increase if you were convinced the plan would actually reduce traffic congestion in your area? IF FOR/AGAINST: Is that definitely for/against or probably for/against?

definitely for


22%

probably for


32%

Total for


54%

don't know


9%

Total against


37%

probably against


16%

definitely against


21%


Which one of the following tax increases, if any, would you be most likely to support if you were convinced the tax increase would actually reduce traffic congestion?

tolls


27%

gas tax


16%

automobile sales tax


16%

vehicle license fees


13%

sales tax


9%

none


12%

don't know


6%


As you may know, state law requires that gas tax revenues must be used for road and highway projects. Which one of the following uses of bridge and highway tolls do you prefer?



All voters

use tolls only for road and highway projects


81%

place toll revenues in the state's General Fund to be used
for anything approved by the legislature


13%

neither


2%

don't know


4%



If state government were to charge tolls, would you favor charges on existing roadways or on new roadways only?

existing roadways


32%

don't know


11%

new roads only


57%



Here are two views on state government’s role in transportation.

Mr. Smith believes state government should try to get people out of their cars and that we need to focus tax dollars on public transportation, not building more highways. He says trying to fix traffic congestion with road improvements will result in more people driving more cars, more damage to the environment and more congestion.

OR

Mr. Jones believes state government should focus on fixing traffic congestion chokepoints. Congestion relief will help commuters get to work, help businesses move their products and help the environment because shorter commutes mean less air pollution.

Do you agree more with Mr. Smith or Mr. Jones? WAIT AND ASK: Do you feel strongly about that?

strongly Mr. Smith/focus on public transportation


26%

Mr. Smith/focus on public transportation


13%

Total Mr. Smith


39%

don't know


13%

Total Mr. Jones


49%

Mr. Jones/focus on traffic relief


27%

strongly Mr. Jones/focus on traffic relief


22%


On another subject, in order to place more money into projects that relieve traffic congestion, would you support or oppose reduced spending in other areas of the state’s General Fund? IF SUPPORT/OPPOSE: Do you feel strongly about that?



All voters

strongly support


21%

support


25%

Total support


46%

don't know


17%

Total oppose


38%

oppose


22%

strongly oppose