Voters Believe America is Facing 'Transportation Capacity Crisis,' According to New National Poll 7/16/2002
From: Joe Manero, 202-289-4434, E-mail: jmanero@artba.org Matt Jeanneret, 202-289-4434, E-mail: mjeanneret@artba.org both of the American Road & Transportation Builders Association Web site: http://www.artbanews.org/ WASHINGTON, July 16 -- Nearly 70 percent of Americans agree the nation is experiencing a transportation capacity crisis with roads, airports and mass transit systems that are overcrowded and struggling to handle a growing population and economy, according to a new survey conducted by New York-based Zogby International. To address highway and mass transit needs, the survey also found that 67 percent of Americans-with almost equal support from Democrats and Republicans-would support an annual two-cents-per-gallon increase in the federal gas tax if the money it generated was used exclusively for transportation improvements. Other key survey findings: -- More than three-fourths (78 percent) of voters believe that investment in highways, bridges and mass transit should be considered an important element in homeland security and national defense. -- Nearly two-thirds (60 percent) of voters agree that highway and mass transit improvements should be a higher federal government priority. "The survey results clearly show that the American people are concerned about transportation problems, and dealing with them will require political will," American Road & Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA) President & CEO Pete Ruane said. The ARTBA-commissioned survey was conducted July 9-12 of 1,025 registered voters nationwide. The margin of sampling error is 3.2 percent. "With the U.S. population projected to increase by 60 million people and highway travel by more than 40 percent over the next 20 years, there are a number of things Congress should be considering now to address the nation's transportation challenges," Ruane said. "Number one is significantly increasing highway and mass transit capital investment. No revenue raising option should be taken off the table-including the gas tax." Congress should also support new ways to add highway capacity and increase motorist safety, Ruane said. "Toll financed truck-only lanes should be considered for existing Interstate highway right-of-way, where appropriate. Double decking and tunneling in some urban areas-while expensive-should also be seriously considered. Other solutions include improved handling of traffic incidents to clear roadways quickly, increased use of synchronized traffic signalization and 'smart road' technologies to increase traffic flow." Zogby International is an independent, non-partisan polling, market research and information services company. (www.zogby.com) Celebrating its 100th Anniversary in 2002, ARTBA provides exclusive representation for the U.S. transportation construction industry in the Nation's Capital. The association has played a leadership role in the development and passage of every major piece of federal transportation legislation enacted by Congress over the past century. The transportation construction industry the award-winning ARTBA represents generates $200 billion in U.S. economic activity annually and sustains the employment of 2.5 million Americans. ------ Editor's Note: Complete survey results and cross-tabs can be found on ARTBA's Web site at www.artba.org. |