Poll: Voters support action to improve the transportation system in Massachusetts including several revenue options.
Majorities of voters see roads and public transit in fair or poor condition, and support action to upgrade the system. Support for revenue options varies, with majorities in favor of several options and opinion split on others.
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For the second time this decade, lawmakers on Beacon Hill are debating transportation in the Commonwealth: how to deal with growing traffic congestion and aging roads, bridges, and public transportation, and how to pay for it. As they do so, a new poll shows they don't need to do much to convince voters of the need for action or of the need for new funds. The poll was conducted by The MassINC Polling Group (MPG) and sponsored by The Barr Foundation.
Statewide, 71% of voters think "action is urgently needed to improve the state's transportation system". Only 17% think the transportation system is working well as is. Just 30% think roads and public transportation are in "excellent" or "good" condition (Figure 1). And equal number say both are in "poor" condition. For transit, this represent a 15-point increase over an MPG poll released earlier this year.
"We've seen in many other recent polls that residents are reaching the breaking point," says MPG President Steve Koczela. "This poll explores how they are thinking about solutions and what their priorities are moving forward."
Three-quarters (77%) of voters support new revenues to invest in transportation, but support for specific policies varies widely (Figure 2). Most popular was collecting contributions from real estate projects near transportation infrastructure (73%). The Transportation and Climate Initiative, a multi-state plan to set a price on pollution from gasoline and diesel fuel, was also widely favored (62%).
Voters are more split on raising the gas tax to spend on statewide transportation needs. About half (49%) would support a 15-cent increase spread out in three 5-cent steps, while 47% say they are opposed. Support is lower (43%) and opposition higher (52%) for a single 15-cent increase. Still, this level of support is higher than other poll numbers recently cited in media reports.
The poll also explored a number of tolling policies which have been proposed to manage traffic and raise new money for transportation. A majority (55%) support converting highways to tolled lanes, so that drivers who wish to pay can have a less-congested ride. But even more popular (73%) is the idea of discounting off-peak tolls, to encourage travel at less busy times of day. Adding new tolls to highways that do not have them and raising tolls during rush hour are less popular.
When asked to rank key priorities, voters put traffic congestion and increased investment at the top by a considerable margin. While many polls and focus groups have found voters concerned about the management of the transportation system and projects, the ranking asked here shows it is a less important priority than dealing with the immediate issues facing the system.
About the Poll
These results are based on a survey of 600 Massachusetts registered voters. Responses were collected via online survey interviewing November 6-7, 2019. Final survey data was weighted to known and estimated population parameters for the state's registered voters by age, gender, race, education, geography, and party. This project was sponsored by The Barr Foundation.
About The MassINC Polling Group
The MassINC Polling Group is a nonpartisan public opinion research firm serving public, private, and social-sector clients. MPG elevates the public's voice with cutting edge methods and rigorous analysis. Based in Boston, MPG serves a nationwide client base.