Transportation 2035

MTC Transportation 2035 Poll

As part of the outreach process for the Transportation 2035 Plan, MTC conducted a statistically valid telephone poll (margin of error: +/- 2.3%), asking 1,800 Bay Area residents questions about important transportation investments and strategies. The poll was in the field from September 27 to October 22, 2007 and was offered in English, Spanish and Cantonese. The results of the survey are displayed below.

Topline Results: October 2007
(n=1,800 residents)
Margin of Error = +/- 2.3%
Traditional rounding rules applied; percentages may not add to exactly 100 percent

SECTION 1 – Big Picture Priorities

1. To begin, I’d like to ask about a number of issues facing residents of the Bay Area. For each issue, please tell me if it is extremely important, very important, somewhat important or not at all important to you personally.

	Extremely Important	Very Important	Somewhat Important	Not at all Important	No Opinion
A. Maintaining the public transit systems	28%	49%	19%	4%	0%
B. Maintaining bridges and highways in the Bay Area	32%	52%	15%	2%	0%
C. Maintaining local streets and roads	23%	57%	19%	1%	0%
D. Preserving open space and natural habitats	30%	45%	21%	3%	2%
E. Protecting San Francisco Bay	32%	49%	16%	2%	1%
F. Protecting air quality	39%	48%	11%	1%	0%
G. Providing adequate housing	23%	42%	25%	7%	3%
H. Limiting greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to global warming	34%	40%	17%	7%	2%

 

2. Next, I’d like to ask about different transportation priorities for the Bay Area. For each of the following goals for the region, please tell me if it is extremely important, very important, somewhat important or not at all important to the transportation future of the Bay Area.

	Extremely Important	Very Important	Somewhat Important	Not at all Important	No Opinion
A. Reduce the amount of driving	23%	42%	27%	7%	1%
B. Reduce greenhouse gas emissions	34%	41%	17%	7%	2%
C. Reduce dirty exhaust from cars and trucks	39%	43%	14%	3%	0%
D. Reduce the amount of congestion on our highways	32%	46%	18%	3%	1%
E. Reduce the housing costs for working families	30%	40%	22%	7%	1%
F. Reduce transportation costs for working families	24%	42%	26%	7%	1%

 

SECTION 2 – Environment & Global Warming

Next, I would like to ask you about the environment in general.

3. Do you think the condition of the environment will be better, worse, or about the same 20 years from today?

19% — Better
58% — Worse
20% — About the same
3% — DK/NA

Now, I want to ask you about global warming. Just so we agree on these terms, global warming is a term used to describe changes in the environment caused by the buildup of greenhouse gases released into the air. In the Bay Area, roughly fifty percent of greenhouse gases come from transportation sources, mostly cars and trucks.

4. How important is global warming when considering how we plan for transportation and land use in the Bay Area?

65% — Extremely important, should be one of the highest priorities
28% — Somewhat important, an important consideration but not the highest priority
7% — Not important, does not need to be considered in future planning
1% — DK/NA

SECTION 3 – Willingness to Pay to Combat Global Warming

5. Would you be willing to pay _________ more for a gallon of gasoline if it would be used to limit or reduce global warming?

5a = 25 cents
5b = 50 cents
5c = One dollar

[START WITH THE SMALLEST AMOUNT AND KEEP GOING HIGHER UNTIL THE RESPONDENT SAYS NO AND SKIP TO Q6 MARK NO FOR ALL HIGHER AMOUNTS]

	25 cents	50 cents	1 dollar
1. Yes	46%	28%	17%
2. Possibly	23%	21%	15%
3. No	30%	49%	65%
4. (DO NOT READ) DK/NA	2%	2%	3%

 

6. Next I’d like to ask you about specific programs to limit or reduce greenhouse gas emissions that could be funded by an increase in the cost of the price of gasoline.

Here’s the (first/next) one: ____________. (READ ITEM AND ASK:) Would you support an increase in the cost of gasoline if you knew it would fund this program, yes, possibly, or no?

	Yes	Possibly	No	DK/NA
A. Providing reduced fares on public transit for all customers	56%	21%	23%	1%
B. Providing more bus, rail, and ferry service	62%	18%	19%	1%
C. Building more sidewalks and bicycle lanes	47%	22%	31%	0%
D. Replacing older inefficient vehicles with new cleaner cars and trucks	52%	22%	25%	1%
E. Increasing enforcement of speed limits	36%	21%	42%	1%
F. Providing incentives for people to carpool	57%	19%	23%	1%
G. Supporting communities that provide more housing near work and shopping locations	49%	24%	26%	1%
H. Providing incentives to freight operators to use rail and barges instead of large trucks to move goods	52%	24%	22%	2%
I. Conducting research into alternative fuels and cleaner engines	63%	18%	18%	1%

 

SECTION 4 – Prioritizing Transportation Investments

Next I would like to get your opinion on what should be some of the regional planning priorities for the Bay Area.

7. Which of the following strategies should be a higher priority?

• Making investments to maintain the existing system of roads, and the existing bus, rail, and ferry service in the region(A), or
• Making investments to build new roads and add more bus, rail and ferry services in the region (B)

49% — Option A
44% — Option B
2% — None of them
5% — DK/NA

8. Now I want to ask you about a different set of strategies for developing transportation priorities in the Bay Area. Which of the following strategies do you think should be the higher investment priority for transportation development.

Here’s the (first/next) one: ____________. (READ ITEM AND ASK:) Is this a high priority, a medium priority or a low priority?

	High	Medium	Low	DK/NA
A. Improve freeway performance using new technology	38%	40%	15%	7%
B. Extend rail lines throughout the Bay Area and improve connections to neighboring regions	65%	27%	7%	0%
C. Increase the number of freeway carpool lanes for carpoolers and bus riders	26%	42%	31%	1%
D. Allow solo drivers the opportunity to use carpool lanes if they are willing to pay a fee	20%	29%	50%	1%

 

9. Which of the following strategies should be the highest priority?

19% — Improve freeway performance
59% — Extend rail lines
10% — Increase number of carpool lanes
9% — Allow solo drivers to use carpool lanes if willing to pay a fee
2% — None of them
1% — DK/NA

10. Currently in the Bay Area, the region spends two-thirds of its transportation money on public transit and one-third on freeways and roads. In the future, should the region continue to spend its money on transportation projects in these proportions or would you prefer to see the money spent differently?

36% — Keep the same proportions
28% — More for public transit
28% — More for freeways and roads
3% — None of the above
5% — DK/NA

 

SECTION 5 – Land Use

Now, I want to ask you about choosing a place to live.

11. Many people say they face tradeoffs when choosing a place to live — meaning that they have to give up some things in order to have other things. How do you feel about the following tradeoffs? Other things being equal:

• Would you choose to live in a small home with small backyard, if it means you have a short commute to work (A), or
• Would you choose to live in a large home with a large backyard, even if it means you would have a long commute to work (B)?

74% — Option A
19% — Option B
1% — Both
3% — Neither
4% — DK/NA

12. Thinking again about tradeoffs, would you be willing to accept an increase in the number of homes and the amount of traffic in your community, if it protected open space and the quality of air in the Bay Area?

67% — Yes, willing to accept more homes & traffic for open space & air quality
28% — No, not willing to accept more homes & traffic for open space & air quality
1% — None of the above
4% — DK/NA

SECTION 6 – Regional Governance

Finally, I have a few questions about local and regional policies.

13. Tell me if you agree of disagree with the following statements.

Here’s the (first/next) one: ____________. (READ ITEM AND ASK:) Do you agree or disagree with this statement (AFTER RESPONDING AGREE OR DISAGREE), is that strongly (agree/disagree) or somewhat (agree/disagree)

	Strongly Agree	Somewhat Agree	Somewhat Disagree	Strongly Disagree	DK/NA
A. Transportation problems should be addressed regionally instead of by individual cities and counties	45%	27%	13%	10%	5%
B. The Bay Area’s 26 different public transit agencies should be consolidated into a few major operators	39%	28%	15%	10%	8%
C. Local governments, not regional agencies should continue to control land-use decisions	31%	30%	17%	13%	9%
D. Financial incentives should be used to encourage development along public transit lines	34%	42%	11%	8%	5%
E. Cities that allow more homes to be built near public transit should get more regional transportation dollars	35%	36%	14%	10%	5%

Main Transportation 2035 page