What Washingtonians understand and believe about transportation and tolling and what that may mean for the future

What Washingtonians understand and believeabout transportation and tolling

and what that may mean for the future

Public Attitudes Research Synopsis

2

Comprehensive Tolling Study ContextTechnical findings

Illustrative Scenarios

Public Attitudes

Bold transportation vision to secure Washington’s economic

future.


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Principal Findings of Public Attitude Research

Citizens of Washington want improvements that will ease traffic congestion and improve safety, sooner rather than years in the future.

The public is amenable to using tolls to fund specific projects and in specific situations.

People want reassurances from government leaders that if tolls are used, they will be used efficiently and implemented fairly.


4

What are Washingtonians thinking?

Citizens understand the problem of deteriorating transportation infrastructure.

They’re skeptical about the state’s ability to deliver improvements.

This skepticism is impeding a discussion about solutions.


5

What are Washingtonians thinking?

They don’t understand how tolling can be used to manage traffic.

They disagree on ways to fund solutions.


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Synopsis

16 Interviews with business, government and community leaders throughout the state

Focus groups in Puget Sound, Yakima, and Vancouver

Telephone survey included 1,118 voters who were also licensed drivers.

Between January and March 2006


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Primary Conclusions aboutTransportation Funding

Citizens know how transportation projects are funded.

Not everyone knows that gas tax is earmarked for transportation. (37%)

Nonetheless, the gas tax is regarded as fair.


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To the best of your knowledge, where do the funds come from to pay for transportation projects in the state … things such as road construction and maintenance?

16

20

30

67

14Federal funds

License fees

General funds

Sales tax

Gas tax

From what you understand about it, do gas tax funds go into the state’s general fund to be used as the legislature determines, or are they dedicated to fund only transportation projects?

Dedicated to Transportation

37%

General Fund41%

No Opinion22%

Use of Gas Tax

Perceived Sources of Funding


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Gas Tax Fairness

6875

6767

Statewide Puget Sound I-90 Vancouver

56 57

45

62

Statewide Puget Sound I-90 Vancouver

As you may recall, the gasoline or fuel tax is the major provider of funds for state highway projects, with lesser amounts coming from other sources. Do you feel that the gas tax [system for funding highway projects / rate] is … very fair, somewhat fair, somewhat unfair or very unfair?


10

Primary Conclusions about Tolling and Congestion Management

Tolling for revenue is preferred to tolling for traffic management.

Public doesn’t understand how tolling can be used to manage traffic.

Focus group responses—ideas and openness to new alternatives—point to the possibility of acceptance of congestion management


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Use Tolls For . . .

15

24

11

34

25

29

15

20

21

26

41

32Both

Traffic

Funds

Strongly Agree Somewhat Agree

Somewhat Disagree Strongly Disagree

We should use tolls as a way to provide funds to improve our highway system.

We should use tolls as a way to shift traffic patterns…


12

Strongly Disagree

44%

No Opinion7%

Somewhat Agree17%

Strongly Agree7%

Somewhat Disagree

25%

If Drivers Not Required To Stop[Disagree with tolls to shift traffic: N=366] And would you strongly agree, somewhat agree, somewhat disagree or strongly disagree that we should use such tolls to spread out traffic congestion if drivers were not required to stop at toll booths?


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Pricing for Traffic Management

Not Aware62%

Aware38%

Not-so-good idea42%

Good idea51%

No Op7%

Have you heard or read anything about tolling roads or bridges as a way to shift traffic patterns and spread out road usage by charging higher tolls when there is a lot of traffic and lower tolls when there is less traffic?

[Aware: N=230] From what you understand about it, does this strike you as a good idea or a not-so-good idea?

Awareness Impression


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Advantages and Disadvantages of Pricing for Traffic Management

Advantages

Facilitates better traffic flow People can plan to take advantage of variable pricing Safety because of better spacing and flow Use is tied directly to cost Choice of whether to use or not in cases of HOT lanes.

Disadvantages

Many don’t have option of when they must use highways and therefore must pay peak prices

Temporary fix – more capacity needs to be built Fear of manipulation and government intrusions Fear it will become compulsory


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Primary Conclusions about Tolling

If more funds are needed, people prefer tolls to increasing the gas tax.

Tolls are generally seen as fair because the users who benefit the most pay the toll.


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Adequate or Not

Need more funds, or

No opinion61%

Present system

adequate39%

Increase other tax

10%No Op

4%

Find new ways63%

Increase gas tax

23%

Funds Preference


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New Ways to ConsiderAnd what do you feel are some new ways that should be considered? (N=228)

New Ways Percent of

EligibleNo opinion 27

Toll roads and toll bridges 21

Better budgeting of funds 9

Alcohol & tobacco taxes 5

Corporate & industry taxes 5

Cut government salaries 4

User fees 4

Income tax 4

Donations & contributions 3

New taxes 3


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No Op6%

Increase Gas Tax26%

Use Tolls58%

No More Money

10%

If More Funds NeededFinal Assessment

All things considered, if additional funds were needed to fund future transportation improvements, which of these would you prefer … Increase the gasoline tax to pay for the improvements … or … use tolls from the drivers who use the improvements?


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Current Conditions for Acceptance of Tolling

Apply tolls on a project-by-project basis, especially for bridges and new roads.

Spend all toll revenue on the tolled facility.

If tolled routes have an free alternative, and/or are presented as a new choice for commuters, they are more likely to be accepted.


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Distortions That Need to Be Corrected

Toll roads, bridges and even HOT Lanes require stopping to pay tolls (despite awareness of electronic toll collection).

A slight majority of citizens (51%) believe that additional transportation funds are needed, but they are not convinced that the state spends the gas tax efficiently.


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Distortions That Need to Be Corrected

Lack of awareness and understanding may impede a discussion about use of tolling for congestion management.

Cynicism about government spending blocks acceptance of creative funding approaches.


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Fears

Instituting a statewide tolling system raises many concerns and fears.

Advanced concepts like cordon tolling and annual mileage fee concepts (to replace gas tax) are not understood and raise many questions, even among knowledgeable leaders.

The details of such programs, and the benefits to taxpayers, would have to be worked out and a consensus developed.


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About Possible ProjectsPuget Sound

Convert existing I-405 carpool lanes to HOT lanes to relieve congestion and offer a faster, more reliable choice.

HOT lanes where there are underutilized HOV lanes

Toll the 520 Bridge to pay for replacement and improvement.

Snoqualmie Pass

Placing a modest toll on Snoqualmie Pass to keep it open year-round, improve safety and facilitate movement of trucks would have more support than tolls in other places.


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About Possible Projects

Vancouver Area

Tolling existing Columbia River bridges to pay for reconstruction and seismic reinforcement might be acceptable as part of a larger plan of circulation improvements.

A new bridge over the Columbia River.


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What beliefs will move the state of transportation forward?

1. We need to ease traffic congestion, improve safety.

2. Tolling specific projects is a good idea.

(66% said that keeping the gas tax & tolling special projects was a good idea.)

3. Convince me that the tolls are needed, and that they will be applied fairly, and I’ll support tolls.

4. Tolls are fair because users pay.


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What beliefs will be obstacles?1. Education, crime and the economy are currently

more important than transportation and traffic congestion.

2. The gas tax would be adequate to meet the state’s transportation challenges if government were more efficient.

3. Alternative sources of funding aren’t necessary.

4. Lack of information about congestion management, electronic toll collection and infrastructure funding.


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Obstacle #1: Education, crime and the economy are

more important than transportation and traffic congestion.

Link transportation with family wage jobs and economy to raise its level of importance—into the first tier.

Frame proposals in the form of an agenda to get specific improvement and congestion management projects moving NOW rather than years in the future.

Communicate – Continually raise public awareness of the economy’s dependence on transportation infrastructure and make a clear connection between sound transportation infrastructure, the economy, safety and lifestyle.


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Survey respondents were asked to rate issues on a four-point scale of importance ranging from “extremely important (worth 3 points), very important (worth 2 points), somewhat important (worth 1 point) and not that important (worth 0 points).

Issue Points

Schools & education 218

Crime & drugs 206

Jobs & the economy 205

Maintenance of roads and highways

186

Taxes 184

Environmental issues 176

Traffic congestion 168

Illegal immigration 150

Tier 1

Tier 2

Tier 3


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Obstacle #2The gas tax would be adequate to

meet the state’s transportation challenges if government were

more efficient. We may not be able to win this argument.

Must move discussion to the NEED for improvements and congestion management and the benefits to motorists and the economy, and

Demonstrate ACTION.


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Tax and Government

23

21

30

23Strongly Like

Jones

Somewhat LikeJones

Somewhat LikeSmith

Strongly LikeSmith

Smith and Jones are talking about the gasoline tax.

Smith says that the gasoline tax provides adequate funds for our transportation needs if government would use the money efficiently.

Jones says the gasoline tax does not provide adequate funds for our transportation needs even if government were more efficient. He feels more funding must be found if Washington State is to have a quality transportation system.


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Obstacle #3Alternative sources of funding aren’t

necessary. Of the slight majority that believes that alternative

sources are needed, only 30% think taxes should be increased to provide those funds.

Movement of this group is possible.

Tell a story that brings infrastructure into focus—investment in the future the economy and safety – new user pay choices made available years ahead.

Improved lifestyle. When the infrastructure is at risk, so is the lifestyle.


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Obstacle #4Lack of information about congestion management, electronic toll collection

and infrastructure funding

Use projects like Tacoma Narrows Bridge and SR 167 to inform and educate—visible success story.


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Where do we go from here?

Talk to opinion leaders and the public Inextricably link transportation with the state’s

economy (personal security) and safety in people’s minds.

Clearly explain and illustrate electronic toll collection and managed lanes in project-specific contexts to inform and educate on these subjects.

Secure public feedback on the study’s outcome, including selected illustrative scenarios.

Get projects on the ground ASAP - TNB, SR 167, others.


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Tolling Study Public Outreach Plan

Featuring:

Washington State Transportation Commissioners

WSTC Staff

Cambridge Systematics, subconsultant technical and FW&A staff

With assistance from:

Transponder mock-ups and other visual aids

Graphic displays

Cookies and coffee


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Proposed Schedule

June 20 Seattle

June 21 Bellingham

June 22 Vancouver

June 27 Spokane or Yakima

June 28 Yakima or Tri-Cities


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Each stop will include: Morning roundtable discussion with local

leaders and stakeholders Afternoon meetings with local news media

where appropriate A well publicized early evening public open

house in each target area “Virtual open house” website for those who

do not or who cannot attend one of the open houses.

Documents

What Washingtonians understand and believe about transportation and tolling and what that may mean for the future