Most Americans support usage fees to pay for transportation infrastructure

Nearly two-thirds of Americans would support the use of road-usage fee options such as vehicle miles travelled or mileage-based user fees to help fund transportation costs, according to a new America Thinks national public opinion survey conducted by Kelton Global on behalf of infrastructure firm HNTB Corporation. The survey, Transportation Mobility 2016, also found that close to 170 million Americans (69 per cent) agree priced managed lanes should be considered when making improvements to US highways.
April 29, 2016 Read time: 2 mins

Nearly two-thirds of Americans would support the use of road-usage fee options such as vehicle miles travelled or mileage-based user fees to help fund transportation costs, according to a new America Thinks national public opinion survey conducted by Kelton Global on behalf of infrastructure firm 6278 HNTB Corporation.

The survey, Transportation Mobility 2016, also found that close to 170 million Americans (69 per cent) agree priced managed lanes should be considered when making improvements to US highways.

The online survey was conducted among 1,002 Americans aged 18 and over between 11 and 14 March 2016 using an e-mail invitation.   The margin of error is +/- 3.1 percent.

HNTB claims the survey’s findings show that more than half (55 per cent) of Americans believe funding to maintain and build the nation’s infrastructure of local roads bridges and tunnels over the next ten years should come from increased taxes, including gas taxes (24 per cent), sales taxes (20 per cent) and property taxes (11 per cent) versus user fees (45 per cent).

Similarly, for the funding of maintenance, additional lanes and safety improvements for the nation’s interstate highways, 56 per cent of Americans would prefer increased taxes, such as federal gas (28 per cent), sales (17 per cent), or property (10 per cent) taxes, over user fees.

The survey also found that 67 per cent of Americans who plan to buy or lease a vehicle see that availability and affordability of connected vehicle technologies would be important in their next vehicle, with 26 per cent who feel this is very important.  And, close to three-quarters (73 per cent) of 18-49 year olds agree that this technology is important versus 58 per cent of older Americans.

According to the survey, 30 per cent of Americans think the most valuable feature of public transportation is that it reduces traffic congestion due to less vehicles being on the road. Again, generational differences emerge, with more baby boomers and seniors than millennials and generation X (38 per cent versus 25 percent) agreeing that reduced congestion is the best benefit of public transportation.

In addition, 31 per cent of Americans believe the best way to reduce congestion on roadways is by providing more public transportation choices, with more Americans ages 50-68 than those 18-49 (36 per cent versus 28 per cent) in agreement.

Charging, Tolling & RUC

Related Content

  • January 22, 2016
    Survey outlines predictions for public transport by 2025
    A new survey from Xerox underscores the desire for self-driving cars and smart digital services like integrated apps and cashless payment by Europe’s Generation Z (those aged 18-24 years old). The study was conducted by TNS on behalf of Xerox between 5 and 26 October 2015 among 1,200 respondents in 12 cities across the UK, France, Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands. It revealed that by 2025, a third (32 per cent) of 18-24 year olds expect to be using self-driving cars, four in ten (41 per cent) say they w
    Read More
  • June 18, 2015
    ATA president calls on Congress to address highway funding needs
    American Trucking Associations (ATA) president and CEO Bill Graves has told members of the House Ways and Means Committee that Congress must act quickly to find a sustainable funding source for the Highway Trust Fund. "It is important for all to understand that the decisions made by this Committee over the next few months will have effects beyond the immediate solvency issues. The federal commitment to investment in transportation, if not properly addressed this year, could be placed in jeopardy for many
    Read More
  • January 10, 2017
    Toll roads important to Trump’s infrastructure plan
    According to The Hill, US toll roads may surge under a US$1 trillion infrastructure proposal being floated by Donald Trump. The president elect’s idea for rebuilding the nation’s roads and bridges relies on private companies instead of the federal government to back transportation projects. Experts believe this means investors will be attracted to projects that can recoup their investment costs using some sort of revenue stream, such as through tolls or user fees. “If he moves forward with an infrastr
    Read More
  • February 18, 2016
    Independence and mobility key for older drivers, IAM report finds
    The majority of older drivers want to continue driving as long as they are safely able, according to a survey commissioned by the Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM), citing independence and convenience as the main reasons. The report, Keeping Older Drivers Safe and Mobile, surveyed more than 2,600 drivers and ex-drivers between the ages of 55 and 101 and was written by Dr Carol Hawley from the University of Warwick Medical School. Although the report found 84 per cent of driver respondents rated th
    Read More

Highlighted Content