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

  • US drivers receptive to usage-based auto insurance
    September 5, 2013
    US drivers are predominantly open-minded to purchasing usage-based auto insurance (UBI) policies, or pay as you drive insurance, according to a new survey by professional services company Towers Watson. The survey results are a clear indication that UBI is gaining momentum in the marketplace, with more consumers willing to let insurers monitor their driving habits with a telematics device in exchange for potential savings on their car insurance. Most (79 per cent) respondents to the UBI Consumer Survey
    Read More
  • Kapsch TrafficCom to acquire Mark IV IVHS
    March 1, 2012
    Kapsch TrafficCom AG has agreed to acquire, through subsidiaries, the businesses of Mark IV IVHS, part of Mark IV, LLC (US), in the United States, in Canada and in Mexico
    Read More
  • Improve and increase mass transit systems to minimise congestion
    January 24, 2012
    Rather looking to solve congestion by spreading the load, perhaps we need to look at concentrating it. Michael L. Sena writes. We humans were made to walk and run at embarrassingly slow speeds by comparison with other, more fleet-footed organisms. The sea is not our natural habitat and we were definitely not designed to fly unaided. Nevertheless, humankind has evolved a method of living during the past century that is dependent on transporting its members over very long distances during relatively short per
    Read More
  • Technology, social media bigger perceived threats than drink-driving, IAM finds
    November 6, 2015
    Motorists are now more worried about the dangers of distraction posed by technology and social media than drink-driving, according to the Institute of Advanced Motorist’s (IAM) first major survey into safety culture. The Safety Culture Index report was launched today by the IAM, and is a study of more than 2,000 UK motorists’ attitudes to driving safety and behaviour on our roads. IAM claims it will form a definitive baseline to track changes over time, providing the opportunity to examine how attitudes
    Read More

Highlighted Content