Tolls V Gas taxTolls are preferred...2006.12.07OPINIONAAA find...

Tolls V Gas tax

Tolls are preferred...
2006.12.07
OPINION
AAA find American public oppose it - favor tolls 52/21
The AAA in a survey find that the American public strongly favor tolls over fuel taxes by 52% to 21%. This isn't news to anyone except perhaps the AAA lobbyists who take a consistently hostile stance toward tolls. Many previous public opinion surveys have found the same public preference for tolls over fuel taxes, but it is news that AAA itself finds this.

According to a press release today the survey called "Pockets of Pain" involved interviewing 2,394 respondents and has a margin of error +/-2%.

The press release refers to a "sea change" occurring in the public's attitude toward traffic congestion and the need to increase funding for transportation. 70% of the public agrees more money is needed and that we are not keeping pace with the demands on the system.

64% of the public think the traffic they experience has become more congested in the past three years.

The press release says:"When respondents were asked to choose from a number of funding options, the public did not favor using general purpose revenues. "In fact, the most frequent choice - 52% - was some form of toll option to help raise money to fund our transportation system.

"The most popular options are those that add tolls to only new roads and highway lanes (39%).

"Despite the majority of opinion that more funds are needed to address increasing congestion, there appears to be little support for increasing non-fuel taxes such as sales, income, and property taxes, with only about 15 percent favoring this method.

"Only 21 percent of respondents favored increasing the gas tax.

"And only 19 percent of respondents favor a new financing method of imposing a vehicle miles traveled tax based on the number of miles a person drives, indicating that more education and outreach must occur if policymakers advance this option."

Robert Darbelnet, AAA president said in a speech at a conference of state legislatures in San Antonio TX that: "In previous surveys and focus groups, we've seen more reluctance to increasing funding for transportation. Common responses used to be 'I already pay enough,' or 'existing funds aren't invested efficiently,' or 'I don't trust my state DOT to do the right thing.' I think the strong support for more funding we find in this survey bodes well for the challenges ahead of us. But we must remember, when motorists are asked to pay more, they must receive direct and recognizable improvements to their travel experience."

In perhaps a hint that AAA might rethink it's opposition to tolls Darbelnet said: "We are prepared to fully consider, on behalf of motorists, every structural and financing proposal put on the table."

AAA policy furthers interests of the lobbyists not motorists - COMMENT
AAA lobbyists naturally support policies which give them leverage and add to their importance as lobbyists - that's fuel taxes imposed as a result of legislation and the result of lobbying. Tolls for financing roads bypass the legislatures and set up a direct relationship between motorists and road service providers. They diminish the role of lobbyists. So only with great difficulty will AAA lobbyists be persuaded to respond to public opinion and support toll financing.

AAA has not released the survey report itself, just a press release on it.

see http://www.aaamidatlantic.com/safety/release_content.asp?id=3244

TOLLROADSnews 2006-12-07