Poll: Mass. voters see the need for changes to transportation, and support raising new money for it, as state reopens
Majorities support several revenue and policy proposals still under consideration in the State Legislature.
The temporary reprieve from congestion and transit delays brought on by the coronavirus lockdown has done little to dampen Massachusetts voters’ support for improvements to the transportation system Two-thirds of Massachusetts voters (67%) think big changes are needed to the state transportation system as the Commonwealth emerges from its COVID-19 lockdown.
Voters support raising new money for transportation in general (69%), as well as specific new policies that would do so. Majorities also support changes to how the system functions, including redesigning streets to give more space to biking, walking, and outdoor dining, and giving lower-income riders discounts on their fares and passes.
That’s according to a new poll of 797 registered voters conducted by The MassINC Polling Group. The project was sponsored by The Barr Foundation.
Majorities of voters support specific policies that would raise new revenue for transportation, most of which are still under consideration as House and Senate negotiators reconcile their versions of a transportation bill. Those include:
ending rental car companies’ exemption from the state’s sale and use tax (74%);
“value capture” from real estate development to pay for nearby infrastructure (68%);
allowing cities and towns to put local transportation projects and funding on the ballot (64%);
letting cities and towns assess fees on parking spaces in large private lots and garages (55%); and
increasing the state fee on trips using ride-hailing apps like Uber and Lyft (51%).
Many cities around the world are changing how their street space is allocated during the pandemic, an idea with traction here in Massachusetts as well. Majorities support cities and towns across the state redesigning city streets to give more space to walking and biking (67%), and for outdoor dining (67%). And 71% support giving lower-income transit riders a discount on fares and passes.
The debate at the State House over transportation comes at a time when voters remain uncertain about the virus and its impacts, on their own commutes and on the state’s budget. Voters are split on whether they anticipate the federal government helping with state budget deficits stemming from COVID. Only 48% say such aid is likely, while 42% think it is not.
Voters are also skeptical as to whether transit agencies have the funds they need to provide safe service as the state reopens -- 38% think they do not, 35% think they do, and 26% are unsure. This concern may help explain why a plurality of voters say they will ride transit less coming out of the crisis. Majorities say they will drive, walk, and bike the same amount as before. Another three-in-ten saying they will drive (32%) and walk (29%) more.
At the same time, commuting trips may decline overall; 68% of employed voters say they would prefer to work from home at least a few days a week as the state reopens. Those with school-aged kids at home are particularly eager to work from home: 46% of parents would prefer to work from home every work day.
Despite lower traffic and crowding on transit, opinions of the condition of the state’s roads and public transportation have improved only a few points from a November 2019 poll. Pluralities continue to think both are in only fair shape.
About the poll: These results are based on a survey of 797 Massachusetts registered voters. Responses were collected via online survey interviewing July 17-20, 2020. Final survey data was weighted to known and estimated population parameters for the state’s registered voters by age, gender, race, education, geography, and party identification. The project was sponsored by The Barr Foundation.