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OCTOBER
25,
2007
Three-fourths of Americans believe that being smarter
about development and improving public transportation are better long-term
solutions for reducing traffic congestion than building new roads, according to
a survey sponsored by the National Association of Realtors®
and Smart Growth America. The 2007 Growth and
Transportation Survey details what Americans think about how
development affects their immediate community.
Nearly three-quarters of Americans are concerned about the role growth and
development play in climate change, as well as remaining concerned about traffic
congestion. Half of those surveyed think improving public transit would be the
best way to reduce congestion, and 26 percent believe developing communities
that reduce the need to drive would be the better alternative. Only one in five
said building new roads was the answer.
Eight in 10 respondents prefer
redeveloping older urban and suburban areas rather than build new housing and
commercial development on the edge of existing suburbs. More than half of those
surveyed believe that businesses and homes should be built closer together to
shorten commutes, limit traffic congestion and allow residents to walk to stores
and shops instead of using their cars. Six in 10 also agree that new-home
construction should be limited in outlying areas and encouraged in inner urban
areas to shorten commutes and prevent more traffic congestion.
With road building costs often exceeding revenues, many states
are turning to tolls as a key funding source. Americans are divided on tolls,
although 55 percent approve of charging tolls on more roads if it improves roads
and decreases congestion. On the other hand, six in 10 are opposed to charging
tolls on freeways during rush hour to reduce congestion, and respondents are
evenly split on charging tolls during rush hour, even if the money is used to
provide transportation alternatives to the freeway. When it comes to spending
taxpayer dollars, respondents believe Congress should spend more money to
maintain and repair roads, highways, freeways, and bridges and to expand and
improve public transit than build new roads.
Americans are overwhelmingly opposed to the private ownership
of roads; that is, selling key roads and highways to private companies who would
charge a toll and give a portion of the toll money to the state. Eighty-four
percent of respondents oppose private ownership of roads; only 14 percent
support the
concept. Similarly, 66 percent are opposed to allowing private companies to
build, own and collect tolls for new roads – even if those companies gave
a portion of the toll money to the state.
This year the survey also asked about climate change, and more than 70 percent
of respondents are concerned about how growth and development affects global
warming. Americans expressed strong support for bold measures to combat climate
change. Nearly nine in 10 believe that new communities should be built so people
can walk more and drive less; cars, homes and buildings should be required to be
more energy efficient; and public transportation should be improved and made
more available. Americans strongly disapprove of increasing gasoline taxes as a
way to discourage driving and reduce energy use, with 84 percent rejecting the
idea.
The 2007 Growth and Transportation Survey was conducted by
telephone among 1,000 adults living in the United States in October 2007. The
study has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.1 percentage
points.
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