Sound Transit Report of Telephone Survey Results

Transcription

1 Sound Transit Report of Telephone Survey Results January 2014

2 Methodology Live telephone survey of 1,500 registered voters in the Sound Transit District Conducted December 11 th December 21 st, 2014 Snohomish, North King, East King, South King, and Pierce subareas sampled Districtwide Snohomish N King E King S King Pierce N MOE +2.5 points Data weighted to reflect districtwide registered voter population using key demographics including geography Interviewing using trained, professional interviewers Please note that due to rounding, some percentages may not add up to exactly 100%. Sound Transit Systemwide 2

3 Do you feel things in the Puget Sound region are generally going in the right direction, or do you feel things have gotten pretty seriously off on the wrong track? 53% 47% 42% 53% 48% 44% 41% 43% 42% 44% 42% 49% 42% 54% 55% 31% 38% 39% 31% 35% 36% 42% 42% 41% 41% 40% 36% 39% 29% 31% 16% 15% 19% 16% 17% 20% 17% 15% 17% 15% 17% 15% 18% 16% 13% Dec '00 Jun '01 May '02 '02 Apr '03 '03 '04 Sep '05 Oct '06 Apr '07 '07 Feb '08 '10 June '14 Dec '14 Right Direction Wrong Track Don't Know Sound Transit Systemwide 3

4 What do you think is the most important problem facing the Puget Sound region today? Snohomish North King East King South King Pierce Mass Transit/ Transportation/Traffic 36% 34% 38% 24% 21% Economy/Jobs 5% 10% 7% 13% 15% The Environment/Pollution 12% 11% 9% 3% 7% Education 7% 5% 9% 8% 9% Sound Transit Systemwide 4

5 Do you have a strongly favorable, somewhat favorable, somewhat unfavorable or strongly unfavorable opinion of Sound Transit? 60% 61% 65% 63% 64% 63% 68% 69% 66% 53% 31% 16% 41% 31% 28% 51% 47% 49% 45% 35% 31% 32% 36% 20% 18% 23% 13% 23% 23% 17% 16% 21% 20% 24% 24% 18% 17% 23% 13% 17% 12% 13% 15% 14% 11% Dec '00 Jun '01 May '02 '02 Apr '03 '03 '04 Sep '05 Oct '06 Apr '07 '07 Feb '08 '10 June '14 Dec '14 Favorable Unfavorable Can't Rate / Not Sure Sound Transit Systemwide 5

6 Do you have a strongly favorable, somewhat favorable, somewhat unfavorable or strongly unfavorable opinion of? Favorable Can't Rate/Not Sure Unfavorable Ratio Sound Transit 66% 11% 23% 2.9 The Washington State Department of Transportation 53% 9% 38% 1.4 The Washington State Legislature 41% 15% 44% 0.9 Sound Transit Systemwide 6

7 Would you say the best way to address our traffic problems is: To focus primarily on expanding transit with more light rail, buses, and commuter rail? 57% To focus primarily on expanding existing roads and highways and building some new roads? 36% Both/DK [VALUE] Sound Transit Systemwide 7

8 In general, do you strongly support, somewhat support, somewhat oppose or strongly oppose continued expansion of Sound Transit s mass transit system of light rail, commuter rail and express buses? Feb June 2014 Dec Support 82% 25% Support 85% 24% Support 82% 31% Strongly Somewhat Somewhat Strongly Don t know 57% Oppose 17% 6% 10% 1% 60% Oppose 12% 5% 7% 3% 51% Oppose 15% 7% 8% 3% Sound Transit Systemwide 8

9 Do you think the State Legislature should give Sound Transit new taxing authority so they can put a transit expansion measure on the ballot sometime in the future? Yes 68% 32% 36% No 30% 12% 18% Definitely Probably Probably Not Definitely Not Und/DK/Ref. DK/Ref 3% Yes No DK/Ref Sound Transit Systemwide 9

10 Sound Transit might have a measure on the ballot in the future. This measure could expand and coordinate light-rail, commuter-rail, and express bus service, and improve access to transit facilities in King, Pierce and Snohomish Counties. It could authorize additional taxes to fund around 30 additional miles of light rail connecting major cities as part of new capital projects totaling approximately $15B. Would you this measure? Support 70% Somewhat, 37% Strongly, 33% Oppose 28% Somewhat, 10% Strongly, 18% Don't know, 3% Support Oppose Don't know Sound Transit Systemwide 10

11 The average additional cost for each adult in Sound Transit s service area would be about $78 per year if the same mix of taxes funding current projects were continued. Knowing this, would you this measure? Support 70% Somewhat, 36% Strongly, 35% Oppose 28% Somewhat, 11% Strongly, 17% Don't know, 2% Support Oppose Don't Sound Transit Systemwide 11

12 There are at least three ways this measure might be funded. Which do you prefer the sales tax, the motor vehicle excise tax, or the property tax? A sales tax increase of 0.5% 27% An increase in the motor vehicle excise tax of $80 per $10,000 of vehicle value 38% An increase in the property tax of $0.25 per $1,000 of property value 24% Other/Multi/DK 10% Sound Transit Systemwide 12

13 Key Findings Optimism in the Puget Sound continues to be at a historic recorded high. Sound Transit s favorable continues to be near its all-time high. A majority of voters think the best way to address traffic problems is expanding transit with more light rail, buses, and commuter rail. Support for a hypothetical Sound Transit 3 package is more than two-thirds (70%) of ST district voters. This support does not change when voters hear the potential proposal s additional median cost per adult of $78 per year, assuming the same mix of taxes funding current projects were continued. Sound Transit Systemwide 13

14 Contacts Ian Stewart Sound Transit Systemwide 14