For Reducing Traffic, Americans Favor Transit Over Roads

Tanya Snyder reports on the Natural Resources Defense Council poll's curious findings that show strong support for transit across the board (although reduced from the 2007 version of the poll), even though the majority of respondents had not taken transit in the last month. 

"When asked what would solve traffic problems in their community," reports Snyder, "42 percent of Americans say more transit. Only 20 percent say more roads. And 21 percent would like to see communities developed that don't require so much driving. Two-thirds support local planning that guides new development into existing cities and near public transportation."

"Despite a very polarized environment on Capitol Hill when it comes to transit, there's no pronounced partisan divide in the real world. (See chart above.) Sure, liberal Democrats are nearly five times more likely to want transit than new roads, and conservative Republicans are only 70 percent more likely to want transit – but in the end, they all tend to think transit is the way to go."

"The same goes for the urban/rural split. Yes, more big city residents want public transit (50 percent) than new roads (15 percent). But even in rural areas, 36 percent say transit versus 24 percent who want roads."