Poll: User Fees Preferred Over Tax and Bond Financing for Infrastructure

A Reuters' poll on a national infrastructure investment program shows some support for a plan similar to one suggested, though not detailed, by Elaine Chao, President Trump's nominee for transportation secretary.

2 minute read

January 22, 2017, 11:00 AM PST

By Irvin Dawid


Toll Road

Suzanne Tucker / Shutterstock

American were evenly split in opposing new taxes and support of hiking user fees and tolls, while 56 percent did not want debt financing. 

"The findings highlight a major challenge for a 10-year, $1 trillion infrastructure program incoming President Donald Trump has promised: Everyone wants infrastructure, but almost no one wants to pay for it," report Luciana Lopez and Chris Kahn on the Dec. 16 – Jan. 12 Reuters/Ipsos poll released Jan. 19.

Elaine Chao, Trump’s transportation secretary nominee, at her confirmation hearing earlier this month repeatedly focused on the need to leverage private dollars. “Another major challenge is to unleash the potential for private investment in our nation’s infrastructure,” she said in her opening remarks.

"Chao emerged from the Senate Commerce Committee's hearing [Jan. 11] largely unscathed despite offering few concrete details about how she or Donald Trump planned to roll out a massive infrastructure investment program that the president-elect has promised," reported Kathryn A. Wolfe for POLITICO.

However, Ben Bernanke, former Chairman of the Federal Reserve, pointed out an inherent problem in pursuing a strategy largely based on private investment, notes New York Times economics writer, Paul Krugman:

[I]f Congress opts to reduce the deficit impact of an infrastructure program by financing it through tax credits and public-private partnerships, as candidate Trump proposed, the program might turn out to be relatively small.

A broader investment program described by House Speaker Paul Ryan on Jan. 19 would combine public and private investment.

"For every one dollar of federal dollars, there's $40 of private sector spending,” Ryan said on the Charlie Rose Show, reports Melanie Zanona for The Hill. "We want to leverage as much private-sector dollars as possible to maximize the fixing of our infrastructure.”

Another poll finding was on priorities: Fix existing roads and bridges first while road expansion, mass transit and new technology should be secondary. A report from the Trump transition team posted Friday would certainly relegate transit investment to a lesser priority, if not outright eliminate it.

Hat tip to AASHTO Daily Transportation Update.

Thursday, January 19, 2017 in Reuters

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Cover CM Credits, Earn Certificates, Push Your Career Forward

Aerial view of town of Wailuku in Maui, Hawaii with mountains in background against cloudy sunset sky.

Maui's Vacation Rental Debate Turns Ugly

Verbal attacks, misinformation campaigns and fistfights plague a high-stakes debate to convert thousands of vacation rentals into long-term housing.

July 1, 2025 - Honolulu Civil Beat

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

July 9, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Map of Haussmann's redesign of Paris in the 1850s through 1870s under Napoleon III.

In Urban Planning, AI Prompting Could be the New Design Thinking

Creativity has long been key to great urban design. What if we see AI as our new creative partner?

June 30, 2025 - Tom Sanchez

View of dense apartment buildings on Seattle waterfront with high-rise buildings in background.

King County Supportive Housing Program Offers Hope for Unhoused Residents

The county is taking a ‘Housing First’ approach that prioritizes getting people into housing, then offering wraparound supportive services.

July 11 - Real Change

Aerial view of suburban housing near Las Vegas, Nevada.

Researchers Use AI to Get Clearer Picture of US Housing

Analysts are using artificial intelligence to supercharge their research by allowing them to comb through data faster. Though these AI tools can be error prone, they save time and housing researchers are optimistic about the future.

July 11 - Shelterforce Magazine

Green bike share bikes parked in a row on a commercial street with outdoor dining and greenery.

Making Shared Micromobility More Inclusive

Cities and shared mobility system operators can do more to include people with disabilities in planning and operations, per a new report.

July 11 - Cities Today