Regional survey shows voters support bold actions on transportation, climate issues
“The long-term health of our transit systems as well as bolstering service and eliminating emissions relies on a new, longer-term funding solution.”
Lauren Bailey, director of climate policy for Tri-State Transportation Campaign
A majority of eastern U.S. voters support the multi-state Transportation and Climate Initiative as a way to jump-start the economy in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a recently released scientific survey of more than 3,800 voters.
“TCI is a critical opportunity for the region to reduce transportation emissions and improve air quality while also providing a significant source of funding for our crumbling transportation infrastructure, outdated transit system and increase bike lanes, walkability and much more,” Alli Gold Roberts, director of state policy at CERES, said in a virtual news conference earlier this month.
TCI is a regional collaboration of Northeast and mid-Atlantic states and the District of Columbia that looks to improve transportation, develop a clean energy economy and reduce carbon emissions from the transportation sector.
More than 100 businesses, investors and higher education institutions support TCI as a way to enable economic growth, invest in a modern transportation system and improve public health, Gold Roberts said.
“These businesses are calling on governors to develop an inclusive implementation process where rapid investments are made to expand transportation options, put people back to work, and prioritize emission reductions in communities on the front lines of vehicle pollution,” she said.
The study conducted by Climate Nexus and the Yale program on Climate Change Communication on behalf of the Our Transportation Future coalition surveyed 3,818 voters in 11 states plus the District of Columbia. The survey assessed voters support for public investments in transportation, housing, energy as well as efforts to reduce climate change and air pollution.
“Really, the big takeaway is that voters in New England and the mid-Atlantic strongly bold state and regional actions on all of these fronts,” said Anthony Leiserowitz, director of the Yale program on Climate Change Communication.
The survey showed seven in 10 voters support their state participating in the Transportation and Climate Initiative. Leiserowitz said this comes as the nation faces multiple and intersecting crises: a pandemic, massive economic crisis, worsening climate change, equity and justice issues, and crumbling infrastructure.
“I would say more broadly that in short this study and other research shows pretty clearly that a majority of American are hurting and want bold, ambitious actions by their leaders to solve these problems,” he said.
The survey showed voters also supported their governors working collaboratively in a regional approach to solve these compounding problems, he said.
Nearly three quarters of the responses say that if federal government doesn’t reduce pollution, their state government should. Fewer than a third of voters think states governments are investing enough money today in repairing existing roads and bridges, according to the study.
Lauren Bailey, director of climate policy for Tri-State Transportation Campaign, said the regional polling effort shows voters are paying attention.
“Voters are aware that the states are not doing enough to prepare for the effects of climate change,” she said. “Our region is interconnected and we know that this regional effort is really important.”
Bailey said voters also know the importance of the transportation system. She said public transit in the region was already battling through budget issues to transform to a cleaner system before the pandemic, and is now facing cuts and lay-offs.
“The long-term health of our transit systems as well as bolstering service and eliminating emissions relies on a new, longer-term funding solution,” Bailey said. “And this TCI policy is that integral starting point.”
Questions were fielded during the virtual news conference, including how support may differ if those surveyed knew gas prices may increase as a result of the initiative.
But Leiserowitz said support generally remains strong when people understand the benefits they receive from programs. He added many national surveys have shown strong support for fossil-fuel companies to pay for the pollution they’re producing.
“I think in broad-brush terms we see just overwhelming support for investments in a whole host of transportation related things from changing infrastructure to accelerating the move to clean energy and charging infrastructure across our region,” he said.
Strong support is also being seen for actions to address climate change and air pollution across the region, he said, especially as it has disproportionate consequences for communities of color.
“Overall I think we really see that there’s very strong support for bold, ambitious action in this new context of the pandemic and the economic crisis,” Leiserowtiz said.