New National and 50-State Polling Shows More than Three-Quarters of Voters Are More Likely to Support a Member of Congress Who Backs the Bill and 68 Percent Back Federal EV and Plug-In Hybrid Road Fee
Seventy-eight percent of American voters want Congress to pass a new federal highway, bridge and transit bill before the current law expires on Sept. 30, according to new polling released today by the Associated General Contractors of America. The new polling, which includes national responses and breakout responses for each state, shows voters are tired of the costs of bad roads and want Congress to make new investments in the nation’s transportation infrastructure.
“Voters across both parties understand the connection between transportation investment, economic growth and job creation and want Congress to pass a new transportation bill before the deadline,” said Jeffrey Shoaf, the association’s chief executive officer. “They want safer roads, less congestion and increased investment in the infrastructure in their communities.”
Shoaf noted that 78 percent of voters say passing a new surface transportation bill on time should be a national priority. He added that 76 percent of voters report they are more likely to support a member of Congress who helps get the new transportation bill completed. And 80 percent of voters want Congress to make sure it invests as much or more than currently in our roads, bridges and transit systems when it passes the next bill, according to the polling.
In addition, 68 percent of voters support the notion that every driver should pay their fair share to use the transportation system by backing a federal road fee on electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids, which currently do not contribute to the nation’s transportation funding. Shoaf noted that one reason so many voters likely support passing a new highway bill is because 55 percent of registered voters have experienced at least one road, bridge or traffic problem in the past two months. This includes 27 percent of voters who report having a vehicle damaged by a pothole during that time.
Association officials added that three-quarters of voters agree that officials need to do more to make highway work zones safer by allowing advanced safety precautions such as barriers and speed cameras to protect workers. The association commissioned the survey of more than 10,000 voters across the country, with breakout data for every state, in partnership with Morning Consult. Shoaf added that the poll is one of the largest public opinion studies on highway reauthorization conducted in recent months.
The Associated General Contractors of America has launched a nationwide campaign called America’s Moving Forward to educate the public, and through them, Congress, about the many benefits of having a highway and transportation bill in place and on time. The campaign is using targeted digital and social media advertising to reach constituents in many key Congressional districts. To date, the campaign has already generated over 30,000 letters to members of Congress.
“The overwhelming support for a new bill should be seen as a bipartisan call on the House of Representatives to pass Build America 250. The House committee took the lead, now the full House needs to act. The polling shows that Congress has a chance to unite the country by investing in a bill that creates jobs, improves safety and enhances economic growth,” Shoaf said, noting that the association plans to invest up to $2 million in the campaign. “While that is a big investment for an association like ours, it is a small price to pay to ensure continued economic growth across the country.”
Click here to learn more about the America’s Moving Forward Campaign. Click here for the polling results.