Voters in Hampton Roads strongly support building a wider Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel and believe regional traffic congestion has worsened in the past five years, according to a new poll by Christopher Newport University.
The survey also found strong support for Norfolk's light rail project and for improving the region's bus transit system, which suffers from chronic money shortages.
Nearly seven in 10 respondents generally support increased money for transportation improvements, but do not want regional taxes and fees, the survey found. Results indicate a stronger preference for a statewide solution.
The telephone poll of 500 registered voters was conducted April 16-20 by the university and the Hampton Roads Center for Civic Engagement. It has a margin of error of plus or minus 4.4 percentage points.
When asked about how best to pay for new projects, a slight majority preferred tolls and an increase in the statewide sales tax, with a majority opposed to an increase in the statewide gasoline tax.
The survey found a strong dislike for any solution that relies on regional taxation, such as a sales or gasoline tax increase. Most prefer that all Virginians be taxed equally for transportation projects.
"Lawmakers ought to pay attention to that," said Quentin Kidd, director for the university's Center for Public Policy and who helped develop the survey.
Kidd said he was surprised that 60 percent of those surveyed supported the light rail project and expanding mass transit, making it second only to the Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel in importance.
"The idea that light rail is at the top of the list, as opposed to (U.S.) 460, suggests there is disconnect between what everyday drivers are interested in and what regional leaders want," he said, noting that expanding U.S. 460 was ranked last in importance by those surveyed.
The survey responses, Kidd said, indicate that voters' worries about traffic conditions and support for higher funding "are simply overwhelming."
The poll was commissioned to help political leaders gauge how voters feel about higher taxes as the General Assembly prepares for a second special session on transportation in late June.
The session is being called following a Virginia Supreme Court ruling in February that struck down the Hampton Roads Transportation Authority's plans to levy a series of fees and taxes to finance six major road projects in the region.
Among those projects was the proposed third crossing of Hampton Roads, a multi-phased project that would add tunnels to the Monitor-Merrimac Memorial Bridge-Tunnel and a new connection - with a second set of tubes under the Elizabeth River - connecting Interstate 564 with I-664. The project has irritated some legislators from the Peninsula whose constituents questioned why a wider Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel is not part of the long-range plans.
On Monday, Transportation Secretary Pierce Homer said he would ask the Virginia Department of Transportation to study the feasibility of a new tunnel at the HRBT and determine its probable impacts to neighborhoods along I-64 in Norfolk.
The poll also shows strong evidence that the region is thinking about its transportation problems and how best to address them, Kidd said.
"People in Chesapeake recognize the important of, say, the light rail, while those on the Peninsula see the value of the Midtown Tunnel," he said. "They are thinking beyond parochial boundaries."
Eighty-nine percent of those responding said congestion was either very high or high. Roughly one of every four people surveyed also said that congestion has gotten worse over the past five years.
Asked if they supported or opposed raising more money for transportation projects, 67 percent said they wanted more funding, while 20 percent opposed it.
Asked about a regional sales tax to pay for roads, 24 percent of the respondents supported it, compared with 75 percent who did not.
A new regional gas tax drew a mostly negative response, with 83 percent saying they disagree or strongly disagree with the idea. Those surveyed also didn't like a statewide gas tax. Sixty-eight percent opposed it.
When it came to statewide sales tax increases, the majority in support was slight: Fifty percent agreed and 49 percent did not.
Tom Holden, (757) 446-2331, tom.holden@pilotonline.com
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Right on, Henry; light rail
Right on, Henry; light rail will come to the Beach and our citizens will drag it here over the objections and inaction of our city council. In regard to the views about the HRBT, that is no surprise, but the fastest and best way to get traffic off the HRBT is to have other alternatives and that is what the third crossing and the SR 460 project are all about. Why create the roadblocks that widening the HRBT would cause for a decade when we can build other projects that will take traffic off there without the inconvenience of the building project? The overall impression from the survey is that we have wasted a decade and increased costs for nothing; that is, the citizens understand we need more revenue and better ways to fund transportation improvements. Let us get on with it.
60% Support Expanding Mass Transit, Including Light Rail
That's right: it polled in second place. Now it's time for elected officials to respond and put more transit in place. That includes Virginia Beach joining Norfolk and Portsmouth with Southside Light Rail.
Can't wait to see the VBTA try to wiggle on that 60%/2nd Place number. :)
Well here it is
Proof that we want buses after 7 PM and service on Sundays. Of course, the VBTA will assume this poll is rigged. As a Virginia Beach bus rider, I am all for expanding service to after 6:45 PM (the last trips out of TCC) and have service on Sundays. I would even use a bus to get me to The Tide (be it Norfolk's STARTER line and any extensions). Yes folks, it's a STARTER LINE. It is designed to go further.
HRBT No Distraction Zone
While we wait for construction to begin, make 10 miles of I-64 on both sides of the HRBT a "No Distraction Zone". In this 20 mile stretch drivers cannot use their cell phones, or do anything else that distracts from 100% attention to driving. Install lots of reminder signs and provide stiff enforcement of all traffic laws that address drivers not being efficient in the use of the existing lanes. Use variable message signs to notify drivers who are causing delays by not maintaining their speed. Heavy pressure to drive properly through the HRBT area will greatly lessen the delays we all hate. Teaching proper driving techniques for tunnels and bridges in all driver's ed classes would help as well since the subject is currently ignored both in training and in the testing new drivers must complete in order to be licensed. Construction and new taxes are not the only answer to the congestion problem.
Roads
What this should tell the GA is that we support roads that helpp all the citizens, not Councils pipe dreams that only support one city, like the Southeastern Expressway or 460. It's time for the GA to step up and be mature, intelligent and brave and stop running for re-election. Do what's right for the Commowealth and then you can hold your heads high. Pandering to small constituencies who are obviously in the minority proves you don't have the support. Pay attention.
Poll?
It took a poll to tell our GA that the HRBT expansion was a priority to voters? Wow, they really are out of touch. Expand the HRBT and let the port pay for its new driveway, the Third Crossing, Duh!