Public Opinion Research Implications for Planning & Policy

1. Public Opinion ResearchImplications for Planning & Policy Select Findings and Observations February 15, 2007 Presented By Adam Davis, Partner Su Midghall, Partner Davis, Hibbitts & Midghall, Inc. www.dhmresearch.com

2. Research Purposes • Assess regional attitudes toward transportation system improvements • Assess motivations for reducing automobile trips • Telephone survey of 1,050 regional residents (SACOG six county area), January 19-24, 2007 • Margin of error +/- 3.0% • Supplemental survey and focus group research to validate and elaborate on findings Research Purpose

3. Overall, how would you rate your community as a place to live? You can use any number between 1 and 4, were 4 is excellent and 1 is poor. SACOG Residents Rate Their Community Highly as a Place to Live Scale of 1=poor to 4=excellent

4. Access to retail, services, entertainment • Small town feeling • Open space and nature • The people • Security • Community feeling • Weather Like Most About Living in Region

5. How would you describe the situation related to transportation here in the 6-county Sacramento region: not a serious problem, a problem but not that serious, a serious problem, or a critical problem? Transportation System is a Big Concern

6. “I think emissions is the primary reason” • “Sitting in traffic is horribly wasteful economically” • “If we had better transportation 911 responses would be much faster” • “If you don’t spend money on really important issues like this, in the long run, your society will deteriorate” Why Should Something be Done About the Region’s Transportation Problems

7. Why Should Something Be Done About the Region’s Transportation Problems • “Problems with gridlock” • “The frustration factor. Something’s got to be done about the number of cars on the road” • “There’s accidents continually from aggressive drivers trying to get to where they want to go” • “[To] end up with a saner, happier population with few social problems”

8. Transportation System Needs to be Fixed • Four in five believe transportation system improvements must be made

9. Are there any transportation system improvements you would like to see including roads, freeways, bus, light rail, or pedestrian or bicycle improvements? Support for Transportation System Improvements

10. Residents Want a Mix of Transportation Improvements • Residents consistently identify a mix of needed highway/freeway and public transportation improvements • Same priorities whether prompted or unprompted • Also see road maintenance as a priority

11. What Should be Done About the Region’s Transportation Problems • “Not enough bridges are causing congestion—everything is plugged up” • “Limit external growth and promote a strong and vital inner city” • “Encourage employers to incentivize carpooling and flextime” • “Light rail is fine for the region, but we need better maintained and wider roads”

12. “Higher gas tax” • “They should have smaller buses-like vans to come around more often. Those big buses can’t get through the neighborhoods and they’re always empty” • Greater light rail access to outlying areas” • “Coordinate regional transportation development” What Should be Done About the Region’s Transportation Problems

13. Can you please describe the specific improvements you would like to see made? Desired Transportation System Improvements-Unprompted

14. I would now like to ask you about road and freeway system improvements to reduce traffic congestion in the region. Road and Freeway Options for Reducing Congestion Scale of 1=not important at all to 5=extremely important

15. I would like to ask you about public transit options to reduce traffic congestion in the region Public Transit Options for Reducing Congestion Scale of 1=not important at all to 5=extremely important

16. Priorities are Similar: Emphasis Differs • All areas and groups of residents want a balance of highway/freeway improvements and public transportation expansion • Differences in transportation priorities are ones of emphasis, not overall value

17. Different Factors Influence Desired Emphasis • Where residents live • Length of commute • Age • How they view the seriousness of the transportation situation • How likely they are to want to reduce car trips for a variety of different reasons

18. Residents See Benefits of Transportation Alternatives • For low income to have mobility • For elderly to have mobility • Alternatives that are better for the environment • Alternatives that are perceived to be more safe • Some alternatives less stressful • Alternatives that reduce use of fossil fuel

19. Residents are Trying • Many are changing behavior as much as they can • Bundling errands • Online shopping • Walking and bicycling more • Carpooling • Using public transit more

20. Steps People Say They Could Take to Reduce Car Trips • “Ride a bike; walk; carpool” • “Telecommute” • “More Internet shopping” • “Walk down the street instead of driving” • “Plan outings better” • “Find out about alternative transportation options” • “Work closer to home; less shopping”

21. Many Say They are Likely to Reduce Car Trips • Without being told of any possible changes, 45% say they are likely to shift at least 10% of their car trips to transit, walking, or bicycling over the next five years • In another question, 83% said at least one of six possible changes would cause them to reduce their car trips

22. What Motivates Residents to Reduce Car Trips • Besides gas at $4.50 a gallon, residents say other changes would cause them to reduce driving: • Transit service nearer their home and work • More frequent transit service • Safer transit service • Transit service that is at least as fast as driving • Transit service that is less expensive than driving and parking

23. Maxdiff Exercise

24. MaxdiffResults

25. Segmentation—CLuster Analysis • Segment 1 (10%): • Dedicated Drivers 12% “Very likely” to reduce car trips (vs. 22% overall) • Segment 2 (18%): • Ride Share Fans 33% “Very likely” to reduce car trips (vs. 22% overall) • Segment 3 (7%): • Suburban Commuters 3% “Very likely” to reduce car trips (vs. 22% overall) • Segment 4 (14%): • Roads & Rails 16% “Very likely” to reduce car trips (vs. 22% overall) • Segment 5 (10%): • Progressive 40% “Very likely” to reduce car trips (vs. 22% overall) • Segment 6 (10%): • Status Quo 14% “Very likely” to reduce car trips (vs. 22% overall)

26. Public Transit Improvements Wanted • Potential for much greater use of public transit options is there • Light rail, in particular, gets consistently high marks no matter how we ask about it. Additional bus service also is viewed as important

27. Different Improvements Needed • Given the diverse needs of the region and residents’ desire to reduce congestion, reduce use of fossil fuel, and improve air quality, addressing the region’s transportation system situation will involve different transportation system improvements—involving both highways and transit

28. Transportation System Needs to be Fixed • Seven in 10 believe new revenue will be needed

29. In general, do you think that over the next 10 years existing revenue resources will provide adequate funds to build the regional transportation system we will need in the future, or do you think new revenue sources will be needed? New Revenue Sources for the Transportation System

30. Strategies must: Provide adequate access and efficiency of alternatives to driving Look not only at expanding services, but also land use and other policies that complement and support alternative transportation where it makes sense At the same time provide freeway and road maintenance improvements where need is greatest Multi-Layered Strategies Needed

31. “Security on public transportation, cleaner” • “Make RT run later into the night” • “Metro Sacramento BART system connection to the airport” • “Expand RT light rail to college communities” • “Better designed public transit - parking access, security and safety, more direct routes, and greater coverage to other areas” Transportation System Improvements That Could Help People Reduce Car Trips

32. Transportation System Improvements That Could Help People Reduce Car Trips • “Bus and light rail with more frequent service and closer stops” • “More jobs closer to home” • “Building the light rail Sac-Davis-Davis-Sac as voted years ago” • “More (and safer) bike lanes” • “Having smaller busses which are clean and safe and come more often through neighborhood streets”