January 10, 2008 - NYC Voters Back Congestion Pricing, If It Helps Transit, Quinnipiac University Poll Finds; Strong Opposition To East River Bridge Tolls Word format New York City voters oppose Mayor Michael Bloomberg's congestion pricing proposal 58 - 37 percent, but they would support congestion pricing 60 - 37 percent if money from the plan is used to improve mass transit in and around the city, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released today. Manhattan voters support congestion pricing in general 52 - 42 percent. Opposition in the other boroughs ranges from 58 - 36 percent in Queens to 74 - 22 percent in Staten Island. Voter support for congestion pricing, if the money is used to improve transit, ranges from 51 - 47 percent in Staten Island to 70 - 27 percent in Manhattan, the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University poll finds. A total of 91 percent of New York City voters say traffic congestion is a "very serious" or "somewhat serious" problem in the city. But by a 69 - 25 percent margin, voters oppose placing tolls on the free East River bridges as a way to reduce traffic. Even Manhattan voters oppose this measure 55 - 36 percent. If they had to choose between congestion pricing or East River bridge tolls, voters prefer congestion pricing 43 - 35 percent, with 22 percent undecided. "Traffic is a horrendous problem, New Yorkers agree. But they reject all the ideas that are being talked about to ease it. Voters remain firm in their opposition to congestion pricing, but they would support it if - IF - the money is used to improve mass transit, " said Maurice Carroll, director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute. "And when they dust off that old idea to toll the East River bridges - fuhgeddaboutit. That idea even makes congestion pricing look good," Carroll added. New York City voters say 54 - 42 percent that congestion pricing would unfairly tax people who live outside of Manhattan. Manhattan voters disagree with that claim 57 - 38 percent. Voters oppose 60 - 35 percent a proposal to reduce traffic by raising parking meter rates in Manhattan. Opposition ranges from 55 - 38 percent in Manhattan to 70 - 24 percent in The Bronx. "For good measure, New Yorkers don't like another idea that's emanated from the Congestion Pricing Commission - raising parking meter charges," Carroll said. From January 3 - 7, Quinnipiac University surveyed 1,162 New York City registered voters, with a margin of error of +/- 2.9 percentage points. The Quinnipiac University Poll, directed by Douglas Schwartz, Ph.D., conducts public opinion surveys in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Florida, Ohio and nationwide as a public service and for research. For more data -- http://www.quinnipiac.edu/x271.xml, or call (203) 582-5201. 15. The Bloomberg administration has suggested using congestion pricing to reduce traffic in New York City by charging a fee for vehicles that drive south of 86th Street in Manhattan. Do you support or oppose the Bloomberg administration's congestion pricing plan? Tot Rep Dem Ind Wht Blk Hisp Support 37% 38% 36% 39% 44% 28% 29% Oppose 58 59 59 53 50 66 69 DK/NA 5 3 5 8 6 7 3 Brnx Kngs Man Qns StIsl Men Wom Support 30% 32% 52% 36% 22% 40% 34% Oppose 67 61 42 58 74 55 61 DK/NA 3 7 6 5 4 5 6 TREND: The Bloomberg administration has suggested using congestion pricing to reduce traffic in New York City by charging a fee for vehicles that drive south of 86th Street in Manhattan. Do you support or oppose the Bloomberg administration's congestion pricing plan? Jan 10 Nov 19 Aug 30 Jul 26 2008 2007 2007 2007 Support 37 33 36 41 Oppose 58 61 57 52 DK/NA 5 6 8 6 16. Would you support congestion pricing if the money were used to improve mass transit in and around New York City? Tot Rep Dem Ind Wht Blk Hisp Yes 60% 56% 61% 63% 60% 55% 67% No 37 43 36 34 37 42 30 DK/NA 3 1 3 3 3 3 2 Brnx Kngs Man Qns StIsl Men Wom Yes 57% 56% 70% 61% 51% 61% 59% No 39 42 27 36 47 37 37 DK/NA 4 2 3 3 1 2 4 17. Do you agree or disagree with the following statement - Congestion pricing would unfairly tax people who live outside of Manhattan. Tot Rep Dem Ind Wht Blk Hisp Agree 54% 54% 53% 56% 51% 61% 55% Disagree 42 41 44 39 44 34 43 DK/NA 4 5 3 5 5 6 2 Brnx Kngs Man Qns StIsl Men Wom Agree 58% 60% 38% 56% 64% 53% 55% Disagree 37 34 57 41 36 43 40 DK/NA 5 6 4 3 1 4 5 TREND: Do you you agree or disagree with the following statement - Congestion pricing would unfairly tax people who live outside of Manhattan. Jan 10 Nov 19 May 24 Jan 18 2008 2007 2007 2007 Agree 54 54 59 57 Disagree 42 42 36 37 DK/NA 4 4 5 7 18. How much of a problem do you think traffic congestion is in New York City? A very serious problem, somewhat serious, not very serious, or not a problem at all? Tot Rep Dem Ind Wht Blk Hisp Very serious 52% 48% 53% 53% 52% 53% 51% Smwht serious 39 41 38 41 42 35 39 Not very serious 6 6 7 4 5 8 7 Not a problem at all 2 2 2 1 0 3 3 DK/NA 1 3 1 1 1 1 1 Brnx Kngs Man Qns StIsl Men Wom Very serious 58% 44% 52% 54% 60% 52% 52% Smwht serious 36 45 41 35 34 40 39 Not very serious 5 8 4 7 6 7 6 Not a problem at all - 2 2 2 - 1 2 DK/NA 1 1 1 1 - 0 2 TREND: How much of a problem do you think traffic congestion is in New York City? A very serious problem, somewhat serious, not very serious, or not a problem at all? Jan 10 Nov 19 Aug 30 May 24 Jan 18 2008 2007 2007 2007 2007 Very serious 52 52 55 59 55 Smwht serious 39 35 34 31 34 Not very serious 6 9 8 7 6 Not at all 2 2 1 2 2 DK/NA 1 2 2 2 2 19. A commission is considering recommending having tolls placed on the East River bridges to reduce traffic in New York City. Do you support or oppose having tolls placed on the East River bridges? Tot Rep Dem Ind Wht Blk Hisp Support 25% 24% 26% 25% 32% 18% 21% Oppose 69 69 67 68 62 75 71 DK/NA 7 7 6 7 6 7 8 Brnx Kngs Man Qns StIsl Men Wom Support 20% 19% 36% 25% 23% 24% 25% Oppose 76 75 55 68 73 72 66 DK/NA 4 7 9 7 3 4 9 20. If you had to choose between having tolls placed on the East River bridges or Mayor Bloomberg's congestion pricing plan, which would you prefer? Tot Rep Dem Ind Wht Blk Hisp Tolls 35% 35% 36% 33% 33% 38% 45% Congestion pricing 43 43 42 46 48 35 37 DK/NA 22 22 21 21 19 27 18 Brnx Kngs Man Qns StIsl Men Wom Tolls 41% 31% 33% 33% 49% 29% 40% Congestion pricing 35 44 51 42 27 50 37 DK/NA 24 25 15 25 24 22 23 21. The commission is also considering recommending raising parking meter rates in Manhattan to reduce traffic in New York City. Do you support or oppose raising parking meter rates in Manhattan? Tot Rep Dem Ind Wht Blk Hisp Support 35% 34% 34% 36% 40% 25% 31% Oppose 60 62 61 59 54 72 64 DK/NA 5 4 5 5 6 3 6 Brnx Kngs Man Qns StIsl Men Wom Support 24% 36% 38% 37% 32% 38% 32% Oppose 70 59 55 59 67 59 62 DK/NA 6 6 7 4 1 4 6
