AAA Members Weigh In on Tolls, Automated Enforcement

The Connecticut General Assembly’s Transportation Committee on Monday heard hours of testimony on proposed legislation regarding tolls and automated traffic enforcement. A recent survey of AAA members in central and eastern Connecticut gauged attitudes on these and other transportation-related issues-- producing some interesting findings.

Survey Results
Seventy-three percent of AAA members surveyed somewhat or strongly agree that the transportation system in their area meets their daily travel needs. Fifty-two percent of respondents say they are not willing to support any increase in transportation funding; 29 percent say they would support adding tolls on existing roads.

Sixty-three percent of respondents support the use of cameras to catch motorists who run red lights; 48 percent support the use of cameras to enforce speed limits.

Here are the detailed results of AAA’s survey:

The transportation system (roads, highways, airports, trains, busses, etc.) in my area meets my daily travel needs?

30%     Strongly agree

43%     Somewhat agree

10%     Neither agree nor disagree

13%     Somewhat disagree

4%       Strongly disagree

The federal gas tax remains the primary funding source for federal transportation programs.  However, at its current level this tax is not sufficient to keep pace with the changes in travel infrastructure. Which one of the following funding options, if any, would you support?

29%     Adding tolls on existing roads that do not currently charge tolls

10%     Increasing the federal gas tax from 18.4 to approximately 30 cents per gallon

8%       Charging drivers a fee based on the number of miles driven

52%     Not willing to support any funding increase

Collecting tolls from motorists is one way the government can help pay for transportation system improvements.  Which of the following kinds of tolls, if any, do you support to pay for these improvements?  (Check all that apply)

34%     Charging tolls on newly constructed roads

33%     Charging solo drivers a toll to ride in High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lanes

17%     Charging tolls to drive on roads during peak travel times

45%     Do not support any of the above

Which of the following do you feel are appropriate ways to spend the tolls collected from motorists? (Check all that apply)

56%     Maintenance for toll road where they were collected

53%     Maintenance for any transportation-related project (roads, bridges, bike and pedestrian paths, public transit; etc.)

19%     Help pay down the general budget deficit

2%       Other non–related transportation projects (funding for sports arenas; etc. ) 

19%     Do not support any of the above

Do you support the use of automated cameras to enforce the following traffic laws?

Red light-running                    63%   Yes            37%   No

Speed enforcement                48%   Yes            52%   No

About the Survey
Responses were collected from AAA members residing in Hartford, Middlesex, Tolland, New London, and Windham Counties. Responses were analyzed by WB&A Market Research in Crofton, Maryland. Results are based on 318 responses and have a margin of error of +/- 5.5 percentage points.