Greater Cincinnati

Voter Attitudes on
Transportation Issues
Key Findings of a Regional Voter Survey
Commissioned by the Cincinnati USA Regional
Chamber and Conducted May 20-24, 2017

220-4754
 Methodology
800 interviews with voters in Greater Cincinnati:
200 voters in Hamilton County, and an additional 200 to yield a total
sample of 400 on key questions
200 in Butler, Clermont, and Warren Counties in Ohio
200 voters in Dearborn County, Indiana, and Boone, Campbell and
Kenton counties in Kentucky
All data weighted to reflect the true
geographic distribution of voters in
the region
Margin of sampling error of 4.6%
at the 95% confidence interval for
the overall sample
Conducted May 20-24, 2017, via
landline and cell phones among
voters who participated in the
November 2016 election
Due to rounding, some percentages
do not add up to 100%

1
Issue Context

2
 Voters have positive views of
transportation agencies and companies.

Very Fav. Smwt. Fav. NHO CR Smwt. Unfav. Very Unfav. Total Total
Fav. Unfav.
CVG, the Cincinnati Northern
36% 39% 11% 7% 5%
Kentucky International Airport 75% 12%

*Transit Authority of
Northern Kentucky, or TANK
40% 24% 26% 64% 7%

^Cincinnati Metro 25% 30% 31% 7% 6% 55% 13%

Uber 22% 23% 10% 35% 5% 6% 44% 11%

^The Southwest Ohio Regional

16% 23% 15% 33% 6% 7%
39% 13%
Transit Authority, or SORTA

*Asked in Kentucky Only ^ Hamilton County Only

3
 Healthcare, poverty and government waste are
seen as the most serious challenges,
followed by deteriorating infrastructure. Ext./
Ext. Ser. Very Ser. Smwt. Ser.
Very Not Too Ser. DK/NA
Ser.
The cost of healthcare 33% 43% 13% 8% 76%
Childhood poverty 31% 34% 23% 8% 65%
Government waste and mismanagement 31% 33% 17% 12% 7% 64%
Deteriorating infrastructure 29% 35% 22% 10% 64%
The quality of public education 26% 37% 19% 15% 62%
Crime 26% 34% 23% 14% 60%
Jobs and the economy 23% 32% 26% 16% 55%
Income inequality 17% 32% 21% 20% 10% 49%
Potholes 22% 23% 32% 22% 45%
The growing gap between the wealthy and
everyone else 21% 24% 27% 21% 7% 45%
The condition of local streets and roads 18% 24% 29% 26% 42%
Traffic congestion 18% 24% 35% 22% 41%
The amount you pay in local taxes 15% 25% 30% 25% 5% 40%

A lack of public transportation options 7% 17% 28% 35% 12% 25%

The pace of growth and development 5% 14% 35% 32% 15% 18%
Q2. Here is a list of issues facing your community. Please tell me whether you consider it to be an extremely serious problem, a very serious problem, a somewhat serious problem or a not too
serious problem for people who live in the greater Cincinnati region. Split Sample
4
 Regional Attitudes
About Transportation

5
 Voters in the region overwhelmingly
rely on driving alone to get around.
Do you regularly, that is, at least two or three times per week, use each
of the following modes of transportation? By that, I mean for any purpose,
including commuting to school or work, running errands, or recreation.

Drive alone 83%

Ride a bicycle 19%

Use a ride-hailing service like Uber or Lyft 18%

Ride buses, trains, or other public

12%
transportation

Q16.
6
 About two-thirds see a benefit to public
transportation, and feel that the current
transportation system is outdated.
My community would benefit Our regional transportation
from an expanded and improved infrastructure is outdated,
public transportation system unreliable and inefficient

Strongly agree 35% Total 33% Total

Agree Agree
Somewhat agree 33% 68% 31% 64%

Somewhat disagree 10% Total 12% Total

Disagree Disagree
Strongly disagree 16% 26% 11% 23%

Dont know/NA 6% 14%

Q5a-b. Let me share some statements about the issue of transportation in the greater Cincinnati region. Please tell me if you agree or disagree.
7
 Voters see personal benefits from the
bus system, even when they dont use it;
they also want to spend less time in their cars.

Strng. Agree Smwt. Agree DK/NA Smwt. Disagree Strng. Disagree Total Total
Agree Disagree
I have no choice but to drive
47% 27% 14% 10% 74% 23%
as much as I do

I would like to spend less time in my car 28% 23% 13% 12% 24% 51% 36%

People take the bus because

41% 31% 5% 14% 9% 71% 23%
they have to, not because they want to

I benefit from bus services,

even if I dont ride them personally
35% 32% 7% 8% 17% 67% 25%

Q5d-g. Let me share some statements about the issue of transportation in the greater Cincinnati region. Please tell me if you agree or disagree. Split Sample
8
Large majorities see at least some need to invest
more transportation funding, though more
urgently for road repairs than public transit.
In general, how much need would you say that there is for more money to______?

Increase the use of

Properly maintain and
alternatives to driving, such as
repair streets and roads
buses, rail, walking and biking

Great/ Great/
Great need 41% Some 27% Some
Some need 45% Need 39% Need
85% 66%
A Little/ A Little/
A little need 8% No Real 17% No Real
No real need 5% Need 13% Need
13% 30%

Dont know/NA 2% 4%

Q3 & Q4.
9
 Highways are a much higher
priority than public transit.

Our top transportation priority

should be building, repairing, and 52%
expanding roads and highways
OR
Our top transportation priority
should be improving and
expanding public transportation, 36%
including trains and buses

Both/Neither/
Don't know/NA 13%

Q6a. Im going to read you several pairs of statements about transportation, and Id like you to tell me which is closer to your view.
10
 Voters strongly prefer fixing the roads and
highways we have over expanding them.

Before we expand roads and

widen highways, we should fix 72%
what we have first
OR
It is important to expand roads
and widen highways to address
growth, even if it means spending 17%
less on routine repairs now

Both/Neither/
Don't know/NA 11%

Q6b. Im going to read you several pairs of statements about transportation, and Id like you to tell me which is closer to your view.
11
 Fix-it-first is a higher priority
across party and geographic groups.
Repairs Widen Difference
Cincinnati 72% 19% +53%

Hamilton County 72% 18% +54%

Suburban Ohio Counties 71% 15% +56%
Indiana/Kentucky Counties 74% 20% +54%

Democrats 79% 18% +61%

Independents 68% 19% +49%
Republicans 70% 16% +54%

Q6b. Im going to read you several pairs of statements about transportation, and Id like you to tell me which is closer to your view.
12
 Reliability and convenience are the biggest
barriers to riding transit more often.
Im going to read you a list of barriers that some people say keep them from
using public transportation, like trains or buses, more often than they do.
Please tell me whether it is a major factor that keeps you from using public
transportation more often, a minor factor, or not a factor at all.

Major Factor Minor Factor Not A Factor DK/NA Major/Minor

Factor
It stops too far from your home or
39% 22% 33% 7% 61%
destination

It takes too long 27% 30% 37% 6% 57%

It doesnt come often enough 25% 27% 38% 10% 52%

I cant count on it to be on time 26% 23% 43% 8% 48%

I just dont like riding public transit 19% 22% 52% 7% 41%

It is too expensive 9% 27% 54% 10% 36%

Q7.
13
 Voter Support
for Transportation
Investments

14
 Conceptually, voters are split on their
willingness to pay additional taxes to
fund regional improvements.
Some people have proposed creating a regional public transportation system that
would better connect people to major jobs and medical centers in the region.
Regardless of how the money were raised, would your household be willing to pay
additional taxes to fund the creation of this kind of regional transportation system?

Very willing 17% Total

Willing
Somewhat willing 29% 46%

Somewhat unwilling 15% Total

Unwilling
Very unwilling 33% 49%

Dont know/NA 5%

Q10.
15
 A narrow majority in Hamilton County
is willing to pay 0.5% in new sales taxes.
Some people have discussed a ballot measure for Hamilton County to fund
improvements to the bus system through a sales tax. If the sales tax rate were one
half of 1%, do you think you would vote yes in favor of it or no to oppose it?

Definitely yes 24% Total

Probably yes 23% Yes
Undecided, lean yes 5% 52%

Undecided, lean no 4%
Total
Probably no 7% No
Definitely no 33% 43%

Undecided 5%

Q8c.
16
 Transit for seniors and people
with disabilities, basic repairs, and the
Brent Spence Bridge are top priorities. Ext./
Ext. Impt. Very Impt. Smwt. Impt. Not Impt. DK/NA Very
Impt.
Ensuring that bus services are available to
seniors and people with disabilities 41% 42% 11% 5% 83%
Starting construction on the Brent Spence
Bridge project 38% 32% 15% 8% 7% 70%

Repairing deteriorating streets and roads 31% 36% 22% 9% 67%

Expanding the availability of transit services for
seniors and persons with disabilities 30% 33% 22% 7% 7% 63%
Expanding bus service to areas where
new jobs are 27% 35% 22% 11% 5% 62%
Replacing and repairing aging buses and
transit infrastructure 16% 40% 26% 16% 56%
Preventing cuts to existing bus service 19% 36% 21% 20% 5% 54%
Providing express service for commuters 20% 33% 25% 19% 53%
Providing real-time information about
bus arrival times 17% 34% 21% 18% 10% 51%
Making it safer to drive, bike and walk on and
along local streets 21% 29% 24% 23% 50%
Q11. I am going to read you a list of some specific projects that could be undertaken to improve transportation in the region. Please tell me how important it is to you that that type of project be
funded: extremely important, very important, somewhat important, or not important. Split Sample
17
Bike lanes, ride-hailing availability, bus stops and
shelters and the streetcar are less urgent. Ext./
Very
Ext. Impt. Very Impt. Smwt. Impt. Not Impt. DK/NA Impt.
Providing crosstown bus routes 15% 33% 27% 23% 49%
Providing more park-and-ride lots in suburbs 17% 28% 30% 16% 9% 45%
Providing service with smaller buses in local 17% 28% 29% 23% 45%
neighborhoods
Expanding the number of bus routes 11% 31% 32% 22% 42%
Offering later bus service hours 12% 29% 32% 24% 41%
Offering improved bus service including faster
trips and earlier service hours 16% 23% 34% 17% 10% 39%
Rebuilding the Western Hills Viaduct 16% 23% 20% 21% 20% 38%
Improving the availability of ride-hailing services
like Uber and Lyft 13% 22% 25% 30% 10% 35%
Building bike lanes and paths 10% 25% 27% 35% 35%
Widening streets and highways 13% 21% 36% 26% 34%
Improving bus stops and bus shelters 10% 21% 38% 25% 6% 31%
Expanding the Cincinnati streetcar 7% 10% 22% 50% 10% 18%
Q11. I am going to read you a list of some specific projects that could be undertaken to improve transportation in the region. Please tell me how important it is to you that that type of project be
funded: extremely important, very important, somewhat important, or not important. Split Sample
18
 More than seven in ten are more likely to support an
elected official who supports completing the BSB.
I am going to read you a list of positions an elected official could take on a number of issues
having to do with transportation in the greater Cincinnati region. Please tell me whether the
position would make you more likely to support him or her, or less likely.
^Asked in Hamilton County Only, n=400
Much More Lkly. Smwt. More Lkly. Makes No Diff./DK/NA Smwt. Less Lkly. Much Less Lkly.
Total Total
More Less
Likely Likely

Completing the Brent Spence

46% 25% 24% 72% 4%
Bridge project

^Rebuilding the Western Hills Viaduct 36% 18% 36% 7% 54% 10%

Expanding public transit 26% 28% 33% 6% 8% 54% 14%

Q12.
19
 Voters of all parties are more likely to back an
official who supports completing the BSB.
Likelihood to Support an Elected Official Who Backs the Completion of
the Brent Spence Bridge Project, by Party
Much More Lkly. Smwt. More Lkly. Makes No Diff./DK/NA Smwt. Less Lkly. Much Less Lkly.
Total Total
More Less
Likely Likely

Democrats 50% 26% 20% 76% 4%

Independents 42% 24% 30% 66% 5%

Republicans 48% 26% 23% 74% 3%

Q12b. I am going to read you a list of positions an elected official could take on a number of issues having to do with transportation in the greater Cincinnati region. Please tell
me whether the position would make you more likely to support him or her, or less likely.
20
Views of Tolls and the
Brent Spence Bridge

21
 Three in five agree that tolls are a fair way to
fund transportation improvements.
Tolls are a fair way to fund transportation improvements.

Strongly agree 25% Total

Agree
Somewhat agree 35% 60%

Somewhat disagree 12% Total

Disagree
Strongly disagree 22% 34%

Undecided 6%

Q5c. Now let me share some statements about the issue of transportation in the greater Cincinnati region. Please tell me if you agree or disagree.
22
 Majorities of voters in all regions agree that
tolls are an appropriate funding source.
Tolls are a fair way to fund transportation improvements.
Total Agree Total Disagree
Difference
Cincinnati +28%
62% 34%

Hamilton County 60% 35% +25%

Suburban Ohio Counties 62% 31%

+31%

Indiana/Kentucky Counties 55% 40%

+14%

Q5c.
23
 More than three in five view a one
dollar toll as acceptable.
Some people have proposed charging a toll to users of the
Brent Spence Bridge to help fund improvements to the bridge. In your
opinion, would a one dollar toll be acceptable, or unacceptable?

Very acceptable 34% Total

Acceptable
Somewhat acceptable 26% 61%

6% Total
Somewhat unacceptable
Unacceptable
Very unacceptable 26% 33%

Dont know/NA 7%

Q14.
24
For more information, contact:

Dave Metz
Dave@FM3research.com

Miranda Everitt
Miranda@FM3research.com

1999 Harrison St., Suite 2020

Oakland, CA 94612
Phone (510) 451-9521
Fax (510) 451-0384