Support for Tolls to Maintain Roads and Bridges

A recent AAA Mid-Atlantic Web poll, posted in the aftermath of the Minneapolis I-35 bridge collapse and the ensuing transportation funding debate, found that nearly six in 10 would support higher tolls to help maintain existing roads and bridges.

Fifty-seven percent (436) of respondents answered “yes” to the question: Would you support higher tolls to maintain existing roads and bridges? Forty-three percent answered “no” (336).

What is more, the poll found that while respondents were willing to support higher tolls to maintain existing roads and bridges, a majority of the poll respondents, the data show, are not in favor of a higher gas tax – either at the federal or state level – to help pay for nationwide and state bridge and road repairs.

About 54 percent (413) said they are not in favor of higher gas taxes, while 47 percent (359) said they were in favor of higher gas taxes to help pay for state bridge and road repairs.

At the same time, on the subject of potential partnerships to manage toll roads between states and private companies, 58 percent (452) of the respondents said they do not support leasing a state toll road to a private operator if the revenue received was spent solely on maintaining existing roads and bridges. In contrast, forty-two percent (320) said they would support the move.