Poll shows support for Triangle rail service
Published: Thu, Apr. 27, 2006 12:00AM
Modified Thu, Apr. 27, 2006 02:51AM
E-Mail
Print
tool name
closeA new survey shows that Triangle residents are rooting for the region's troubled rail transit project, Triangle Transit Authority officials said Wednesday.
Respondents in Wake, Durham and Orange counties agreed in large numbers that a regional rail system would stimulate economic development and improve life in the Triangle. They said traffic congestion is a big problem that will get much worse, and they favored federal funding for the TTA's proposed 28-mile train line.
The TTA is distributing the results, along with a promotional video, to demonstrate local support while the government resolves doubts about whether the trains would attract enough riders to warrant the $810 million cost.
SURVEY RESPONSES
Q. How Triangle traffic congestion will change in 5-10 years.
A. Much worse, 69%. Somewhat worse, 25%. Better, 6%.
Q. Best fix for congestion.
A. More roads only, 23%. Variety of options including roads, buses and regional rail, 70%.
Q. Whether regional rail would stimulate economic development around the rail stations.
A. Yes, 56%. No, 26%.
Q. Federal gas taxes collected here for rail transit funding should be spent here or elsewhere.
A. Projects elsewhere, 14%. Regional rail in the Triangle, 69%.
Q. More or less likely to vote for a candidate who supports regional rail in the Triangle.
A. More likely, 52%. Less likely, 22%. Not sure, 25%.
Q. Federal government should fund Triangle rail project.
A. No, 25%. Yes, 61%.
SOURCE: TRIANGLE TRANSIT AUTHORITY
More Local & State
"It's our job to keep going because people are depending on us [to build the transit system]," said Anne Franklin of Raleigh, a TTA trustee.
TTA paid OnPoint Polling and Research of Raleigh $2,500 for the automated telephone survey of 811 residents, which was conducted April 12.
The questions cited traffic problems and possible benefits of rail transit, but not project costs or ticket prices. Respondents were not asked whether they would ride the trains.
Get it all with convenient home delivery of The News & Observer.
The News & Observer is pleased to be able to offer its users the opportunity to make comments and hold conversations online. However, the interactive nature of the internet makes it impracticable for our staff to monitor each and every posting.
Since The News & Observer does not control user submitted statements, we cannot promise that readers will not occasionally find offensive or inaccurate comments posted on our website. In addition, we remind anyone interested in making an online comment that responsibility for statements posted lies with the person submitting the comment, not The News and Observer.
If you find a comment offensive, clicking on the exclamation icon will flag the comment for review by the administrators, we are counting on the good judgment of all our readers to help us.
