Scientific survey of over 2,400 regional residents conducted by TPB that was representative of urban, inner suburban and outer suburban jurisdictions.
Shows that the region’s residents generally demand more walkable, bikeable and transit-friendly communities and climate action, and prioritize this much more than expanding roads and parking
Climate Action
84% of the region’s residents want elected officials to consider the impacts of climate change when planning transportation.
For residents under 30 years of age, those most impacted by our long-range planning decisions and by climate change, that percentage rises to 92%.
Overwhelming majorities of suburban as well as urban residents across the region’s jurisdictions agreed.
Even in outer suburban jurisdictions, between 72 and 78% of residents wanted climate change considered in transportation planning.
These percentages are much higher than those expressing congestion to be a significant concern that impacts their lives a lot (44%).
Support for expanded pedestrian zones, bike lanes, and bus lanes
Three quarters of survey respondents said they support post-pandemic use of street space for expanded pedestrian access and restaurant seating.
Strong majorities also support bike lanes (63%) and bus lanes (71%), and a narrow majority (54%) support dedicated bus lanes even in situations that involve removal of on-street parking.
It’s not only city residents who want dedicated bus lanes, either: the majority of survey respondents live in suburban areas, with a plurality from outer suburbs.
“What transportation investments should we make today that future generations will thank us for tomorrow?” – only a small minority (134 out of 637) called for more or wider roads:
259 responses called for improving transit, walking and biking
172 responses called for clean transportation investments
134 responses called for more roads and more/wider car lanes
72 responses called for improving the condition of existing bridges and roads
Dissatisfaction with region’s transportation system is by far the highest in the car-dependent outer suburbs