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“Green” Transportation Taxes & Fees: A Survey of Californians
Questionnaire and Top-Line Results
A total of 1,500 California adults were
interviewed by phone from January 20 to February 1, 2008,
using a computer-generated random sample of telephone
numbers, assuring that both listed and unlisted phones were
included. Interviews were conducted in English and Spanish.
Each number was called back up to six times to increase the
likelihood of completing interviews with eligible
households. To counter the tendency of women and older
people to answer the household telephone, a systematic
screening method was used at the household level; surveyors
asked to speak to the youngest male available, and then the
youngest female. Surveys took an average of 13 minutes to
complete. The overall margin of error for the survey is +/-
2.5% at the 95% confidence level. Results were weighted
slightly to correspond to 2000 U.S. Census data for gender
and region.
The survey questionnaire was drafted by
Mineta Transportation Institute Research Associates Asha W.
Agrawal, Jennifer Dill, and Hilary Nixon. The Survey and
Policy Research Institute (SPRI) at San José State
University was engaged to manage this survey, and the final
questionnaire form was developed by SPRI Director Philip J.
Trounstine. EMH Opinion Sampling, Inc. conducted the
telephone interviewing.
* * *
1. We are interested in your opinions about some policy issues
in California. Do you think that smog and air pollution is a big
problem, somewhat of a problem, not much of a problem, or no
problem at all in California?
56% A big problem
34 Somewhat of a problem
7 Not much of a problem
4 No problem at all
1 Don’t know
2. What about traffic congestion? Do you
think that traffic congestion is a big problem, somewhat of a
problem, not much of a problem, or no problem at all in
California?
76% A big problem
18 Somewhat of a problem
3 Not much of a problem
3 No problem at all
1 Don’t know
3. Now I'd like to know if the quality of the transportation
system is a problem FOR YOU OR YOUR FAMILY? By the
transportation system, I mean highways, local streets, and
transit. Is it a big problem, somewhat of a problem, not much of
a problem, or no problem at all?
25% A big problem
31 Somewhat of a problem
21 Not much of a problem
22 No problem at all
1 Don’t know
4. Now I'd like to know if air pollution
is a health problem FOR YOU OR YOUR FAMILY. Would you say it is
a big problem, somewhat of a problem, not much of a problem, or
no problem at all?
23% A big problem
26 Somewhat of a problem
20 Not much of a problem
31 No problem at all
1 Don’t know
5. Overall, do you think that state and
local government does or does not have adequate funding to
maintain and improve the transportation system?
32% Does
49 Does not
19 Don’t know
6. Generally speaking, should the fees
that people pay to register their vehicles take into account the
gasoline mileage those vehicles achieve? That is, should the
fees be lower for vehicles that get more miles per gallon, and
higher for vehicles that get fewer miles per gallon?
57% Yes, fees should take fuel efficiency into
account
34 No, fees should not take fuel efficiency into
account
9 Don’t know
7. As a general principle, should the
fees that people pay to register their vehicles take into
account the amount of pollution those vehicles emit? That is,
should the fees be lower for vehicles that emit less air
pollution, and higher for vehicles that emit more air pollution?
68% Yes, fees should take pollution into account
27 No, fees should not take pollution into
account
6 Don’t know
Next, I'm going to read you a series of
statements. For each statement, please tell me if you think it
is DEFNITELY true, probably true, probably false, or DEFINITELY
false. [Accept but do not offer “don’t
know.”]
8a. State and federal gas taxes provide
all the money that is spent to build and maintain highways and
roads in California.
6% Definitely true
17 Probably true
32 Probably false
31 Definitely false
13 Don’t know
8b. State and federal gas tax rates have
not been raised in more than 10 years.
5% Definitely true
15 Probably true
24 Probably false
26 Definitely false
31 Don’t know
8c. Exhaust from cars, vans, pickups, and
SUVs is an important source of the pollution that causes asthma
and makes asthma attacks worse.
32% Definitely true
41 Probably true
11 Probably false
5 Definitely false
11 Don’t know
8d. In California, motor vehicles,
including cars, trucks and trains, are the single largest source
of air pollutants that cause smog.
26% Definitely true
38 Probably true
20 Probably false
10 Definitely false
6 Don’t know
8e. In California, motor vehicles,
including cars, trucks, and trains, are the single largest
source of so-called “greenhouse gases” that many scientists say
are causing global warming.
19% Definitely true
36 Probably true
21 Probably false
13 Definitely false
12 Don’t know
8f. All NEW cars, vans, pickups, and SUVs
pollute the same amount FOR EACH MILE DRIVEN.
6% Definitely true
10 Probably true
28 Probably false
46 Definitely false
11 Don’t know
Now I have some questions about your daily
travel.
9. In the PAST SEVEN DAYS, have you taken
any form of public transit, like a bus, light rail, subway, or
commuter train?
13% Yes
87 No
<1 Don’t know
10. In the PAST SEVEN DAYS, have you
walked or biked FROM YOUR HOME to get to work, shopping, eating
out, or other errands?
34% Yes
66 No
<1 Don’t know
11. About how many miles did you,
personally, drive during the past 12 months in all motorized
vehicles? Please EXCLUDE miles you drove as part of a job.
8% Drive 1-500 miles
9 Drive 501-1500 miles
9 Drive 1501-3000 miles
21 Drive 3001-7500 miles
22 Drive 7501-12500 miles
7 Drive 12500-15000 miles
5 Drive 15000-20000 miles
7 Drive 20001-99999 miles
6 Don’t drive
7 Don’t know
12. As a result of the recent rise in
gasoline prices, how much, if any, have you cut back on your
driving? Have you cut back a lot, a little or not at all?
25% Cut back a lot
35 Cut back a little
39 Not at all
2 Not applicable, don't
drive
<1 Don’t know
13. Now I have a few questions about the
vehicle you drive THE MOST. What is the model year of this
vehicle?
2% 1951-1984
10 1985-1993
23 1994-1999
29 2000-2003
32 2004-2008
2 Don’t drive
[skip to q18]
14. What type of vehicle is it? Is this
vehicle a…
62% Passenger car
8 Van or minivan
16 Sport utility vehicle
13 Pickup truck or other
truck
<1 Motorcycle
[skip to q16]
<1 Mo-ped or motor scooter [skip to q16]
1 Other
[skip to q16]
15. Is this a compact, mid-sized, or large
model?
34% Compact
46 Mid-sized
18 Large
1 Don’t know
16. What is the approximate fuel
efficiency of this vehicle? In other words, how many miles per
gallon does the vehicle get?
4% <13 MPG
12 13-17 MPG
28 18-22 MPG
20 23-27 MPG
23 28-75 MPG
14 Don’t know
17. When you purchased or leased this
vehicle, how much of a factor was gas mileage? Was it a very
important factor, somewhat important, not very important, or not
important at all?
29% Very important factor
37 Somewhat important
factor
13 Not very important
factor
20 Not important at all
2 Don’t know
Now I have some questions about your opinions
on some policy issues.
18. Do you agree or disagree with the
following statement? We must protect the environment, even if it
means paying higher prices for gasoline and electricity.
63% Agree
33 Disagree
5 Don’t know
19. To solve today's environmental
problems do you think people like you will have to make major
lifestyle changes, minor lifestyle changes or no real lifestyle
changes?
34% Major change
54 Minor change
11 No change
1 Don’t know
20. Do you think the United States should
meet its growing energy needs by emphasizing more DOMESTIC
production of gas, oil, and coal supplies, OR should the U.S.
instead emphasize developing renewable energy supplies like
wind, hydro and solar power?
9% Emphasize gas, oil, and coal supplies
71 Emphasize wind, hydro, and solar power
14 Both
2 Neither
4 Don’t know
21. Would you rather pay higher taxes to
support a larger state government that provides more services,
OR would you rather pay lower taxes and have a smaller state
government that provides fewer services?
38% Higher taxes and more state services
44 Lower taxes and fewer state services
3 Both
7 Neither
8 Don’t know
There are many different ways to raise
funds for maintaining and improving highways, mass transit, and
local streets. I'd like to ask your thoughts about some of
these. [rotate questions 22-24]
22. One idea (another idea) to raise funds
for transportation is to increase the state's vehicle
REGISTRATION fee from its current rate of $31 per vehicle per
year to $62 per year per vehicle. Would you strongly support,
somewhat support, somewhat oppose, or strongly oppose that idea?
18% Strongly support
23 Somewhat support
16 Somewhat oppose
31 Strongly oppose
5 Don’t know
22a. An alternative would be to increase
the vehicle registration fee to an AVERAGE of $62 per year, but
vary the fee according to how much the vehicle pollutes.
Vehicles that pollute more would pay higher fees, and those that
pollute less would pay lower fees. Would you strongly support,
somewhat support, somewhat oppose, or strongly oppose that idea?
37% Strongly support
27 Somewhat support
9 Somewhat oppose
24 Strongly oppose
4 Don’t know
22b. What if the additional money raised
from the variable registration fee just described were dedicated
for transportation projects that would help reduce smog and
greenhouse gases - projects like converting transit and school
buses to cleaner fuels, or building new biking and walking
paths? Would this make you more or less likely to support
raising registration fees based on how much a vehicle pollutes?
64% More likely
20 Less likely
10 No difference
5 Don’t know
23. One idea (another idea) is create a
new tax and tax REBATE system on all new vehicles base on how
much they pollute. People who buy a new vehicle that doesn't
pollute much would receive a rebate of up to $1,000. People who
buy a new vehicle that pollutes a lot, such as a very large SUV,
would pay a tax up to $2,000. People who buy a vehicle that
pollutes about the average would not pay or receive anything.
Would you strongly support, somewhat support, somewhat oppose,
or strongly oppose that idea?
39% Strongly support
27 Somewhat support
10 Somewhat oppose
20 Strongly oppose
4 Don’t know
24. One idea (another idea) is to
eliminate the eighteen-cents-per-gallon state gas tax altogether
and replace it with a fee based on the number of miles you
drive. Each driver would pay a fee of one cent per mile for
every mile driven within the state. For example, every one
hundred miles driven would pay a fee of one dollar. Vehicles
would be equipped with an electronic means to keep track of
miles driven and the fee would be paid when drivers buy gas.
Would you strongly support, somewhat support, somewhat oppose,
or strongly oppose that idea?
12% Strongly support
16 Somewhat support
12 Somewhat oppose
52 Strongly oppose
7 Don’t know
24a. A variation on the mileage fee just
described is to have the fee vary depending upon how much the
vehicle pollutes. On average, vehicles would pay one cent per
mile, but vehicles that pollute the least would pay less and
vehicles that pollute the most would pay more per mile. Would
you strongly support, somewhat support, somewhat oppose, or
strongly oppose that idea?
25% Strongly support
25 Somewhat support
11 Somewhat oppose
35 Strongly oppose
5 Don’t know
D1. What is your gender?
49% Female
51 Male
D2. What race or ethnicity do you consider
yourself?
68% White, Caucasian or European
18 Hispanic, Latino, Mexican-American
6 Asian, Pacific-Islander, East Indian
6 Black, African-American
2 Other, including Native American and
multiple race
D3. What is your age?
19% 18-24 years
38 25-54 years
43 55 years+
D4. Do you own or rent your current
residence?
71% Own
29 Rent
D5. What is your education level?
5% Less than high school degree
16 High school graduate
27 Some college
26 College graduate
(four-year)
4 Some graduate school
22 Graduate degree
D6. Are you employed?
62% Yes
16 No [skip to D8]
22 Retired
[skip to D8]
D7. Is that full-time or part-time?
81% Full
19 Part
D8. How do you usually commute to work?
76% Drive yourself
5 Transit (bus, light rail, train, subway)
5 Carpool
2 Bicycle
3 Walk
10 Work at home, do not commute
D9. As you know, many people are so busy
these days they can't find time to register to vote, or they
move around so often they don't get a chance to re-register. Are
you now registered to vote in your precinct, or haven't you been
able to register for one reason or another?
83% Yes, registered
14 No, not registered
[skip to D12]
3 I’m not a US citizen/I'm registered to vote
in a country outside the US [skip to D12]
1 Don’t know [skip to
D12]
D10. In what party are you registered to
vote? (If respondent says “independent” ask: Do you mean you're
registered in the American Independent Party or do you mean
you're registered but you declined to state a party?)
47% Democrat
33 Republican
13 Independent (i.e. Decline to State)
1 Libertarian
<1 Peace & Freedom
1 Green Party
1 Other (including American Independent)
3 Don’t know
D11. How often would you say you vote: all
of the time, most of the time, occasionally, seldom, or never?
73% All of the time
20 Most of the time
5 Occasionally
1 Seldom
1 Never
<1 Don’t know
D12. Finally, and of course
confidentially, please stop me when I mention a range that
describes your household income.
11% less than $20,000
14 more than $20,000 but less than $35,0000
12 more than $35,000 but less than $50,000
18 more than $50,000 but less than $75,0000
16 more than $75,000 but less than $100,000
15 more than $100,000 but less than $150,000
14 more than $150,000 |
