PUBLIC PERCEPTION OF TRANSPORTATION FEES IN Daniel Findley, PhD, PE Weston Head, MS NORTH CAROLINA Michael Cobb, PhD Nick Norboge, PhD Eleni Bardaka, PhD Ravi Chittilla Larry Goode, PhD, PE Paul Broussard
Study Overview - Challenges to the long-term sustainability of revenue streams - Public perceptions of transportation taxes and fees vary by demographics - Many states are exploring alternative funding mechanisms - Survey was designed to better understand how the public perceives transportation taxes and fees - Support exists for increasing road funding, preference exists for the gas tax, but support exists to diversify funding sources
Findings from Similar Studies Across the Country Support for Support for Support for Willingness to Support for Variable VMT Support for VMT Willingness to pay for road Support for Increased Dependent Variable Increased Fuel Increased Fuel pay Toll to be Tolls (By Vehicle improvements Fuel Tax Tax Tax free of delays Type) Age (Older) (-) (+) * (-) * * * (+) Education (+) (+) (+) * * (+) (+) Independent Variable (Higher Levels of Education = 1) Employment (Employed = 1) * * * * Gender (Male = 1) * * (+) (-) * * * (+) Income (Higher Income) (+) * (+) (+) (+) Miles Driven (More miles driven) * * * * (+) Opinion of Government Investment in Transportation Funding * (+) (+) (+) (Favorable Opinion = 1) Party Affiliation (Democrat = 1) (-) (+) (+) (+) (+) (+) (+) General Level of Support 28% 29% 36% 19% 21% 38% 24% 40% Location of Study Virginia National National California and Michigan Virginia California (Author, Year) (Yusuf, 2018) (Nixon/ Agrawal, 2018) (Duncan, 2017) (Fisher/ Wassmer, 2016) (Yusuf, 2014) (Weinstein/ Dill, 2007) * Indicates the variable was included in the model but was found to be insignificant Indicates the variable was positively correlated with the dependent variable Indicates the variable was negatively correlated with the dependent variable
2019 Public Perception Survey Sample Size = 2,245 Response rate = 6.4% Mode = Mail & Web using address based sampling & demographic targets Weights were applied to collected data to ensure sample demographics accurately represent adult NC population (Census)
According to the 2018 statewide customer survey, close to 75% of North Carolinians believed they are currently spending more than they actually do in transportation fees/taxes *Tasaico, July 12, 2019 NC FIRST Commission Presentation
Percentage of of Gr Group Who Responded Accurately Estimates of the Current State + Federal Gas Tax Rate R U per Gallon of Gas Females vs Males F M 50+ <50 Correct Answer < Bachelor’s vs Bachelor’s Degree or Higher B + < B Democrats vs Republicans D R <30 30+ One or Less Vehicles in Household vs More than One Vehicle in Household <1 2+ Indicates Statistically Significant Difference (p-value < .05)
Support Fu Su Fundin ing In Increase, Di Difference by y Gr Group Majority Supports Urban vs Rural: Increasing Transportation U R Spending Females vs Males: F M < 50 yrs. Old vs 50 yrs. Old+ <50 50+ < Bachelor’s vs Bachelor’s Degree or Higher < Bachelor’s vs Bachelor’s Degree or Higher B + < B Democrats vs Republicans R D Less than 30 miles Driven Daily vs More than 30 miles Driven Daily Less than 30 miles Driven Daily vs More than 30 miles Driven Daily <30 30+ One or Less Vehicles in Household vs More than One Vehicle in Household One or Less Vehicles in Household vs More than One Vehicle in Household 2+ <1 Indicates Statistically Significant Difference (p-value < .05)
Preferred Usa sage-Based, Di Difference by y Gr Group Where Should Road Funding Urban vs Rural Come From? R U Females vs Males F M < 50 yrs. Old vs 50 yrs. Old+ <50 50+ < B B + Democrats vs Republicans D R 0% Less than 30 miles Driven Daily vs More than 30 miles Driven Daily General Taxes : General sales tax, 30+ <30 property tax, vehicle property tax Usage Based Fees : Fees from One or Less Vehicles in Household vs More than One Vehicle in Household gasoline, tolls, or miles driven 2+ <1 Indicates Statistically Significant Difference (p-value < .05)
Preference Ranking for How Sele elected Mos ost for Fuel el Used ed, Dif Difference by Group Transportation Should be Funded: By Urban vs Rural Amount of Fuel Used, Miles Driven or U R Vehicle Weight Females vs Males F M < 50 yrs. Old vs 50 yrs. Old+ <50 50+ < B B + Democrats vs Republicans Democrats vs Republicans D R 30+ <30 2+ <1 Indicates Statistically Significant Difference (p-value < .05)
Con onsid idered Fai air, Dif Difference by y Gr Group Perceived fairness of paying $400 in gas tax annually to R U drive 15,000 miles Females vs Males Females vs Males F M < 50 yrs. Old vs 50 yrs. Old+ <50 50+ < Bachelor’s vs Bachelor’s Degree or Higher < B B + Democrats vs Republicans R D <30 30+ One or Less Vehicles in Household vs More than One Vehicle in Household 2+ <1 Indicates Statistically Significant Difference (p-value < .05)
Preferred Mile iles Dri Driven, Di Difference by y Gr Group Preference for Transportation Urban vs Rural Funding: Gas Tax Versus R U Vehicle Miles Driven F M 50+ <50 B + < B Democrats vs Republicans D R Less than 30 miles Driven Daily vs More than 30 miles Driven Daily 30+ <30 2+ <1 Indicates Statistically Significant Difference (p-value < .05)
Reasons for Selecting Gas Tax or Miles Driven Fee “A tax on miles driven is too “Taxing fuel usage invasive on privacy. If you should encourage fuel Cost Reasons for Selecting Gas Tax Reasons for Selecting Miles Driven Fee don't GPS track, it would be 3% conservation which too easy to cheat the system. I Environment Cost also will reduce Unrelated/Unclear 2% certainly don't want the State 2% environmental impact.” 10% Tax tracking me..” Tax 3% Miscellaneous Unrelated/Unclear Environment 4% 1% Privacy 12% 10% 3% Logistics 3% Miscellaneous “Because you cant cheat the gas 2% pump, people will lie about their mileage.” “Your tax would be built into your Logistics Fairness Fairness fuel purchase, not a separate one- 18% 78% 49% time bill you pay. “That way everyone would contribute, even the electric car “Gasoline purchase is the result of drivers.” size and efficiency of car, and amount miles driven by that car.”
Do you Support Hybrid Supported Statement, Di Difference by y Gr Group Urban vs Rural Vehicle Drivers Paying Less R U in Tax Due to Higher Fuel Females vs Males Efficiency? M F < 50 yrs. Old vs 50 yrs. Old+ 50+ <50 < Bachelor’s vs Bachelor’s Degree or Higher < B B + Democrats vs Republicans R D <30 30+ One or Less Vehicles in Household vs More than One Vehicle in Household 2+ <1 Indicates Statistically Significant Difference (p-value < .05)
How much should each of these potential revenue sources contribute to NC roads? 100% Gas Tax Motor Vehicle and Drivers' License Fees Baseline Highway Use Tax Additional Information Alternative Fuel Fee Tolls General Sales Tax Property Tax Vehicle Miles Driven User Fee
Summary North Carolinians, in general (Majority): • Support increasing transportation funding • Have a preference for the gas tax, but support diversity of funding sources • Do not know the current gas tax rate or believe that it is lower than it actually is • Are split as to whether road funding should come from general taxes or usage based fees • Believe that $400 a year in gas tax is a fair amount of money to travel 15,000 miles • Hold similar beliefs on these opinions despite being from urban or rural counties
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