Poll - Higher taxes OK if they reduce traffic woes

WASHINGTON -- Americans are so frustrated by traffic that more than half say they would be willing to pay higher taxes if it really would improve things.

For now, people are changing routes and schedules, but not getting out of their cars. Only about one in 20 uses mass transit, an Associated Press poll found.

Fifty-five percent of those questioned said traffic in their area had worsened in the past five years, and three in 10 said it was much worse, according to the survey conducted for the AP by Ipsos-Public Affairs. Fifty-six percent said they would be willing to pay higher taxes if that would lead to significant improvements in roads and public transportation in their area.

"A tax increase would be worth it, if they would really work to improve the roads," said Pat Parmerlee, a 58-year-old nursing home inspector from Williston, Fla.

Some lawmakers from both parties have proposed adding about 5 cents a gallon to the gasoline tax to help pay for highway improvements. The White House has threatened to veto any measure that includes a tax increase.

"Taxes aren't the answer," said Mary Peters, who heads the Federal Highway Administration. "They don't do anything to promote efficient use of the system."

Peters prefers other approaches: a 511 number that people can call for traffic information, better coordination of traffic signals, faster notification of emergency help, lanes with tolls for those willing to pay, and encouraging private investment in transportation.

Democrats say that is only part of the answer and that more money is needed for road construction.

About two-thirds of those polled said they allow more time for travel because of traffic problems. Smaller majorities said they avoid certain highways and roads, leave earlier for work and avoid travel during certain parts of the day.

Almost 90 percent said they drive themselves to work. Though about one in 20 uses mass transit, one in eight do in the Northeast, where trains and buses are more prevalent.

Independent studies of the nation's traffic patterns quantify the traffic headaches.

The extra time needed for rush-hour traffic has tripled over the past two decades, according to the Texas Transportation Institute, a research agency for the Texas Department of Transportation and a leading source of nationwide studies of traffic.

A study commissioned by the American Highway Users Alliance found the number of traffic chokepoints -- places where highways cannot handle all the cars -- rose 40 percent over five years.

"No matter where you go, the traffic is getting worse," said Douglas Maze, a 64-year-old retiree from Copiague, N.Y.

The average commuting time from home to work was just over 21 minutes, the poll found.

One of the most significant changes in traffic patterns is how congestion spills over into midsize and smaller cities, said Tim Lomax, a research engineer at the institute.

To Judi Mull, 58, of Franklin, Ind., traffic in her town "is a mess." She said: "It was a small town when we first moved here. I'm actually scared to get out and drive."

Charles Palmer, 33, saw his commute grow to well over an hour after he moved outside San Francisco to find more affordable housing. Then he moved to Mooresville, N.C.

Now he is watching the roads in the communities outside Charlotte, N.C., start to overflow. He again finds himself avoiding certain roads, taking back routes and canceling side trips at certain times of the day.

"We're all eventually going to get swallowed up," he said.

The poll of 1,000 adults was taken June 18-20 and had a margin of sampling error of plus or minus 3 percentage points.

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