A new Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) survey reveals that, contrary to the approach taken by liberal Democrats, Washingtonians prioritize reducing traffic congestion above all other transportation-related issues. About 26% of survey respondents believe traffic congestion relief should be a priority of state officials, 23% believe it should be a priority for local officials.
When asked how they would spend transportation dollars, survey respondents indicated that they are “most interested in investing in increasing capacity and maintaining the system, followed by expanding travel options.”
Given the survey results, it’s hard to imagine that reducing traffic congestion has not been listed as a transportation priority in Washington State since 2007. That’s because, in 2007, with Democrats in control of the Governor’s office and both legislative bodies, partisan lawmakers created a list of six goals of transportation policy and removed congestion as a funding priority for the state. During the 2015 legislative session, thanks to the Republican Senate majority, reducing congestion was added back in as a priority of transportation policy.
It appears this effort at social engineering by the Democrats is a major fail so far.
tensor says
From the WSDOT study:
A total of 7,524 surveys, or 25% of the total sent, were completed from June 11-22nd, 2015. The 2014 VOWS survey resulted in 19% (5,531) of the surveys being completed.
So, less than one in five persons surveyed even bothered to give a complete response. When 81% of persons asked effectively respond with, “why bother?” that’s hardly a huge mandate for changing priorities.