UCI

Transportation Solutions

On behalf of the Orange County Transportation Authority, we asked 11 questions on a variety of transportation issues. The questions addressed awareness and satisfaction with Measure M funds, the priority residents place on spending for various public transit and ridesharing programs, and the link residents make between automobile driving and air pollution.

Thirty-five percent of residents say they have seen or heard about Measure M transportation projects in the past few months. Fifty-seven percent have not, and 8 percent are not sure. Awareness of Measure M projects is somewhat higher among employed residents (38%), 35- to 54-year-olds (39%), North County residents (42%) and upper-income households.

About half of residents (48%) say they are satisfied with the way Measure M funds are being used, while 26 percent are not satisfied and 26 percent are undecided. Among those who are aware of Measure M projects, 75 percent are satisfied with the way the funds are being used. North County (56%) and Central County (53%) residents are more pleased about how the Measure M money is being used than are those living elsewhere.

More than half of Orange County residents say that an inter-county commuter rail system (54%) and commuter ride-sharing and van pooling programs (54%) should be high priorities for future funding. Eight in 10 residents rate both of these programs as either "high" or "medium" priorities for future funding.

Forty-six percent rate an intra-county rail system as a high priority for future funding, while 43 percent say shuttle buses that run on carpool lanes from park-and-ride lots to employment centers should be a high priority. About three in four residents rate both of these programs as either "high" or "medium" priorities for future funding. The least-popular transportation project is increasing local bus service, which 34 percent rank as a "high" priority for future funding, and two in three rate as either a "high" or "medium" priority.

Inter-county commuter rail and ride-sharing programs receive the highest priority rankings in every region of the county. The rankings given by employed residents and those who commute to work by driving alone are no different.

North County (56%) and West County (58%) residents are the most supportive of building an inter-county rail system. Residents in the North (58%) and South (57%) regions are more likely than others to place a high priority on ride-sharing programs. Central County residents (39%) are the least supportive of building an intra-county rail system and the most enthusiastic about increasing local bus service (41%). Shuttle buses on freeways are least favored in the West County (37%).

The 1990 and 1991 Orange County Annual Surveys did not ask about support for ride-sharing programs. However, comparisons with previous surveys indicate that support for ride-sharing programs is equal to that for highly popular projects such as widening existing freeways. No other direct comparisons can be made over time, because of changes in question wording.

Also in the 1992 survey, 37 percent of local residents say air pollution is a "big" problem in the Orange County area, while 78 percent rate it as at least "somewhat" of a problem. Twenty-two percent say it is a "small" problem or no problem.

Fifty-two percent of Orange County residents believe "most" of the air pollution problem in Orange County is caused by people driving their automobiles, while 88 percent say automobiles are at least somewhat responsible. About half or more in each demographic group see autos as the major cause of air pollution.

Only 27 percent expect a "great deal" of improvement in air quality from current efforts to reduce solo-driving and increase carpools and public transit use. Seventy-six percent expect at least some improvement, while 23 percent think such efforts will have little or no impact on air quality and 1 percent are uncertain. Those who are not driving alone to work (34%) are more likely than solo commuters (25%) to think efforts to carpool and take public transit can make a significant difference in the air quality. There are no other differences by demographic group.

Thirty-one percent of residents say they would be "much more likely" to use carpools or public transit if they heard it would significantly improve the local air quality, and 32 percent say it would make them "somewhat more likely." Thirty-seven percent would be the same or less likely to stop using their car. The number of employed residents (33%) and solo-drivers (28%) who say they would be much more likely to carpool and take public transit is about the same as for the general public. Willingness to carpool and take public transit after hearing the air quality message is higher for the 18 to 34 age group (37%) than for older residents.