Survey questions were likely skewed to get pro-toll results.
Education may shift toll road acceptance into fast lane
10/13/2005
Patrick Driscoll
San Antonio Express-News
Copyright 2005
If information circulating about planned toll roads in San Antonio weren't so negative, more people would warm up to the idea, a survey released Wednesday concludes.
Of 500 registered voters questioned last month on behalf of the Alamo Regional Mobility Authority, 49 percent said they're against toll plans while 44 percent said they're in favor.
But after being told details and how toll roads would help, the approval rate went up to 58 percent while rejections dropped to 34 percent.
The message is clear, said Marc DelSignore of Austin-based Baselice & Associates, which conducted the poll: The mobility authority's upcoming education campaign should repeat the key benefits of toll roads as much as possible to increase understanding and support.
"We have an opportunity here," he told the authority's board.
Another good sign, officials said, is that higher percentages of residents on the North Side — where most of about 70 miles of toll roads are to be built — favor the lanes.
Mobility authority Chairman Bill Thornton said he was encouraged by the results.
"We know the challenge and the opportunities before us," he said.
However, critics have doubts and said survey questions were likely skewed to get pro-toll results.
"How can we trust anything that comes from the tolling authority," said Terri Hall of Texas Toll Party — San Antonio. "If they want to really know what people think about this, put it to a vote. Stop the push polls."
Bexar County Commissioner Lyle Larson, who represents the North Side, surmised the poll must be flawed and joked that maybe a lot of participants are connected to road construction and engineering firms.
"I don't get that kind of feedback," he said. "People are overwhelmingly opposed."
DelSignore said the RMA needs to pound home the message that tolls will speed up construction of new highway lanes by as much as 15 years, traffic congestion will be reduced on both toll lanes and non-toll lanes, no toll booths will be used because collections will be done using electronic tags, and there always will be an option for motorists to use non-tolled lanes.
Toll opponent Michael Gravett of Encino Park said those messages misrepresent some facts.
He said there's no mention that existing highways can be downgraded to access roads, and he questioned how much gridlock would be cut since congestion on non-toll lanes is actually needed to make toll roads pay for themselves.
"That poll represents what this board wants it to represent," he said.
The poll's margin of error is 4.9 percent.
pdriscoll@express-news.net
San Antonio Express-News: www.mysanantonio.com
10/13/2005
Patrick Driscoll
San Antonio Express-News
Copyright 2005
If information circulating about planned toll roads in San Antonio weren't so negative, more people would warm up to the idea, a survey released Wednesday concludes.
Of 500 registered voters questioned last month on behalf of the Alamo Regional Mobility Authority, 49 percent said they're against toll plans while 44 percent said they're in favor.
But after being told details and how toll roads would help, the approval rate went up to 58 percent while rejections dropped to 34 percent.
The message is clear, said Marc DelSignore of Austin-based Baselice & Associates, which conducted the poll: The mobility authority's upcoming education campaign should repeat the key benefits of toll roads as much as possible to increase understanding and support.
"We have an opportunity here," he told the authority's board.
Another good sign, officials said, is that higher percentages of residents on the North Side — where most of about 70 miles of toll roads are to be built — favor the lanes.
Mobility authority Chairman Bill Thornton said he was encouraged by the results.
"We know the challenge and the opportunities before us," he said.
However, critics have doubts and said survey questions were likely skewed to get pro-toll results.
"How can we trust anything that comes from the tolling authority," said Terri Hall of Texas Toll Party — San Antonio. "If they want to really know what people think about this, put it to a vote. Stop the push polls."
Bexar County Commissioner Lyle Larson, who represents the North Side, surmised the poll must be flawed and joked that maybe a lot of participants are connected to road construction and engineering firms.
"I don't get that kind of feedback," he said. "People are overwhelmingly opposed."
DelSignore said the RMA needs to pound home the message that tolls will speed up construction of new highway lanes by as much as 15 years, traffic congestion will be reduced on both toll lanes and non-toll lanes, no toll booths will be used because collections will be done using electronic tags, and there always will be an option for motorists to use non-tolled lanes.
Toll opponent Michael Gravett of Encino Park said those messages misrepresent some facts.
He said there's no mention that existing highways can be downgraded to access roads, and he questioned how much gridlock would be cut since congestion on non-toll lanes is actually needed to make toll roads pay for themselves.
"That poll represents what this board wants it to represent," he said.
The poll's margin of error is 4.9 percent.
pdriscoll@express-news.net
San Antonio Express-News:
posted by Porkus Maximus Tex: at Thursday, October 13, 2005
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