Traffic Doesn't Take Holiday in Minds of California Voters

    SACRAMENTO, Calif.--May 25, 2001--High gasoline prices are not the only thing concerning the motoring public as record numbers of cars take to the streets and highways this Memorial Day weekend.
    A new public opinion poll released today by Transportation California finds that traffic congestion ranks alongside energy as a major concern in the minds of California voters.
    The state voter survey conducted for Transportation California showed that Californians rate traffic congestion a very close second to energy as the state's most critical problem.
    Of those polled, 83 percent gave "congestion on highways" a score of six or higher on a 10 point scale, while 85 percent gave "the lack of an adequate energy supply" a rating of six or higher. Education ranked third at 74 percent.
    "The energy crisis has arrived almost overnight, but the transportation crisis has been building for years," said Larry Fisher, executive director of Transportation California, a non-profit coalition dedicated to improving transportation in California. "With travel and population growth continuing to outpace new highway and public transportation capacity, traffic congestion poses an economic threat that could dwarf the cost of the energy situation."
    A recent study released by the Texas Transportation Institute pegged the annual cost of traffic congestion in California at $20.7 billion in lost time and fuel consumption -- costs that apply whether driving to work or on holiday.
    Fisher warned that the "traffic problem in California is every bit as grave as the energy problem." He expressed concern that transportation priorities not be "lost in the shuffle" as lawmakers and the Governor struggle to deal with energy issues.
    "We cannot afford to put a moratorium on efforts to address the state's transportation infrastructure needs. Proposals that would cut back on transportation to pay for energy are way off base. Our people and our economy can't afford a state of perpetual highway gridlock," he said.
    Last year, the Governor and the Legislature acted to dedicate the sales tax on gasoline to transportation for the next 5 years. Now, with the energy crisis, consideration is being given to delaying that dedication for 2 years.
    Fisher noted that the Transportation California survey showed that two-thirds of California voters support adopting a Constitutional Amendment to permanently earmark the sales tax on gasoline for transportation.
    "Obviously, the energy crisis must be addressed and the state's budget balanced," Fisher said. "But care must be taken not to worsen the growing traffic congestion crisis in the process."
    The statewide survey was conducted from April 23-29 by the research firm of Fairbank, Maslin, Maullin and Associates. The poll interviewed 800 registered California voters.