Massachusetts is “stuck in neutral” in relation to addressing transportation points plaguing the state, residents mentioned in a MassINC ballot launched Friday.
Bay Staters handed Gov. Maura Healey and the Legislature mediocre scores for his or her dealing with of transportation issues, a MassINC Polling Group survey of 1,390 residents discovered. From site visitors to street security and continuous points on the MBTA to regional transit, grades for state officers had been “middling,” the polling group mentioned.
Negative tales in regards to the MBTA — from observe issues on the Green Line to the billions it’s going to take to restore the system — have influenced residents’ views of Healey, though most of the transit company’s points predate her administration.
“The state of the T and other public transit systems is the top transportation issue cited by residents, followed by traffic congestion and road conditions. Priorities do vary by region, with public transit dominant in Greater Boston and traffic and road conditions top of mind farther from Boston,” the MassINC Polling Group mentioned in a press release accompanying the survey.
Less than one third of respondents gave Healey or the Legislature an “A” or “B” grade on public transportation, in line with the ballot. Only 6% of respondents gave Healey an “A” on the MBTA, in comparison with 24% who handed her a “B” and 28% a “C,” the ballot mentioned.
Thirty-one % of these surveyed mentioned the state Legislature earned a “C” on public transportation whereas 20% handed the physique a “B” and one other 20% gave them an “F,” the ballot mentioned.
More than half of the respondents inside Route 128 mentioned fixing public transportation was their high precedence, in line with the ballot.
“A quarter (23%) in Western Massachusetts want to see expanded public transit, including East-West Rail and expanded bus service,” the polling group mentioned.
Few respondents mentioned they felt “very safe” driving on state highways, taking public transit, or driving a motorbike, the MassINC Polling Group mentioned.
“Infrastructure issues have received much attention and are driving some concern, but the most commonly cited reasons for feeling unsafe have to do with the behavior of other travelers,” the group mentioned in a press release.
More than half of these surveyed mentioned site visitors of their a part of the state is worse than it was earlier than the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Another 37% think it’s about the same – not great given that traffic was reaching a breaking point back in 2019. Just 7% think traffic has improved since COVID. Residents within Route 495 are most likely to think traffic has gotten worse,” MassINC mentioned in a press release. “Traffic is getting worse despite a third of workers reporting they are working from home every day (14%) or a few times a week (20%).”
The ballot additionally discovered housing prices are rising on residents’ precedence checklist, and a majority assist a proposal to let cities and cities impose a switch charge on the portion of actual property gross sales over $1 million, in line with the MassINC Polling Group. The proceeds can be used to fund reasonably priced housing.
The group mentioned, “The proposal is particularly popular among Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents, 75% of whom support the idea.”
Source: www.bostonherald.com”