fastrack survey march 2010 rtd summary

8/9/2019 FasTrack Survey March 2010 RTD Summary

1/32

FasTracks Survey March 2010

1

Survey of Likely Votersin RTD District

Spon so red by Coa l i t ion fo r Sm ar t Trans i tMarch 23-27, 2010

Data & Findings


2/32


2

Methodology

A phone survey of 400 likely voters (voted in 2006 AND 2008general elections, or registered since then) in the RTD district,conducted March 23-27, 2010.

Survey builds on RTD/ FasTracks surveys conductedNovember 2007 , January 2009 , April 2009

Sample was distributed to reflect county-by-county percentagesof RTD district population.

Demograph ics of the survey sample population w ere balanced toreflect gender, and party registration in each RTD county.

Average length of interview : 23 m inutes.

Results have 4.9% margin of error at a 95% confidence level


3/32


3

15% 17%14% 16%25%

32% 34%

68%58%54% 50%

17%

0%

50%

100%

Oct-

07

Feb-

08

Jun-

08

Oct-

08

Feb-

09

Jun-

09

Oct-

09

Feb-

10

Jun-

10

Don't know Wrong Track R ight Direction

How do you feel things are going in the Denver metro area these days?

Denver Metro right direction/wrong track


4/32


4

In November 2007 FasTracks survey, transportation,

traffic, transit and roads w ere cited as the #1 localissue by 34% of survey respondents.

What do you believe to be the most important issue facing theDenver Metro Area today? [OPEN END]

11 - 2007 RTD SURVEY Transportation/ affordable transportation 14%

Too much growth/ development 10%

Traffic congestion 9%

Immigration 8%

Education/ schools 7% More mass transit/ Light rail 6%

Housing/ real estate issues 5%

Improve roads/ highways 5%


5/32


5

In 2010 , economy and jobs are identified by 41% ofrespondents as the top issues facing the Denver metro

area. Transportation issues have dropped as priorities.

Thinking about the issues facing the Denver metropolitan area in your opinion what is the number one priority you would w ant local officials to focus on in the nextcouple years? [OPEN END]

3 / 2010 s u rv e y Unemployment/ lack of jobs 32% Public Transportation 6%

Economic conditions 9%

Education-general 4%

Balancing budget 4%

Healthcare access/ affordability 4% Education funding 3%

Crime/ public safety 3%

Transportation congestion 3%

Lower taxes 3%


6/32


6

15%

12%

18%

21%

27%

6%

5%

21%

22%

22%

21%

16%

15%

34%

18%

74%

15%

50%

68%

66%

69%

72%

71%

42%

24%

39%

49%

19%

0% 50% 100%

Jon Caldara

Independence Inst .

Hickenlooper

McInnis

Bennet

Tauer

SCFD

FasTracks

RTD 3-10

RTD 4-09

RTD 1-09

RTD 10-07

CDOT

CO Legislatur e

Unfavorable Favorable


7/32


8/32


8

KEY FINDINGS

Just under of respondents say they expect thelocal economy to get better in the next year.35% say it wil l stay about the same, and 18%say the economy w ill get weaker.

In the long-term, 56% say the economy w ill geta little better, while 26% say it w ill improvedramatically.

of respondents say it is difficult keeping upw ith personal bills, and say it is not difficult.


9/32


9

Somewhat

weaker,

11%

Muchweaker,

7%

Muchstronger,

8%

About

same, 35%

Somewhatstronger,

38%

Don't

Know , 2%

Economy one-year from now

In the long-term, 56% of respondents say theeconomy wil l improve a l itt le. 26% expect it w il l

improve significantly.

Will get

worse,

14%

Improve a

little,

56%

Improve

significantly, 26%

Don'tKnow,

4%

Longer-term economicoutlook


10/32


10

24%

26%

35%

14%

1%

0% 80%

Don't Know

Not difficult at all

Not that difficult

Somewhat difficult

Very difficul t

Mar-10

How difficult is it for you to keep up w ith your personal household billsthese days?

The survey respondents are split on whether it isdifficult or not to keep up w ith their personal bil ls.

49%difficult

50%not difficult


11/32


11

6%

43%

30%

20%

1%2%

8%

43%

31%

17%

0% 80%

Don't Know

Low

About right

High

Very high

Apr-09 Mar-10

Do you feel your local tax es (property tax, sales tax, but NOT federal orstate income tax ) are very high, high, about right, or low?

Perception of the local tax burden has not

shifted significantly from 2009 survey.


12/32


12

RTD & FASTRACKS GENERAL AWARENESS


13/32


13

19%

2% 1% 2%

35%26%

37%

53%64%

74%61%

45%

0%

50%

100%

Oct-

07

Feb-

08

Jun-

08

Oct-

08

Feb-

09

Jun-

09

Oct-

09

Feb-

10

Jun-

10

Don't know Unfamil iar Famil iar

How familiar are you w ith FasTracks?

Familiarity w ith FasTracks (unaidedno addlinformation provided) has declined slightly compared to

2009 survey61% say they are familiar w ithFasTracks.


14/32


14

19%

5% 2% 2%

19%25% 21%

68% 77%73% 77%

13%

0%

50%

100%

Oct-

07

Feb-

08

Jun-

08

Oct-

08

Feb-

09

Jun-

09

Oct-

09

Feb-

10

Jun-

10

Don't know Negative Positive

Based on what you know , what is your impression of FasTracks?

Positive vs. negative impression of FasTracks is77% posit ive - 21% negative in 2010 survey.


15/32


15

Positive perceptions of FasTracks are tied to addressingtraffic and the importance of transit. Negat ive

perceptions are tied to high costs and poor management.What is the primary reason your impression of FasTracks is positive/ negative?

Top POSITIVE answers (n=308)

1. I use public transportation/ w e need it 29%

2. It w ill reduce traffic 25%

3. I ts a good plan/ I support public transit 15%4. Create jobs/ economic return 11%

5. Convenience 5%

Top NEGATIVE answers (n=84)

1. The costs/ expensive 45%2. Poor mgmnt/ tak ing too long to complete 21%

3. Lack of use 14%

4. No access to it in my area 5%

5. Taking peoples land away 5%


16/32


16

12% 7% 5% 4%11%19% 18%

79% 83%77% 78%

9%

0%

50%

100%

Oct-

07

Feb-

08

Jun-

08

Oct-

08

Feb-

09

Jun-

09

Oct-

09

Feb-

10

Jun-

10

Don't Know Bad Decision Good Decision

Looking back w ith the benefit of hindsight do you believeapproval of FasTracks in that 2004 election w as a gooddecision or a bad decision?

78% of 2010 survey respondents sayapproving FasTracks was a good idea.


17/32


17

RTD & FASTRACKS BUDGET ISSUE AWARENESS& CONFIDENCE


18/32


18

KEY FINDINGS

Familiarity w ith RTD budget issues remainsmoderate, at best.

Confidence in RTD to implement FasTracks is up

to 62% from 59% in 2009, but has declinedoverall going back to initial October 2007 survey.

72% of respondents in 2010 survey say they arevery concerned or somewhat concerned

about rising FasTracks costs.


19/32


19

11%

10%

16%

29%

31%3%

10%

9%

12%

36%

28%

6%

0% 100%

Don't Know

Very Poor

Poor

Fair

Good

Excellent

Apr-09 Mar-10

Based on what you currently know, how good of a job has RTD doneimplementing the FasTracks plan that w as approved by voters?

34%excellent/good

57%fair/poor

1/ 3 of respondents still give RTD excellent orgood marks on implementation, but the

intensity is lower.


20/32


8% 4% 3% 5%

28%38% 33%

75% 68%59% 62%

18%

0%

50%

100%

Oct-

07

Feb-

08

Jun-

08

Oct-

08

Feb-

09

Jun-

09

Oct-

09

Feb-

10

Jun-

10

Don't Know No confidence Confidence

20

How much confidence do you have in RTD to complete the FasTracksplan that voters approved?

Confidence in RTD to implement FasTracks is up from59% in 2009 survey to 62% , but has declined overallgoing back to initial October 2007 survey (75% ).


21/32


21

4%

12%

20%

42%

22%

1%

7%

14%

41%

36%

7%

14%

2%

39%

38%

36%

36%

17%

11%

0% 60%

Don't Know

Not concerned at all

Not very concerned

Somew hat Concerned

Very concerned

Oct-07 J an-09 Apr-09 Mar-10

How concerned are you personally about the issue of rising cost s ofbuilding FasTracks?

72% of respondents in 2010 survey say they arevery concerned or somewhat concerned about

rising FasTracks costs.


22/32


22

7%

1%

17%

47%

29%

2%

14%

51%

26%

8%

0% 60%

DK/NA

Neither

Both

Economic conditions

RTD management

Apr-09 Mar-10

Would you say that the budget challenges facing the implementation ofFasTracks are mostly the result of m ismanagement and poor decision makingby RTD, or are they mostly the result of economic conditions that are outsideRTDs control?

51% of 2010 respondents attribute FasTracks budgetchallenges solely to economic conditions. 26% say it is due to

RTD management and decision-mak ing.


23/32


23

7%

14%

20%

51%

9%

15%

20%

50%

9%

6%

0% 60%

DK/NA

Not at all

No t that much

Somewhat

A great deal

Apr-09 Mar-10

How much do you trust RTDs management to be honest and open aboutFasTracks?

Trust in RTD management to be honest and open has notchanged significantly from 2009: 59% say they trust RTD agreat deal or somewhat to be honest about FasTracks.


24/32


Statement ASome people say we should doublethe sales tax from four-pennies-on-ten dollars to a total of eight pennies-on-ten-dollars to fill the budget gapand complete FasTracks on time in2017.

Statement BSome people say we should pay for

FasTracks with the funding alreadyapproved by voters, even if the fullsystem wont be finished until after2042 .

24%agree

somewhat

24%agree

strongly

21%agree

somewhat

23%agree

strongly

In a forced-choice question that poses two options on how toaddress FasTracks, respondents come dow n evenly on whetherto double taxes to finish by 2017 , or use existing revenues andwait to complete until after 2042.


25/32


25

ADDITIONAL SALES TAX FUNDING:BALLOT TEST I


26/32


BALLOT TEST I

I f the

election w ereheld today,would youvote for orvote against asales taxincrease forFasTracks?

JeffcoSupport: 48%Oppose: 48%

DouglasSupport: 43%

Oppose: 57%

Arapahoe

Support: 54%Oppose: 45%

AdamsSupport: 40%Oppose: 60%

BroomfieldSupport: 30%Oppose: 50%Boulder

Support: 54%

Oppose: 42%

DenverSupport: 56%Oppose: 41%

For: 50% Against: 48%

Dont Know: 3%


27/32

68%

50%

50%

48%

46%

46%

61%

40%

54%

55%

40%

51%

28%

46%

48%

43%

49%

54%

33%

40%

40%

38%

56%

43%

4%

4%

2%

9%

5%

6%

20%

6%

7%

4%

6%

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%

>35 yrs

35-54yrs

55-64yrs

65+yrs

Jeffco

DougCo

Denver

Broomfield

Boulder

Arapahoe

Adams

Total

Vote For Vote Against DK/ NA

DEMOGRAPHICS ON SUPPORT/ OPPOSE FASTRACKS TAX INCREASE


28/32

56%

48%

58%

52%

61%

25%

51%

51%

31%

65%

53%

51%

37%

50%

38%

48%

32%

73%

45%

41%

63%

29%

42%

43%

6%

3%

4%

7%

2%

4%

7%

6%

6%

5%

6%

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%


29/32

52%

63%

75%

36%

49%

56%

41%

31%

66%

64%

34%

51%

44%

30%

19%

59%

46%

39%

52%

68%

27%

34%

55%

43%

4%

6%

6%

5%

5%

6%

6%

1%

7%

2%

12%

6%

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%

Economy & jobs #1 issue

Local taxes about right

Local taxes low

Local tax es high

Difficult HH bills

Not difficult HH bills

Economy sam e 1 yr

Economy w eaker 1 yr

Economy stronger 1 yr

Right Direction

Wrong Track

Total

Vote For Vote Against DK/N A

DEMOGRAPHICS ON SUPPORT/ OPPOSE FASTRACKS TAX INCREASE


30/32


30

17%

40%

43%

39%

17%

43%

0% 80%

Remain

Undecided

Leaning

Against

Leaning For

Apr-09 Mar-10

Although you are currently undecided if you had to make adecision right now would you say you would lean towardsupporting or opposing an increase in taxes to complete theFasTracks system?

Undecided respondents in 2010 survey ti lt much more tow ardsremain undecided compared to undecideds in 2009 survey.


31/32


31

SUMMARYThe Good News

FasTracks stil l held in high regard and voters stil l want aregional system

Positive vs. negative impression of FasTracks is 77% positive -21% negative. 78% of 2010 survey respondents say

approving FasTracks was a good idea.The Bad News

Traffic, transit and transportation continue to give way toeconomy and jobs as the most pressing concerns

40% of respondents say RTD is partially or fully responsiblefor FasTracks budget challenges

Compared to other public services and funding needs,completing FasTracks is not a high-intensity priority at thistime


32/32


32

Survey of Likely Votersin RTD District

Spon so red by Coa l i t ion fo r Sm ar t Trans i tMarch 23-27, 2010

Data & Findings

fastrack survey march 2010 rtd summary

Documents