Post Transportation Poll Finds Support for Metro Slipping

The Post conducted a new poll of local residents and noted their generally high marks for Metro. But we see a bigger message here: Washington’s Metrorail system is still popular with area residents, but its support has slipped in the last five years.

The poll interviewed a sample of 1,107 metro area residents between 3/25/10 and 3/29/10 and had a margin of error of +/- 3 points. Many of its questions were identical to those asked in another poll conducted on 1/31/05. Consider the responses to the following questions on those two dates.

Q 4: I would like you to rate some types of public transportation available in some parts of the greater Washington area. If you have never used this type of public transportation, just tell me and I will move on. Generally speaking, how would you rate the Metrorail subway system: Excellent, good, not-so-good or poor?

A: Excellent/good, users only
3/29/10: 80%
1/31/05: 86%

A: Not so good/poor, users only
3/29/10: 19%
1/31/05: 14%

A: Excellent/good, full sample
3/29/10: 70%
1/31/05: 75%

A: Not so good/poor, full sample
3/29/10: 17%
1/31/05: 12%

Q 7a. (Asked of those who report ever using Metrorail) In terms of reliability, would you rate the Metro as excellent, good, not-so-good or poor?

A: Excellent/good
3/29/10: 75%
1/31/05: 87%

A: Not so good/poor
3/29/10: 23%
1/31/05: 12%

Q 7b. (Asked of those who report ever using Metrorail) In terms of comfort, would you rate the Metro as excellent, good, not-so-good or poor?

A: Excellent/good
3/29/10: 78%
1/31/05: 83%

A: Not so good/poor
3/29/10: 20%
1/31/05: 16%

Q 7c. (Asked of those who report ever using Metrorail) In terms of value, would you rate the Metro as excellent, good, not-so-good or poor?

A: Excellent/good
3/29/10: 72%
1/31/05: 75%

A: Not so good/poor
3/29/10: 26%
1/31/05: 24%

Q 9. (Asked of those who ever use Metro) Compared with a few years ago, do you take Metro (more) often than you used to, (less) often, or about the same as before?

Response on 3/29/10:
More: 15%
Less: 34%
About the same: 48%
No opinion: 2%

Q 15. In recent years the Metro system has run up against funding shortages. Do you think (Metro should operate within its existing budget, even if this might mean cutting current services), or do you think (the region should find a new way to fund Metro, even if this might mean raising taxes on area residents)?

A: Operate in existing budget
3/29/10: 40%
1/31/05: 32%

A: Find a new way to fund Metro
3/29/10: 52%
1/31/05: 63%

(Asked of those who say find a new way to fund Metro) Some people say that new money for the overall Metro system should come from (higher taxes across the region, since improved public transportation benefits the community generally). Others say the money should come from (Metro fare increases, since riders would receive the most direct benefit)? In your view, should new money come from (higher taxes) or (higher fares)? (Though not provided as options some respondents said "both" or suggested other options means.)

Response on 3/29/10:
Taxes: 43%
Fares: 36%
Both: 15%
Other: 3%
No opinion: 3%

Q 16. Changing topics, in general, do you think government efforts to reduce traffic congestion in the Washington region should be focused more on expanding and building roads, or on providing more public transportation options, such as trains or buses?

Response on 3/29/10:
Focus on roads: 30%
Provide more options: 62%
No opinion: 8%

Our Take:

Metro is still popular, but its support is slipping. On question after question, the performance evaluations of its customers and the broader population have declined. Many of these declines have been within the margin of error, but they are consistent across a range of different questions. The public’s opinion of how to fund Metro has shifted enormously in five years. In 2005, the public favored new funds over having Metro operate within its existing budget by a 63-32 margin, or 31 points. In 2010, the public favored new funds over having Metro operate within its existing budget by a 52-40 margin, or 12 points. If the gap between those two options ever closes in public opinion, it will be even harder to get increased subsidies for Metro from the District, Maryland and Virginia than it is now.