Voters reject a gas tax increase in WTC poll, spells trouble for 2012 ballot measure

The Washington State Transportation Commission finally released the results of its statewide transportation poll. The survey was conducted in preparation for a transportation-related ballot measure in 2012 that will likely include higher taxes and fees. Earlier this year, the Governor created the Connecting Washington Task Force that will consider the poll results and recommend a set of improvements and funding sources to the legislature.

The poll results are interesting but readers should be aware that the survey was conducted online and most certainly suffers from a self selection bias. In fact, some of the results are 180 degrees apart from other recent polls with similar questions.

Most interesting in the WTC poll is the opposition to a gas tax increase, which was probably the revenue-cornerstone to a new package. In the survey and despite giving Puget Sound respondents more statistical weight, only 46% agreed with a gas tax increase.

Lacking public support for a gas tax increase may spell trouble for policymakers who want a transportation package in 2012 during a presidential election year. Given the current economic climate and combined with the Governor’s new statewide sales tax proposal for general government (probably with a vote in April), a transportation tax package in November now seems less likely.    

WPC will publish a set of recommendations if a package is created and it will include the following principles:

• Taxes and fees paid by drivers should not be used to subsidize other modes.
• State taxes should not fund local transit agencies.
• Use current transportation revenues more effectively and stop diversion to non-highway purposes.