POLL: “Yes” to Rapid Buses, “No” to Increased Taxes

(WXYZ) - The future of mass transportation in Detroit is up in the air.  Will people get around on rapid buses, high speed rail trains, both or neither?

A new poll gives us some indication if a specific plan is put to a statewide vote.  Michiganders prefer a bus rapid transit system for Metro Detroit over high speed rail trains. However, most don’t want to pay for it with increased taxes.  

In an exclusive WXYZ-TV/Detroit Free Press poll, 47-percent of 600 likely voters said they would support a proposal for faster, more state-of-the-art buses, 35-percent oppose the plan, and 18-percent are undecided. 

In Wayne, Oakland, and Macomb Counties, 58-percent of the people surveyed support the bus plan over a rail system that would better link Detroit to its suburbs. Twenty-eight percent oppose it, and 14-percent are undecided.

But when respondents were given more details about how to fund a bus rapid transit system, public opinion changed. People who participated in the survey were asked if they would be willing to approve of a tax increase and additional vehicle registration fees for owners in Wayne, Oakland, and Macomb Counties. 

Fifty-seven percent of statewide voters said they wouldn’t pay more taxes to fund the rapid buses, 33-percent said they would, and 10-percent are undecided.

The numbers are similar for those who specifically live in Wayne, Oakland, and Macomb Counties. Fifty-two percent oppose higher taxes for the rapid buses, 40-percent support paying more, and 8-percent are undecided.

The survey was conducted by Epic MRA January 21 – 25, 2012 and has a margin of error of plus or minus 4-percent.

READ THE COMPLETE POLL RESULTS BELOW

Based on what you know or have heard of read about a proposal for a bus rapid transit system for southeast Michigan instead of a fast speed rail train system, which would connect Detroit to other cities and suburbs, and also connect communities outside of Detroit to each other, do you favor or oppose the idea of such a bus rapid transit system?

• Favor – 47%
• Oppose – 35%
• Undecided – 18%

 For a bus rapid transit system to be funded, it would require approval of a tax increase, approval of additional vehicle registration fees on top of state vehicle registration fees that would be charged to vehicle owners in Wayne, Oakland and Macomb counties, or a combination of both funding ideas to build a bus rapid transit system. Knowing this, let me ask you again -- do you favor or oppose the idea of a bus rapid transit system?

• Favor – 33%
• Oppose – 57%
• Undecided – 10%