Recent NYS Poll Predicts Dire Results If Congress Doesn't Protect State's Federal Transport Funding

ALBANY, NY (04/23/2014)(readMedia)-- New York, NY – A coalition of New York City and State transportation activists and contractors embraced the results of a new poll commissioned by the American Public Transportation Association (APTA) and the American Road & Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA).

According to the poll, conducted by Purple Insights, 63 percent of likely New York primary voters would have a less favorable view of their representative and senators in the U.S. Congress if they do not take action this year to protect the state's 2015 federal highway, public transportation and bridge funding which is in jeopardy.

The Federal Highway Trust Fund (HTF), which on average provides 54 percent of the money the New York State Department of Transportation invests in road, bridge and public transportation capital improvement projects each year, is nearly insolvent. The money crunch is so bad the U.S. Department of Transportation says it will be forced to slow down reimbursements to the state for work already done, beginning early this summer. If Congress does not act to fix the trust fund cash problem before October 1, there will be no federal funds available for any new road, bridge or public transportation improvements in the state next year until a fix is passed.

The poll also shows nearly nine in 10 voters think transportation is essential to their daily activities and the state's economy. Over half (56 percent) say it is "very important" to both. Told how dependent the state's road and public transit construction program is on federal funding, 63 percent of likely Republican primary voters and 80 percent of likely Democrat voters say it is "very important" that Congress makes sure the support continues for highways, bridges and public transportation.

"What we're watching today is a slow motion rerun of the 1970's horror show which ended with the near collapse of our bridge, road and transit systems -- one of the most tangible governmental failures of the last half of the 20th century," said Denise Richardson, Managing Director of the General Contractors Association of New York. "The past will come back to haunt us if our elected leaders do not take action soon."

"Sixty percent of capital spent to improve NYS transportation and other infrastructure systems is federal aid. Unless congress agrees this year on a bipartisan plan to fund the Highway Trust Fund our roads, bridges and mass transit systems will continue to erode and stagnate the economic recovery," said Ross Pepe, President of the Construction Industry Council of Westchester and Hudson Valley, Inc.

"This poll makes it abundantly clear that federal funding for our region's transportation infrastructure is a non-partisan issue of critical importance to New Yorkers," said Marc Herbst, Executive Director of the Long Island Contractors' Association. "Funding for roads, bridges, and public transportation is essential to our region's economy, and must be protected by Congress."

"Sustained federal investment is critical to maintaining and improving public transit services that support our local and state economies," said Carm Basile, President of the New York Public Transit Association and CEO of the Capital District Authority. "With the demand for transit service at record levels and ridership growing throughout New York State, we need our federal partners to continue to provide their share of funding. We urge Congress to act now to stabilize and preserve the Federal Highway Trust Fund."

"With 28% of New York State's bridges being rated as structurally deficient and more than half of New York's roads in poor condition, Congress must act now to fund the Highway Trust Fund (HTF) which assists in restoring and maintaining New York's ailing infrastructure," said Mike Elmendorf, President and CEO of the Associated General Contractors of New York State. "Beyond the billions of dollars in commerce which rely on our roads and bridges, families around our state deserve to know that the infrastructure they are traveling on is safe and secure. This poll should put every candidate running for office on notice that the voters of our state are watching and demand that Congress act to protect the Highway Trust Fund now."

Purple Insights used the methodology of automated telephone interviews for respondents on landline phones and online interviews of voters who predominantly or exclusively use cell phones. The sample size was 500 registered voters in the state with a margin of error +/-4.4 percent.