Transportation again ranks as top concern for metro area residents

Council releases annual Residents Survey

Contact: Bonnie Kollodge
651.602.1357

ST. PAUL—Feb. 2, 2009– For the seventh time in eight years, Twin Cities residents ranked transportation as the region’s top public concern in 2008, according to survey results released today by the Metropolitan Council at its State of the Region event in Maplewood.

The Council’s annual residents survey showed 36 percent of seven-county metro area residents identified transportation-related issues – including adequacy and condition of metro roads, traffic and congestion, amount of construction activity, and the need for more transit options – as the region’s “single most important problem.”

Rounding out the top three issues are crime, a key concern for 23 percent of respondents, and the economy, cited as the top concern by 11 percent of those surveyed.

“The survey results are consistent with feedback we heard from local officials during our 2008 District Dialogues,” said Council Chair Peter Bell, referring to the series of meetings conducted last year throughout the metro area.

“We have growing transit ridership and a growing interest in transit investment to address our transportation and mobility issues. The challenge moving forward, especially given the current economic conditions, is making investments where we make the biggest impact with the most efficient use of transportation dollars,” Bell said.

As in 2007, transportation was a more dominant concern in the suburbs and rural areas. In the central cities, crime was the greatest concern. Together, transportation and crime issues have consistently been listed as significant problems for metro-area residents since 2003.

Survey respondents also indicated significant approval and support for Metro Council services. Three-quarters of residents can identify the Metro Council and its role and 47 percent of those surveyed gave good or very-good ratings for the Council’s performance – an all-time high.

Other survey findings include the following:

Nearly half of respondents (46 percent) indicated they already drive a more fuel-efficient vehicle or are very likely to do so. 32 percent of residents said they have chosen congestion-reducing commuting options, including taking the bus or train, telecommuting, car- or van-pooling, working closer to home, and biking or walking. Another 24 percent said they are very likely to try these options.
96 percent said the region is a better place to live than other metropolitan areas, up slightly from 2007. In addition, 26 percent said the quality of life has declined over the previous year, an improvement from 2007, when 34 percent surveyed said the quality of life had declined.
39 percent said the parks, trails, and natural environment are the area’s most attractive features. Nine percent cited the variety of things to do, and eight percent cited good neighborhoods.
94 percent noted the Metro Council’s role in monitoring water supply and quality, as well as its responsibility for treating wastewater (sewage), as important to the region’s quality of life.
85 percent said the Council’s Metro Transit bus system is important to the metro area’s quality of life. Light-rail transit was noted as important among 73 percent of respondents.

Results are based on the responses of nearly 1,500 survey participants, collected during October and November 2008. The respondents reflect the demographic and geographic distribution of the region’s adult population. Survey results have a margin of error of plus or minus 3 percentage points.

The Metropolitan Council is the regional planning organization for the seven-county Twin Cities area. It runs the regional bus and light rail system, collects and treats wastewater, manages regional water resources, plans regional parks and administers funds that provide housing opportunities for low- and moderate-income individuals and families. The Council is appointed by and serves at the pleasure of the governor.

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