INFRASTRUCTURE/ROAD CONGESTION
ECONOMIC IMPACT STUDY AND SURVEY
Inadequate federal investment in America’s travel infrastructure has increased congestion across all modes
of transportation, reduced national and regional connectivity, and restricted travel demand. To better
understand how traffic congestion affects domestic auto travel and to provide more insights about this issue
for policymakers, the U.S. Travel Association commissioned Longwoods International to do an online self-
completion survey of American auto travelers on May 3-7, 2019. The survey examines:
• The impacts of traffic congestion on travel frequency and behavior; and
• Traveler sentiments towards Congressional proposals to boost federal infrastructure investment in
transportation infrastructure.
KEY FINDINGS
Traffic congestion caused Americans to avoid 47.5 million road trips in 2018, which cost the economy nearly
$30 billion in travel spending—enough to directly support 248,000 American jobs.
• When asked if they avoided any trips by car in the previous year because the likelihood of traffic congestion
would have made the trip more of a hassle:
• Nearly one-third (32.5%) said they avoided at least one day trip by car; and
• Nearly one-in-four (24.1%) Americans said they avoided at least one overnight trip
• According to an analysis of the survey results, every additional hour of traffic added to a trip reduces travel
demand by an average of 18% or more.
A majority of American travelers are willing to pay more for transportation improvements, particularly if
assured the improvements will be made in their area.
• More Americans support paying more for transportation improvements (62%) than oppose any additional
cost (38%), with 24% saying they would support additional taxes or fees if the money was used to fund
transportation improvements in their area.
• Overall, most American travelers (79%) said additional user fees would not negatively impact the frequency
of their travel by car. Among these travelers, nearly 89% said up to a 25-cent gas tax increase would not
negatively impact their travel.
• A majority of Americans (60%) preferred spending an additional 25 cents per gallon in gas taxes than
spending 1 to 2 more hours in traffic.
• Approximately 66% of Americans said they would rather pay an additional $2-$3 in in user fees each way
than spend up to 2 more hours in traffic.
Americans are most concerned about traffic congestion and road safety.
• Approximately 92% of Americans said they had concerns about transportation in and around their local
area, with road safety (50%) and traffic congestion (49%) listed as top concerns.
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SURVEY RESULTS
1. Did you take any day (NO nights) trips by car (at least 50 Yes 83.3%
miles, one-way) in the past 12 months? No 14.1%
Don’t know/Can’t remember 2.6%
TOTAL 100.0%
2. How many day trips by car did you take in the past 12 1-5 trips 67.3%
months? 6-10 trips 18.2%
11-15 trips 6.2%
16-20 trips 4.1%
21-30 trips 1.7%
31-40 trips 0.9%
41-50 trips 0.7%
8 More than 50 trips 0.9%
TOTAL 100.0%
3. In the past 12 months, was there ever an incident when Yes 32.5%
you avoided any day trips by car (at least 50 miles, No 61.4%
one-way) because the likelihood of road traffic congestion
would have made the trip more of a hassle than it was worth? Don’t know/Can’t remember 6.1%
TOTAL 100.0%
4. Did you take any overnight (one or more nights) trips by Yes 86.1%
car (at least 50 miles one-way) in the past 12 months?
No 12.3%
Don’t know/Can’t remember 1.6%
TOTAL 100.0%
5. How many overnight trips by car did you take in the past 1-5 trips 79.4%
12 months? 6-10 trips 13.7%
11-15 trips 4.5%
16-20 trips 1.2%
21-30 trips 0.7%
More than 30 trips 0.5%
TOTAL 100.0%
6. In the past 12 months, was there ever an incident when you Yes 24.1%
avoided any overnight trips by car (at least 50 miles, No 71.5%
one-way) because the likelihood of road traffic congestion
would have made the trip more of a hassle than it was worth? Don’t know/Can’t remember 4.5%
TOTAL 100.0%
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SURVEY RESULTS (CONTINUED)
7. When taking a day trip (no nights away from home), what is 1 hour 5.6%
the maximum number of hours you are willing to drive to your 2 hours 31.2%
destination (one way), including the time you spend on meals
and short rest stops? 3 hours 28.9%
4 or more hours 34.2%
TOTAL 100.0%
8. When taking a single night trip (one night away from home), 1 hour 3.7%
what is the maximum number of hours are you willing to drive 2 hours 16.9%
to your destination (one way), including the time you spend on
meals and short rest stops? 3 hours 22.3%
4 hours 22.3%
5 hours 12.9%
6 or more hours 21.9%
TOTAL 100.0%
9. When taking a weekend trip, what is the maximum number 1 hour 3.2%
of hours are you willing to drive to your destination (one way), 2 hours 14.4%
including the time you spend on meals and short rest stops?
3 hours 17.1%
4 hours 21.5%
5 hours 14.4%
6 hours 12.8%
7 hours 4.0%
8 or more hours 12.7%
TOTAL 100.0%
10. When taking an extended trip, what is the maximum 1 hour 4.0%
number of hours are you willing to drive to your destination 2 hours 8.3%
(one way), including the time you spend on meals and short
rest stops? 3 hours 11.4%
4 hours 13.0%
5 hours 8.7%
6 hours 12.2%
7 hours 3.2%
8 hours 12.0%
9 hours 3.8%
10 or more hours 23.3%
TOTAL 100.0%
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SURVEY RESULTS (CONTINUED)
The current federal gas tax, which is exclusively used to fund transportation improvement projects, is 18.4 cents per gallon and has not
been increased since 1993. Due to insufficient investment in transportation improvement projects, congestion along major U.S. highways
often increases travel time by between 1 to 2.5 hours during peak periods, according to recent statistics. There are proposals being
considered in Congress to increase the gas tax by anywhere between 5 cents and 25 cents per gallon. The additional revenue that will be
generated from the proposed gas tax increase would be used to exclusively fund transportation improvements projects that will reduce
traffic congestion, improve safety and offer alternative transportation options to driving.
11. In view of the above, which of the following I would support a 5 to 25 cents gas tax increase 19.1%
statements best describes how you would react because the United States should be investing more
to the proposed gas tax increase? in transportation
I would support a 5 to 25 cents gas tax increase, 30.0%
but only if my Congressional Representative is able
to ensure that some of the additional revenue goes
towards major transportation improvement projects
in my region.
I would NOT support any gas tax increase, but I 12.8%
WOULD support other fee or tax increases on road
users
I would NOT support any gas tax increase because I 9.4%
am not concerned about the road conditions, traffic
congestion
I would NOT support any gas tax increase because I 28.7%
do not want to pay more in gas taxes.
TOTAL 100.0%
12. When traveling for a personal or business Face a high likelihood of sitting in an additional 1.5 33.9%
trip by car, of at least 50 miles or more one way, to 2 hours of traffic each way; or
would you rather… Pay an additional $2.00 to $3.00 each way to fund 66.1%
transportation projects
TOTAL 100.0%
13. Which of the following is more likely to Facing an additional 1 to 2 hours of traffic on a 59.6%
discourage you from taking trips by car? more consistent basis; or
Paying up to an additional 25 cents per gallon in 40.4%
gas taxes.
TOTAL 100.0%
14. Which of the following statements best Extremely willing, improving transportation is a 14.4%
describes your willingness/unwillingness to priority for me
support any of these proposals, knowing that Potentially willing, ...would go toward specific 24.4%
your additional taxes/fees will result in the transportation improvements in my region
improvements in your region and across the Potentially willing, but I need more assurances that 26.0%
country? any tax or fee increase will be reasonable
Unwilling, because I cannot afford additional 9.8%
transportation taxes or other fees that fund
transportation improvements
Unwilling, because there is no assurance that 23.8%
additional transportation taxes or fees would go to
projects in my region
Other 1.6%
TOTAL 100.0%
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SURVEY RESULTS (CONTINUED)
15. Thinking about additional funding for Which of the following options do you think your 16.9%
transportation improvements, which of Congressional Representative should support? -
the following options do you think your Increase the gas tax by no more than 25 cents per
gallon
Congressional Representative should support?
Which of the following options do you think your 26.8%
Congressional Representative should support? -
Increase the gas tax by 14 cents, which is consistent
with inflation since it was last raised
Which of the following options do you think your 13.7%
Congressional Representative should support? -
Replace the gas tax with a comparable fee for each
vehicle mile travelled
Which of the following options do you think your 25.8%
Congressional Representative should support? -
Increase taxes on diesel fuels and heavy vehicles
Which of the following options do you think your 16.6%
Congressional Representative should support? -
Use public bonds, private sector loans or other
financing paid back by tolling roads or taxing fares
for public transportation
Which of the following options do you think your 10.5%
Congressional Representative should support? - Cut
spending on public transit (i.e. bus or rail service)
and use the savings to fund road, highway and
bridge improvements
Which of the following options do you think your 23.5%
Congressional Representative should support? -
Use revenue from income taxes, corporate taxes
and other taxes unrelated to transportation
Which of the following options do you think your 3.1%
Congressional Representative should support? -
Other
Which of the following options do you think your 11.6%
Congressional Representative should support? -
None of the above – I do not agree on investing
more in transportation improvements at this point.
TOTAL 100.0%
METHODOLOGY
The U.S. Travel Association commissioned Longwoods International to do an online self-completion survey of
American auto travelers on May 3-7, 2019, utilizing a national sample randomly drawn from Dynata’s consumer
panel. Longwoods International secured 1,031 adults who took any auto overnight or day trips in 2018 (used
their own car or a rental car) completes for this survey. Data (pre-screening “total” respondents) were
weighted at tabulation to correct for differences between the observed sample and the sample universe using
the most recent Census targets for age, gender, income, household composition and region. The survey has a
margin of error of +/-3% at 95% confidence level.
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