There Is Widespread Support For Dynamic Tolling Both Among Those Who Use It And Among Those Familiar With The Lanes 69% 65% 29% 23%

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1 To: Securing America s Future Energy From: The Mellman Group, Inc. and Ayres, McHenry and Associates, Inc. Re: Public Attitudes Towards Dynamic Tolling Date: July 15, 2011 This analysis represents the findings of two surveys of 400 likely 2012 general election voters in and an identical number in who live near roads featuring dynamic tolling lanes. In, zip codes were selected around the I-15 corridor and in around the portions of 394 and 25W corridors that have dynamic tolling. Registration based sampling was used for both surveys. The margin of error for each survey is +/-4.9% at the 95% level of confidence. The margin of error is higher for subgroups. SUMMARY Dynamic tolling enjoys deep and widespread support among those who are familiar with and use it in Republican-leaning and Democratic-leaning. In addition, when those who are unfamiliar with the concept hear a description of it, they too overwhelmingly support dynamic toll lanes. The program garners majority support across ideological and partisan lines, even among traditionally anti-tax Republicans and conservatives. Voters in both locales believe dynamic tolling is convenient and reduces congestion, thereby helping them get where they are going, reducing pollution and reducing spending on gas. Voters do always want the option of choosing whether or not to pay for dynamic toll lanes, but even after hearing arguments for and against dynamic tolling, support remains strong. In short, dynamic tolling is an overwhelmingly popular idea. There Is Widespread For Dynamic Tolling Both Among Those Who Use It And Among Those Familiar With The Lanes Weekly Customers And Those Familiar With Dynamic Toll Lanes Them Strongly 6 Do you support or oppose these dynamic toll lanes where the price to enter changes depending on the time of day and traffic volume? 83% 73% 10 0% 8 0% 6 0% 69% In both and San Diego, those who use the dynamic toll lanes at least once a week express strong support for the lanes. In, 83% of dynamic toll users support the program, including 61% who express strong support. In San Diego, 69% of customers support the program, including 49% who support it % Use At Least Once A Week 21% Familiar With But Don't Use 4 0% 2 0% 0% 23% Use At Least Once A Week Familiar With But Don't Use Dynamic tolling customers overwhelmingly believe they have benefited from the lanes existence, with very few sensing they have been harmed. Sixtyone percent (61%) of

2 The Mellman Group and Ayres, McHenry and Associates (July 2011) Page 2 users say the lanes have been helpful to them and their families compared to only 6% who say the lanes have been harmful. Weekly users of dynamic tolling believe the lanes have been helpful to them and their families by nearly a 6 to 1 margin (59% to 10%). for dynamic tolling is also evident among those who are familiar with the concept but use the lanes less frequently or not at all. These individuals, who largely choose free lanes, support dynamic tolling by a 52- point margin in (73%-21%) and by a 36-point margin in (-). They are also more likely to believe dynamic tolling has been helpful to them and their families rather than harmful (14% vs. 4% in, 36% vs. 9% in ), though pluralities of these less frequent or nonusers perceive no impact on their lives. As Those Who Are Unfamiliar With Dynamic Tolling Learn More, They Increasingly The Program After registering the opinions of those who are familiar with the dynamic tolling lanes, every respondent was read a brief description of dynamic tolling. 1 After that description, majorities in both and San Diego support dynamic tolling (71% support, 22% oppose in ; support, oppose in ). Notably, dynamic tolling proves popular among those who were initially unfamiliar with the concept (, 58% ). After Hearing A Description Of The Lanes, Majorities In Both Areas Dynamic Tolling % 43% extends across party lines, as large majorities of Democrats (75%, 74% ) join significant majorities of Republicans (67%, 63% ) and independents (69%, 59% ) in expressing support for dynamic tolling. is substantial among liberals (75%, 71% ), moderates (70%, San Diego), as well as among conservatives (66%, 61% ), who tend to oppose fee and tax increases. also extends across age, gender and socio-economic status. In fact, among no subgroup examined does support for dynamic tolling dip below 50%. Not only is there widespread support for the overall concept, majorities of voters in both locations support every specific element by double-digit margins, including the core of the program that tolls will become more expensive when there is a lot of traffic and less expensive when there is less traffic in order to keep traffic flowing. Two thirds (67%) support this central provision in, while 60% express support in. 1 As you may know, [Interstate 394 and Interstate 35 West have/ Interstate 15 has] dynamic toll lanes that allow carpools and other high occupancy vehicles access for free, but charges a toll for all other vehicles depending on the time of day and volume of traffic. If there is a lot of traffic, the cost of accessing the dynamic toll lanes increases to make sure that traffic in these toll lanes continues to move quickly. When there is not as much traffic, the cost of accessing the dynamic toll lanes decreases. At all times, drivers have the choice to access the free lanes on [Interstate 394 and Interstate 35 West/ Interstate 15] and are not forced to pay the toll if they do not want to. Do you support or oppose these dynamic toll lanes where the price to enter changes depending on the time of day and traffic volume? 22% 16% % 19%

3 The Mellman Group and Ayres, McHenry and Associates (July 2011) Page 3 Most widely supported are giving drivers access to free lanes at all times where they are not forced to pay the toll (at least 87% in both locations) and giving carpools and other high occupancy vehicles such as busses access to the lanes for free (87% support or greater). In fact, over 70% support these elements in both locations. The ability to get a transponder device so drivers do not have to stop at a toll booth is supported by at least 81% of voters, with over 60% supportive. Voters See Important Benefits From Dynamic Tolls: Convenience And Reduced Congestion To probe voters perceptions of dynamic tolling in greater depth, respondents were asked how well a series of phrases describe the program. Voters believe that dynamic tolling is convenient (72% describes in, 70% in ), that it makes it easier and faster for people to get where they want to go (73% in, 76% in ) and that it is a fair tradeoff between convenience and cost (63% in, 66% in ). Those who use dynamic tolling at least once a week see a plethora of benefits to the program. Not only do they believe dynamic tolling is convenient (89%, 86% in ) and a fair tradeoff (75% in, 80% in ), they also see dynamic tolling as reducing congestion (82% in, 78% in ) and understand key benefits that derive from less congestion, such as reduced gas consumption and air pollution (76% in, 78% in ), as well as savings on gas (77% in, 77% in ). Moreover, those who are familiar with dynamic tolling but often choose to use the free lanes also see tangible benefits for themselves. Even though they don t use the lanes, they believe dynamic tolling reduces congestion (86% in, 76% in ), helps reduce gas consumption and air Convenience Factors Are Of Secondary Importance, While Cost Is Least Important Mean Im portance (0-5 Scale) reduces # of vehi cles stuck in traffic thereby improvi ng natl security too expensive reduces # of vehi cl es air pol lution saves me $ on gas Strategic Map reduces traffi c congestion reduces # of vehicles dep on foreign oil al lows me to get where I want to go on ti me a fair tradeoff between cost and convenience convenient makes it easi er and faster for peopl e to go where they want pollution (70% in, 71% in San Diego) and saves them money on gas (60% in, 52% in San Diego). By comparison, voters in both locations are much less likely to view dynamic tolling as too expensive (37% in, 45% in ). This holds true among those who use dynamic tolling (39% in, 43% in San Diego). Mean descriptiveness (1-4 Scale) In addition to asking voters how well these phrases describe dynamic tolling, we also asked how good or bad each would be for them. Our strategic map plots the average responses with descriptiveness on the horizontal axis and importance on the vertical. The outcomes judged both most descriptive and most important appear in the upper right hand corner. 2 2 Gives everyone a choice about whether or not to take the toll lanes and pay the tolls -- rated most descriptive (3.4) and most important (2.8) in both locations -- falls outside of the plot area

4 The Mellman Group and Ayres, McHenry and Associates (July 2011) Page 4 Convenience is both important to voters and describes dynamic tolling well, as does making it easier to get where one is going. Reducing congestion and allowing people to get where they want to go on time are important outcomes though these are a bit less closely associated with dynamic tolling. Cost, which is at the top of many peoples concerns during this sluggish recovery, is least descriptive of dynamic tolling, and not very troublesome to voters, likely because they are not forced to drive on the dynamic toll lanes or pay the tolls. Maintaining A Free Option Is Critical The single most important factor is the ability to choose a free option at all times. That choice between free lanes and toll lanes had an importance score of 2.8 in both localities, outweighing other top priorities such as convenience (2.2 in, 2.3 in ). Moreover, voters clearly understand that dynamic tolling enables them to choose (87% describes in and 85% in ). This is true among those who use dynamic tolling (95% in, 90% in ), those who are familiar with it but do not regularly use the lanes (83% in, 70% in ), as well as those who were initially unfamiliar with the lanes (85% in, 82% in ). After Arguments From Both Sides, For Dynamic Tolling Remains Strong And Opposition Arguments Gain Little Traction Everyone heard an argument from opponents framing dynamic tolling as another tax on individuals while gas prices are near record levels, calling dynamic tolling Lexus lanes that disproportionately benefit those who can pay a premium and putting people s privacy at risk because of the ability of the government to track people s movement. 3 The sample was then divided into halves. One half heard an argument in favor of dynamic tolling focusing on the need to reduce America s dependence on foreign oil, the convenience of dynamic tolling, the use of revenue to repair roads and the ability to choose at all times whether to pay the toll or not. 4 The other half heard a pro-dynamic tolling argument that focused more directly on the personal benefits of dynamic tolling, such as reliable travel times, toll-free passage for carpools, reducing dependence on foreign oil, reduced congestion on free lanes and the ability to choose at all times whether to pay the toll or not. 5 After hearing these arguments from both sides, regardless of the pro-dynamic tolling argument presented, support for dynamic tolling remained strong. Sixty-nine percent (69%) of those in and 64% in continue to support dynamic tolling after hearing the pro-argument on foreign oil dependence and 3 Opponents of the dynamic toll lane program say with gas prices already near record levels, the last thing we can afford is another tax. Yet, these lanes amount to a double tax. Taxpayers already pay a gas tax to build and maintain roads but now bureaucrats want to charge them to drive on the roads, too. These Lexus lanes disproportionately benefit those who can pay a premium to avoid traffic while leaving those who can t afford to pay a toll sitting on congested roads. Moreover, people s privacy will be at risk because the government will know when they have traveled on these roads. 4 ers of the dynamic toll lane program say it is critical that we reduce America s dependence on foreign oil. We currently send billions of dollars overseas to countries that don t like us instead of investing it here at home. One important way to reduce our dependence on foreign oil is by reducing the amount of gas wasted because cars are stuck in traffic. These dynamic toll lanes mean less waiting in traffic which saves oil, gets people home, or to work, faster, and saves them money on gas, while providing the money we need to build and repair roads without raising gas taxes. Moreover, people always have a choice about whether or not to use the lanes and pay the tolls. 5 ers of the dynamic toll lane program say these toll lanes benefit everyone, not only the drivers who choose to pay a toll for faster, more reliable travel times. These lanes are free for buses, emergency vehicles, and carpools, so they allow faster emergency response times and encourage people to carpool. Additionally, they reduce the amount of gas wasted because cars are stuck in traffic which saves people money on gas, helps reduce America s dependence on foreign oil and reduce the pollution emitted from stop and go traffic. And the toll lanes take cars off the free lanes while always giving people a choice about whether or not to use the lanes and pay the tolls.

5 The Mellman Group and Ayres, McHenry and Associates (July 2011) Page 5 the opposition argument. The pro-dynamic tolling argument that focused more directly on personal benefits garnered 67% support in and 61% in San Diego. In neither location did the opposition s argument gain much traction. Moreover, specific reasons to support dynamic tolling are much more compelling than reasons to oppose it. The most convincing reason to support dynamic tolling in both cities is that people can always choose whether or not to use the toll lanes and pay the toll (55% very convincing in, 53% in ). Remains Strong After Voters Hear A Strong Argument From Each Side 22% 28% +6 71% 68% 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% -3 Net: -9 Lighter shading indicates initial opinion, support arguments are combined 34% +5 63% 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% Majorities also find the fact that carpools and public transit can access the lanes for free a very convincing reason to support dynamic tolling (54% in, 52% in ). Moreover, voters are convinced by the fact that dynamic tolls will benefit everyone by decreasing congestion in free lanes (38% very convincing in both). By comparison, the most compelling reason to oppose dynamic tolling that there is no guarantee that the revenue will be spent on road improvement is significantly less compelling in both locales ( very convincing in, 39% in ). Other arguments against dynamic tolling are even less resonant. Only around a third find a double taxation argument very convincing (28% in, 37% in ). Dubbing them Lexus lanes ( in, 35% in ), or arguing that respondents will not be able to afford the tolls (22% in, in ), or that privacy will be at risk (15% in, 19% in ) also fail to be persuasive. Conclusion Dynamic tolling enjoys strong support among those who use it, those who are familiar with it, and also from those who have just learned about it. That widespread support results from a clear perception of the benefits including reduced congestion and ease of travel along with reduced air pollution and gas expenditures. It is important that there always be a free option available. But with that single caveat, none of the arguments that might be made against dynamic tolling resonate and support remains overwhelming even after respondents are exposed to a range of attacks on the concept. -2 Net: -7