Americans Willing to Pay for Better Roads: AAA

More than half of Americans surveyed are willing to pay for better roads, bridges and mass transit systems.

A study conducted by AAA suggests that 68 percent of Americans believe the federal government should invest more than it does now on roads, bridges and mass transit systems. The AAA omnibus survey took in the opinions of 2,013 adults and only five percent of the respondents believe the federal government should spend less on transportation. Over half said they would accept higher fuel taxes to raise money for infrastructure improvement.

“Americans are fed up with record-long commutes, unsafe highways and never-ending potholes caused by political inaction,” said Bob Darbelnet, AAA President and CEO. “Congress must prevent severe maintenance delays during the height of the summer driving season by preventing a Highway Trust Fund bankruptcy in August.”

SEE ALSO: America’s Interstates Could Become Toll Roads

Of those surveyed, 67 percent agree that taxes on gasoline and diesel consumption are appropriate for transportation funding and 51 percent admitted that they are more likely to vote for a member of Congress who supports increased federal spending on transportation.

Currently, the federal Highway Trust Fund is supported by the 18.4 cents per gallon gas tax and 24.4 cents per gallon tax on diesel. That tax has not been raised by Congress since 1993 and as a result of inflation and increased fuel economy, the purchasing power of the current tax has been cut nearly in half.