Congestion Pricing Won't Work, New Yorkers Say, Quinnipiac University Poll Finds; Voters Say Scrap Elite School Test, Increase Diversity

Share

PDF format
Trend Information
Sample and Methodology detail

New York City voters oppose congestion pricing 54 - 41 percent and say 52 - 40 percent that it will not be effective in reducing traffic, according to a Quinnipiac University Poll released today.

Manhattan voters are divided as 48 percent support congestion pricing, with 51 percent opposed, the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University Poll finds. Opposition in the other boroughs ranges from 52 - 43 percent in Staten Island to 64 - 30 percent in The Bronx.

White voters are divided, with 47 percent supporting congestion pricing and 49 percent opposed. Opposition is 63 - 33 percent among black voters and 58 - 39 percent among Hispanic voters.

Congestion pricing will reduce traffic, 52 percent of Staten Island voters say, as 44 percent say it won't be effective. Voters in other boroughs say it won't work, ranging from 50 - 43 percent "no" in Manhattan to 62 - 34 percent "no" in The Bronx.

A total of 90 percent of New York City voters say traffic congestion is a "very serious" or "somewhat serious" problem. Of that 90 percent, 36 percent say Mayor Bill de Blasio is more to blame, as 16 percent say Gov. Andrew Cuomo is more to blame. Another 19 percent blame neither and 13 percent blame both leaders.

New York City subway service is "not so good" or "poor," 62 percent of voters say, as 36 percent say it's "excellent" or "good." Bus quality in the city is "excellent" or "good," 48 percent of voters say, while 46 percent say it's "not so good" or "poor."

"New Yorkers give a Bronx cheer to congestion pricing. Lawmakers in Albany approved the plan, but city voters aren't in favor even if it means revenue raised will help fix mass transit. And there's a clear need for improvement. Six in ten New Yorkers rate subway service as 'not so good' or 'poor,'" said Mary Snow, polling analyst for the Quinnipiac University Poll.

New York City voters oppose 48 - 41 percent having the mayor and City Council take responsibility for city subways and buses.

Elite High School Admissions

With support from white, black and Hispanic voters, 57 percent of all New York City voters say other factors should be considered in deciding admission to elite public high schools, while 36 percent say keep the present system which relies on a single test to decide admission.

Support for the "other factors" option is 50 - 43 percent among white voters, 63 - 29 percent among black voters and 73 - 23 percent among Hispanic voters. Asian voters are divided as 46 percent say keep the single test and 48 percent say consider other factors.

In a separate question, New York City voters support 63 - 28 percent "changing the admissions process to New York City's elite high schools if it meant increased diversity at those schools." Support is 51 - 37 percent among white voters, 75 - 16 percent among black voters, 77 - 17 percent among Hispanic voters and 53 - 39 percent among Asian voters.

"The admissions process to New York City's top high schools has become a lightning rod. And New Yorkers say rethink it. They favor considering other factors besides acing a standardized test as the only door to entry," Snow said.

"New Yorkers are split over the quality of public schools in their neighborhoods. The Bronx is the least satisfied with its schools. Staten Island has the highest level of satisfaction," Snow said.

Amazon

New York City voters approve 61 - 32 percent of Gov. Cuomo and other leaders trying to convince Amazon to "revive its plan" to build a headquarters in Queens. Approval is strong in all boroughs, ranging from 58 - 34 percent in Queens to 79 - 18 percent in Staten Island.

Voters support 54 - 42 percent offering tax breaks to encourage corporations and businesses to locate in New York City.

From March 27 - April 1, Quinnipiac University surveyed 1,077 New York City voters with a margin of error of +/- 3.8 percentage points, including the design effect.

The Quinnipiac University Poll, directed by Douglas Schwartz, Ph.D., conducts gold standard surveys using random digit dialing with live interviewers calling landlines and cell phones. The Quinnipiac University Poll conducts nationwide surveys and polls in more than a dozen states on national and statewide elections, as well as public policy issues.

Visit poll.qu.edu or www.facebook.com/quinnipiacpoll

Call (203) 582-5201, or follow us on Twitter @QuinnipiacPoll.

13. Are you generally satisfied with the quality of the public schools in New York City, or are you not satisfied? 
                     Tot    Rep    Dem    Ind    Men    Wom    Wht    Blk    Hsp    Asn
 
Satisfied            26%    28%    29%    24%    28%    24%    24%    25%    32%    30%
Not satisfied        58     55     56     62     60     57     55     64     53     57
DK/NA                16     16     15     14     12     19     21     11     15     13
 
                     AREA.............................  AGE IN YRS..............
                     Brnx   Bklyn  Man    Qns    StIsl  18-34  35-49  50-64  65+
 
Satisfied            21%    29%    19%    30%    29%    21%    35%    25%    21%
Not satisfied        65     56     58     57     56     66     54     60     56
DK/NA                13     15     22     13     14     14     11     15     23
 
                     HAVE KIDS <18 YRS
                            InPublic
                     Yes    School
 
Satisfied            33%    42%
Not satisfied        59     54
DK/NA                 9      5
14. Are you generally satisfied with the quality of public schools in your neighborhood, or are you not satisfied? 
                     Tot    Rep    Dem    Ind    Men    Wom    Wht    Blk    Hsp    Asn
 
Satisfied            42%    48%    44%    40%    46%    39%    47%    34%    43%    45%
Not satisfied        42     35     40     46     41     43     30     53     45     45
DK/NA                16     17     16     14     13     19     22     13     12     11
 
                     AREA.............................  AGE IN YRS..............
                     Brnx   Bklyn  Man    Qns    StIsl  18-34  35-49  50-64  65+
 
Satisfied            29%    43%    39%    47%    67%    33%    47%    42%    48%
Not satisfied        54     46     33     41     25     55     42     43     27
DK/NA                17     12     29     12      8     12     11     16     25
 
                     HAVE KIDS <18 YRS
                            InPublic
                     Yes    School
 
Satisfied            42%    50%
Not satisfied        47     45
DK/NA                11      5
15. As you may know, admission to New York City's elite high schools, such as Stuyvesant and Bronx High School of Science, is determined by a student's performance on a single standardized test. Do you think New York City should keep that single-test procedure, or should it consider other factors? 
                     Tot    Rep    Dem    Ind    Men    Wom    Wht    Blk    Hsp    Asn
 
Keep single test     36%    58%    28%    40%    39%    34%    43%    29%    23%    46%
Consider other fctrs 57     37     65     52     56     59     50     63     73     48
DK/NA                 6      5      6      8      5      8      7      9      5      6
 
                     AREA.............................  AGE IN YRS..............
                     Brnx   Bklyn  Man    Qns    StIsl  18-34  35-49  50-64  65+
 
Keep single test     30%    36%    33%    41%    42%    26%    35%    38%    45%
Consider other fctrs 62     55     60     55     54     68     59     57     48
DK/NA                 8      9      6      4      3      6      6      5      7
 
                     HAVE KIDS <18 YRS
                            InPublic
                     Yes    School
 
Keep single test     31%    30%
Consider other fctrs 65     68
DK/NA                 4      2
16. As you may know, only 10.5% of admission offers to New York City's elite high schools went to black and Latino students, despite black and Latino students making up nearly two thirds of New York City's public schools. Some have suggested that this is the result of admissions being determined by a single standardized test. Would you support or oppose changing the admissions process to New York City's elite high schools if it meant increased diversity at those schools? 
                     Tot    Rep    Dem    Ind    Men    Wom    Wht    Blk    Hsp    Asn
 
Support              63%    35%    75%    52%    60%    66%    51%    75%    77%    53%
Oppose               28     50     18     37     34     22     37     16     17     39
DK/NA                10     16      7     12      7     12     12      9      5      8
 
                     AREA.............................  AGE IN YRS..............
                     Brnx   Bklyn  Man    Qns    StIsl  18-34  35-49  50-64  65+
 
Support              72%    59%    67%    59%    61%    71%    72%    57%    57%
Oppose               21     27     24     34     34     20     23     33     33
DK/NA                 7     14      9      7      5      9      6     10     10
 
                     HAVE KIDS <18 YRS
                            InPublic
                     Yes    School
 
Support              64%    72%
Oppose               27     24
DK/NA                10      4
17. As you may know, a New York State agency, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, is responsible for all mass transit in New York City and the suburbs. Decisions about New York City subways and buses are made by state legislators and funding is provided mainly through the state budget. Do you support or oppose having the New York City Mayor and City Council take responsibility for city subways and buses, even if that means some state funding could be lost? 
                     Tot    Rep    Dem    Ind    Men    Wom    Wht    Blk    Hsp    Asn
 
Support              41%    27%    45%    40%    45%    37%    42%    44%    33%    46%
Oppose               48     58     43     50     45     50     46     50     53     39
DK/NA                11     14     11      9     10     13     13      6     14     15
 
                     AREA.............................  AGE IN YRS..............
                     Brnx   Bklyn  Man    Qns    StIsl  18-34  35-49  50-64  65+
 
Support              39%    41%    42%    40%    35%    51%    48%    33%    36%
Oppose               48     49     45     49     50     38     43     58     51
DK/NA                13     10     12     11     15     10      9     10     13
18. How would you rate the quality of subway service in New York City; excellent, good, not so good, or poor? 
                     Tot    Rep    Dem    Ind    Men    Wom    Wht    Blk    Hsp    Asn
 
Excellent             3%     9%     2%     2%     3%     3%     4%     3%     3%     -
Good                 33     27     35     33     36     30     39     31     28     30
Not so good          31     32     32     28     30     32     32     30     35     28
Poor                 31     29     29     35     29     33     22     35     33     42
DK/NA                 2      2      2      2      1      3      3      1      1      -
 
                     AREA.............................  AGE IN YRS..............
                     Brnx   Bklyn  Man    Qns    StIsl  18-34  35-49  50-64  65+
 
Excellent             3%     4%     3%     1%     4%     3%     3%     2%     2%
Good                 20     36     31     38     37     22     36     34     38
Not so good          28     30     39     27     31     32     29     34     32
Poor                 46     30     24     33     22     44     31     28     21
DK/NA                 2      1      3      2      6      -      -      1      7
18a. (If not so good or poor q18) Who is more to blame for the condition of New York City subways: Governor Cuomo or Mayor de Blasio? 
                     SUBWAY SERVICE NOT SO GOOD OR POOR Q18............................
                     Tot    Rep    Dem    Ind    Men    Wom    Wht    Blk    Hsp    Asn
 
Governor Cuomo       37%    20%    42%    39%    37%    37%    39%    28%    40%    50%
Mayor de Blasio      22     40     19     18     25     19     21     20     27     17
NEITHER(VOL)          8     15      7      6     11      5      7     10     10      4
BOTH(VOL)            22     16     20     29     19     24     20     32     13     19
DK/NA                11      8     13      8      7     15     13      9     10      9
 
                     AREA.............................  AGE IN YRS..............
                     Brnx   Bklyn  Man    Qns    StIsl  18-34  35-49  50-64  65+
 
Governor Cuomo       34%    34%    42%    40%    *      50%    41%    25%    34%
Mayor de Blasio      26     17     19     25            14     18     30     21
NEITHER(VOL)          8     10      8      6             8      7     10      7
BOTH(VOL)            25     22     20     21            12     23     27     28
DK/NA                 7     17     10      8            16     12      8     10
19. How would you rate the quality of New York City buses; excellent, good, not so good, or poor? 
                     Tot    Rep    Dem    Ind    Men    Wom    Wht    Blk    Hsp    Asn
 
Excellent             4%     7%     4%     4%     5%     4%     4%     6%     6%     2%
Good                 44     54     41     44     46     42     53     36     38     41
Not so good          30     22     31     32     30     30     24     35     34     28
Poor                 16     12     19     14     14     19     10     20     20     24
DK/NA                 5      5      5      6      5      5      9      2      2      5
 
                     AREA.............................  AGE IN YRS..............
                     Brnx   Bklyn  Man    Qns    StIsl  18-34  35-49  50-64  65+
 
Excellent             4%     6%     3%     3%     4%     2%     7%     5%     3%
Good                 33     45     51     42     50     36     43     44     50
Not so good          35     29     30     29     28     29     30     32     32
Poor                 25     17      9     18     13     29     14     14      9
DK/NA                 3      3      7      8      6      4      6      6      6
19a. (If not so good or poor q19) Who is more to blame for the condition of New York City buses: Governor Cuomo or Mayor de Blasio? 
                     BUSES NOT SO GOOD OR POOR Q19.....................................
                     Tot    Rep    Dem    Ind    Men    Wom    Wht    Blk    Hsp    Asn
 
Governor Cuomo       30%    *      32%    33%    33%    28%    35%    28%    21%    *
Mayor de Blasio      31            29     27     35     27     26     28     44     
NEITHER(VOL)          7             8      6      9      5      3      8     11     
BOTH(VOL)            20            18     26     16     24     17     27     17     
DK/NA                12            14      9      7     16     18     10      8     
 
                     AREA.............................  AGE IN YRS..............
                     Brnx   Bklyn  Man    Qns    StIsl  18-34  35-49  50-64  65+
 
Governor Cuomo       28%    27%    29%    36%    *      43%    28%    23%    25%
Mayor de Blasio      28     29     29     33            28     24     37     26
NEITHER(VOL)          9      5     10      6             6      4      8     11
BOTH(VOL)            28     19     17     18            10     30     23     24
DK/NA                 7     20     15      7            13     14      8     14
20. How much of a problem do you think traffic congestion is in New York City; a very serious problem, somewhat serious, not very serious, or not a problem at all? 
                     Tot    Rep    Dem    Ind    Men    Wom    Wht    Blk    Hsp    Asn
 
Very serious         55%    53%    59%    50%    52%    57%    54%    56%    63%    45%
Smwht serious        35     31     34     37     35     35     34     36     26     48
Not very serious      7     11      5     11     10      5      7      7      9      7
Not at all            2      2      2      2      1      3      3      1      2      1
DK/NA                 1      2      1      1      1      1      1      1      1      -
 
                     AREA.............................  AGE IN YRS..............
                     Brnx   Bklyn  Man    Qns    StIsl  18-34  35-49  50-64  65+
 
Very serious         58%    52%    54%    54%    62%    51%    53%    59%    60%
Smwht serious        35     38     34     32     33     39     39     31     31
Not very serious      6      6      8     10      4      6      7      7      6
Not at all            -      3      3      2      2      3      -      2      2
DK/NA                 2      -      1      1      -      1      1      1      2
20a. (If very or somewhat serious q20) Who is more to blame for the traffic congestion in New York City: Governor Cuomo or Mayor de Blasio? 
                     TRAFFIC CONGESTION VERY OR SOMEWHAT SERIOUS PROBLEM Q20...........
                     Tot    Rep    Dem    Ind    Men    Wom    Wht    Blk    Hsp    Asn
 
Governor Cuomo       16%    10%    16%    18%    20%    12%    13%    17%    16%    24%
Mayor de Blasio      36     49     35     33     37     36     40     30     40     32
NEITHER(VOL)         19     20     19     17     18     20     19     21     23     10
BOTH(VOL)            13      9     12     18     10     15     11     17     13     11
DK/NA                16     13     18     15     14     18     17     15      8     24
 
                     AREA.............................  AGE IN YRS..............
                     Brnx   Bklyn  Man    Qns    StIsl  18-34  35-49  50-64  65+
 
Governor Cuomo       20%    16%    10%    17%    14%    25%    15%    13%    12%
Mayor de Blasio      34     37     33     37     50     38     37     34     36
NEITHER(VOL)         18     18     25     17     13     12     17     22     22
BOTH(VOL)            14     13     14     13     10      6     12     22     14
DK/NA                14     17     17     17     12     19     18     10     16
21. As you may know, there is a plan called "congestion pricing" that would charge motorists an additional toll to drive into downtown and midtown Manhattan, while reducing tolls on bridges that don't connect to Manhattan. The extra money would be used to fund mass transit. Would you support or oppose congestion pricing? 
                     Tot    Rep    Dem    Ind    Men    Wom    Wht    Blk    Hsp    Asn
 
Support              41%    22%    46%    43%    43%    40%    47%    33%    39%    48%
Oppose               54     74     48     53     53     55     49     63     58     42
DK/NA                 5      4      5      4      5      5      4      4      3     10
 
                     AREA.............................  AGE IN YRS..............
                     Brnx   Bklyn  Man    Qns    StIsl  18-34  35-49  50-64  65+
 
Support              30%    42%    48%    40%    43%    40%    46%    38%    40%
Oppose               64     52     51     54     52     53     51     57     56
DK/NA                 6      6      1      6      5      7      2      4      4
22. Do you think congestion pricing will be effective in reducing traffic, or don't you think so? 
                     Tot    Rep    Dem    Ind    Men    Wom    Wht    Blk    Hsp    Asn
 
Yes/Effective        40%    33%    44%    39%    44%    36%    45%    32%    34%    48%
No                   52     61     48     53     50     55     48     59     57     43
DK/NA                 8      6      8      9      6      9      7      9      9      9
 
                     AREA.............................  AGE IN YRS..............
                     Brnx   Bklyn  Man    Qns    StIsl  18-34  35-49  50-64  65+
 
Yes/Effective        34%    39%    43%    38%    52%    35%    42%    40%    41%
No                   62     52     50     51     44     59     50     52     49
DK/NA                 4      9      7     10      5      6      8      8      9
23. As you may know, Amazon cancelled its plans to build one of its new headquarters in New York's Long Island City. Do you approve or disapprove of Governor Cuomo and other prominent New Yorkers trying to convince Amazon to revive its plan to build one of its new headquarters in Long Island City? 
                     Tot    Rep    Dem    Ind    Men    Wom    Wht    Blk    Hsp    Asn
 
Approve              61%    71%    59%    60%    61%    61%    63%    67%    59%    49%
Disapprove           32     23     34     35     34     30     30     29     33     44
DK/NA                 7      6      7      5      4      9      7      5      8      7
 
                     AREA.............................  AGE IN YRS..............
                     Brnx   Bklyn  Man    Qns    StIsl  18-34  35-49  50-64  65+
 
Approve              59%    62%    60%    58%    79%    46%    63%    68%    71%
Disapprove           36     31     33     34     18     46     31     28     24
DK/NA                 6      7      7      8      3      8      6      5      5
24. In general, do you support or oppose offering tax breaks to encourage corporations and businesses to locate in New York City? 
                     Tot    Rep    Dem    Ind    Men    Wom    Wht    Blk    Hsp    Asn
 
Support              54%    73%    49%    53%    57%    51%    59%    52%    55%    49%
Oppose               42     21     45     43     41     42     36     45     40     48
DK/NA                 5      5      5      4      2      7      6      3      6      2
 
                     AREA.............................  AGE IN YRS..............
                     Brnx   Bklyn  Man    Qns    StIsl  18-34  35-49  50-64  65+
 
Support              54%    53%    51%    55%    60%    42%    54%    61%    58%
Oppose               41     44     43     41     31     55     40     36     35
DK/NA                 5      4      6      4      9      2      6      3      7

Poll Questions