A new national poll has found that both Republican and Democratic voters support more and better trains and are willing to spend more federal dollars to get them.
According to the Rail Passengers Association, a poll conducted with Change Research found that attitudes toward federal spending were shifting. The survey found that more than three-quarters of Americans (78 percent) supported passenger rail investment. Support was positive from both parties, with 95 percent of Democrats and 61 percent of Republicans in favor.
The survey also found that almost two-thirds (60 percent) of American support spending $100 billion to boost the passenger rail infrastructure – more than the $66 billion currently guaranteed in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. The survey found nearly half (42 percent) would secure even more funding.
Two-thirds of those polled felt there should be a “national” railroad plan, and 66 percent also felt there should be a national High Speed Rail plan. The poll found that 64 percent of Americans support using tax dollars to pay the upkeep of tracks and trains, similar to the number of Americans who support using federal dollars to fund the U.S. air traffic control system, the rail association said. Only 47 percent of those surveyed think federal dollars should be used to maintain airports, the survey found.
According to the poll, only 27 percent felt that Amtrak should be expected to make a profit for the government, with 61 percent feeling it should not.