Measuring perceptions of road pricing alternatives: Minnesota public outreach effort

In Minnesota, as in many states, transportation funding is not keeping pace with needs. In partial response, the Minnesota state legislature directed the Minnesota Department of Transportation and the Metropolitan Council of the Twin Cities to study and implement, where appropriate, various concepts of road pricing. Road pricing includes congestion pricing, toll roads, and mileage-based tax. Road pricing measures serve as a demand management tool, a mechanism to raise revenue, and a development technique to construct toll facilities through public-private partnerships. The law recognized that a highly controversial concept like road pricing could not be accepted by the public unless there was substantial public discourse. Furthermore, it is believed that there can be little public support for the introduction of a new user fee on a facility or for a service not previously priced unless the added benefits are commensurate with the price. A comprehensive public outreach process was designed, which included the Citizens Jury process, focus groups, opinion leaders survey, personal interviews, and a telephone survey. The process was designed to learn from each preceding outreach activity and help refine the issues and frame acceptable pricing options. The results indicate that there is support for some road pricing options among Minnesotans, but the strength of that support depends on where and how the options might be implemented. Furthermore, support varies by how the collected revenues might be used and by what those revenues replace or supplement.