Americans' views on transportation unveiled in new survey
Election Day 2016, demonstrated that Americans realized other funding streams are needed by approving 22 ballot initiatives that will provide $203 billion in funding extensions and new revenue for state and local transportation projects.


HNTB Corp. released a new compilation of America THINKS 2016 survey results, highlighting Americans’ views on U.S. transportation through three national surveys in 2016 that studied issues associated with funding and mobility, transit oriented development, congestion, and tolling.
Election Day 2016, demonstrated that Americans realized other funding streams are needed by approving 22 ballot initiatives that will provide $203 billion in funding extensions and new revenue for state and local transportation projects. While substantial, this is not nearly enough to address the overall need.
As new funding options are proposed and examined, significant differences in viewpoints have emerged, and in many cases these are based on demographic factors such as age. Americans also are re-examining the basis of decisions about where they live, work, and play, and how that impacts their transportation preferences. Most importantly, Americans understand that funding our transportation infrastructure is critical to job creation, economic viability, mobility, and safety.
As various concerns and solutions are evaluated, HNTB Corp. continued to encourage dialogue and discussion among industry professionals, elected, and appointed officials and the general public by asking “What do you think?” as part of its America THINKS survey series. As in previous years, the results were compiled into a year-end report, including info-graphics and additional resources.
More Management

METRO Opens Submissions for 2026 Motorcoach Awards
Nominations are now being accepted for METRO Magazine’s Operator of the Year and Innovative Operator of the Year awards.
Read More →
New York MTA Advances Final Contract for Second Avenue Subway Expansion
Contract Four is the largest in the Second Avenue Subway Phase 2 project and includes construction of station infrastructure, tracks, and signals for the subway expansion, MTA officials said. Work on Contract Four will begin in 2027.
Read More →
Transit Agencies Highlight Safety Gains at National Summit
Leaders from 15 major transit systems shared crime-reduction results and safety initiatives while discussing the role of continued federal support.
Read More →
NITA Names New Leadership, Expands Reduced-Fare Program at First Board Meeting
The new regional transit authority appointed its first board chair and interim executive director while extending reduced fares across CTA, Metra, and Pace for eligible riders.
Read More →
Beyond the Checklist: A Structured Approach to Transit Maintenance
Reliability-Centered Maintenance helps transit agencies move beyond routine checklists to focus limited resources on the assets and failures that have the greatest impact on safety, reliability, and service.
Read More →
APTA 2026 Nominating Committee Selects Leadership Slate, Names Chair and Vice Chair Nominees
Leadership changes will help shape the association’s priorities and its representation of the transportation industry during the 2026–2027 term.
Read More →
DART Launches Major Security, Fare Enforcement Initiative
The 90-day demonstration will deploy coordinated security teams at five light rail stations while testing controlled access and gathering data to guide future investments.
Read More →Advancing Fare Collection Through Technology and Innovation
Learn about delivering 1300 gates at 91 stations while managing fare evasion. Explore the large scale deployment, solution customization and real-world results that affect the region. Prepare for deployment in your region now.
Read More →
Game Day in Motion: Moving Millions During the 2026 World Cup
Between packed transit stations and team motorcoaches, see how agencies and operators across North America tackled the transportation demands of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Read More →
Surface Transportation Extension Averts Shutdown, Leaves Transit Funding Gap
The stopgap keeps federal transportation programs moving, but missing advance funding could complicate the transit and rail projects agencies are planning next.
Read More →
