2006 Metro Residents Survey

What citizens think about the region’s quality of life, leading regional issues, problems and solutions

Background

• An opinion poll – measuring and understanding public opinion

• Similar to Gallup Poll’s Soul of the City survey in 20 metro areas

• Provides a time-series –1982-2006

Topics investigated

• Assets of the region – quality of place

• Major problems facing the region

• Transportation solutions

• The Metropolitan Council, its responsibilities and performance

Most attractive feature or asset

Natural

environ-

ment,

13%

Good

neighbor-

hoods,

6%

Parks and

trails,

21%Arts and

culture,

10%

Variety of

things to

do, 8%

Other,

42%

The most important problem facing the Twin Cities

Social

issues,

5%

Growth,

11%

Other,

15% Crime,

36%

Transportationand traffic,

33%

Most important problem:

Economy and taxestaxes

Most important problem: Crime and socialsocial

Most important problem:

Transportation and traffic

Concern over traffic and transportation• Vehicle miles traveled have been

growing steadily for years

• Roads filled – and congestion delays quickly doubled (1996-2000)

• Public concern erupted – transportation identified by 58% as most important problem (2003)

Still a concern?

• Some bottleneck relief

• Some drivers have become accustomed to the new commuting environment

• Congestion delays have not noticeably worsened since 2003

Support for transportation solutions

Metropolitan Council name recognition and public opinion

Heard of the Metropolitan Council

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

1998 2000 2001 2003 2004 2005 2006

Approve of performance

Importance of Council programs

All programs considered very or moderately important by 70–90%

2006 Metro Residents Survey

What citizens think about the region’s quality of life, leading regional issues, problems and solutions