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
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