DECISION RESEARCH

POLL 60220

Name________ Phone________

 

Sex  
Women 53%
Men 47%

Party  
Democrat 55%
Independent 21%
Republican 24%

County/
BART District
 
AL-3 11%
AL-4 9%
AL-5 10%
AL-7 6%
CC-1 15%
CC-2 11%
CC-3 3%
CC-5 4%
CC-7 2%
SF-7 3%
SF-8 8%
SF-9 10%
   

Voting History  
Two Primaries 49%
 One Primary 30%
No Primaries 21%

Voted Absentee  
Yes 35%
No 65%

County  
Alameda 44%
Contra Costa 35%
San Francisco 21%

Interviewer Name________

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GOOD EVENINGS MY NAME IS________. I'M CALLING FROM DECISION RESEARCH, A CALIFORNIA POLLING FIRM. TODAY WE ARE CALLING PEOPLE TO ASK THEIR OPINIONS ABOUT SOME IMPORTANT ISSUES FACING THE BAY AREA. IT WILL TAKE JUST A FEW MOMENTS, AND MOST PEOPLE FIND IT INTERESTING. I'LL BEGIN BY ASKING.....

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8. WOULD YOU SAY THAT THINGS IN THE BAY AREA ARE ON THE RIGHT TRACK, OR HAVE THEY GONE OFF ON THE WRONG TRACK?

 42% (Right Track)
42% (Wrong Track)
16% (Don't Know)

 

HOW WOULD YOU RATE EACH OF THE FOLLOWING IN THE BAY AREA? WOULD YOU SAY EXCELLENT, GOOD, ONLY FAIR, OR POOR? [ROTATE]

    ONLY DON'T
     EXCELLENT  GOOD FAIR  POOR KNOW
 9. THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS 2% 19% 37% 28% 14%
10. BART 8% 48% 26% 8% 9%
11. THE LOCAL ECONOMY 1% 31% 46% 19% 2%
12. TRAFFIC FLOW 0% 6% 27% 66% 1%
13. AIR QUALITY 4% 42% 39% 14% 1%

 

14. THIS YEAR, THERE MAY BE A MEASURE ON THE BALLOT CONCERNING BART. I'LL READ THE MEASURE EXACTLY AS IT MAY APPEAR: IN ORDER TO PROTECT THE PUBLIC SAFETY AND PRESERVE BART SERVICE AFTER A MAJOR EARTHQUAKE, SHALL BART BE AUTHORIZED TO ISSUE 1.5 BILLION DOLLARS IN BONDS TO SEISMICALLY RETROFIT AND STRENGTHEN THE TRANSBAY TUBE AND OTHER BART FACILITIES IN ALAMEDA, CONTRA COSTA, AND SAN FRANCISCO COUNTIES.

WOULD YOU VOTE YES OR VOTE NO ON THIS MEASURE? (If decided, probe: IS THAT DEFINITELY OR PROBABLY?)

(If undecided, ask): AT THE PRESENT TIME, WOULD YOU BE LEANING TOWARD VOTING YES OR TOWARD VOTING NO?

 37% (Definitely Yes)
 28% (Probably Yes)
4% (Lean Yes)
   
69% Total Yes
 
 7% (Still Undecided)
   
 13% (Definitely No)
9% (Probably No)
3% (Lean No)
 
24% Total No

 

15. (If not undecided, ask): CAN YOU TELL ME WHY YOU ARE VOTING THAT WAY? (Accept one response)

16. THERE IS ANOTHER PROPOSAL AS WELL FOR A BOND THAT WOULD COST 1.7 BILLION DOLLARS. THAT PLAN WOULD INCLUDE ALL THE FUNDING TO SEISMICALLY RETROFIT AND STRENGTHEN THE TRANSBAY TUBE AND

OTHER BART FACILITIES AND WOULD ALSO INCLUDE FUNDING FOR ADDITIONAL SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS AS WELL AS SECURITY ENHANCEMENTS TO GUARD AGAINST TERRORIST THREATS. WOULD YOU SAY YOU ARE MORE LIKELY TO SUPPORT THE 1.7 BILLION DOLLAR PROGRAM WHICH INCLUDES BOTH SEISMIC RETROFITTING AND SAFETY AND SECURITY IMPROVEMENTS, THE 1.5 BILLION SEISMIC RETROFIT ONLY, OR NEITHER ONE?

 30% (Seismic only)
36% (Seismic, safety and security)
23% (Neither)
10% (Still undecided)

 

GENERALLY SPEAKING, HOW WOULD YOU COMPARE SARI TO OTHER TRANSIT SYSTEMS IN THE AREA? WOULD YOU SAY BART IS BETTER, WORSE. OR ABOUT THE SAME?

    BART BETTER BART SAME BART WORSE DON'T KNOW
 17. AC TRANSIT 39% 23% 4% 34%
18. MUNI (MYU-nee) 44% 20% 4% 32%
19. CALTRAIN 24% 18% 5% 53%
20. COUNTY CONNECTION 23% 14% 5% 53%
21. SAMTRANS 21% 13% 3% 63%

 

I'D LIKE TO FOLLOW UP WITH SOME ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS ABOUT BART, FOR EACH OF THE FOLLOWING, PLEASE TELL ME WHETHER YOU THINK THE STATEMENT IS ACCURATE OR INACCURATE (Probe for VERY OR SOMEWHAT)... (Rotate)

    VERY SOMEWHAT SOMEWHAT VERY
    ACCURATE ACCURATE OK  INACCURATE INACCURATE
22. BART MANAGES THE TAXPAYER'S MONEY WELL 5% 27% 27% 23% 18%
23. BART PROVIDES RELIABLE TRANSPORTATION 59% 34% 2% 3% 1%
24. BART PERFORMED WELL AFTER THE 1989 EARTHQUAKE 44% 24% 29% 2% 1%
25. BART IS CONVENIENT 49% 38% 2% 6% 5%
26. BART IS SAFE FROM CRIME 17% 43% 9% 21% 11%
27. WITHOUT BART, TRAFFIC IN THE BAY AREA WOULD BE MUCH WORSE 83% 13% 1% 2% 1%
28. BART'S SAN FRANCISCO AIRPORT EXTENSION PROJECT HAS BEEN GOING WELL 11% 27% 36% 16% 11%
29. THERE ARE TOO MANY ACCIDENTS AND SAFETY PROBLEMS WITH BART 3% 11% 12% 40% 34%
30. BART IS ABOUT AS EARTHQUAKE SAFE AS THINGS CAN BE IN THE BAY AREA 19% 33% 27% 16% 5%
31. BART IS IMPORTANT TO THE OVERALL ECONOMY OF THE BAY AREA 70% 23% 2% 4% 1%
32. BART COMPLETES ITS NEW PROJECTS ON TIME 5% 22% 35% 23% 16%
33. IT IS ESSENTIAL TO HAVE BART UP AND RUNNING AFTER A MAJOR EARTHQUAKE 68% 21% 2% 7% 3%
34. TRAVEL ON BART IS A GOOD VALUE 38% 39% 6% 11% 7%

 

35. GENERALLY SPEAKING, WOULD YOU SUPPORT OR OPPOSE SMALL ANNUAL FARE INCREASES FOR THE BART SYSTEM TO KEEP UP WITH THE COST OF LIVING SO THAT BART CAN MAINTAIN THE CURRENT LEVELS OF SERVICE, KEEP THE SYSTEM PROPERLY MAINTAINED, AND INVEST IN IMPROVEMENTS AND RENOVATIONS? (Probe: WOULD THAT BE STRONGLY OR SOMEWHAT) (Rotate)

27% (Strongly Support)
42% (Somewhat Support)
5% (Undecided, do not know--do not read)
12% (Somewhat Oppose)
14% (Strongly Oppose)

 

RETURNING TO THE EARTHQUAKE RETROFIT MEASURE,

(Rotate entire section with reasons to oppose measure)

THE FOLLOWING ARE REASONS PEOPLE GIVE TO SUPPORT THE BOND MEASURE FOR EARTHQUAKE SAFETY FOR BART, PLEASE TELL ME WHETHER EACH IS A VERY PERSUASIVE, SOMEWHAT PERSUASIVE, SOMEWHAT UNPERSUASIVE OR VERY UNPERSUASIVE REASON TO VOTE FOR THE BOND MEASURES (Rotate)

 

    VERY SOMEWHAT NO DIFF/ SOMEWHAT VERY
    PERSUASIVE PERSUASIVE OK  UNPERSUASIVE UNPERSUASIVE
36. EVEN THOUGH BART WAS SAFE DURING THE LAST EARTHQUAKE WHICH WAS CENTERED 50 MILES AWAY, GEOLOGISTS SAY THAT THE NEXT MAJOR EARTHQUAKE COULD BE RIGHT UNDERNEATH US, SO WE SHOULD DO EVERYTHING TO MAKE BART AS SAFE AS POSSIBLE FOR ALL OF US 47% 32% 2% 10% 9%
37. SINCE THE ORIGINAL BART SYSTEM WAS BUILT 30 YEARS AGO, EXPERTS HAVE NOW LEARNED MORE ABOUT HOW EARTHQUAKES AFFECT STRUCTURES, AND THEY NOW BELIEVE THAT MANY OF THE TUNNELS, STATIONS, AND ABOVE-GROUND TRACKS NEED TO BE RETROFITTED TO MAKE BART SAFE AFTER THE NEXT EARTHQUAKE 46% 38% 3% 7% 6%
38. IN THE WORST EARTHQUAKE, BART STATIONS MAY HAVE TO SERVE AS SHELTERS, SO IT IS A MATTER OF GENERAL PUBLIC SAFETY THAT THE SYSTEM BE MADE SAFE 31% 33% 3% 19% 15%
39. JUST AS WE HAVE RETROFITTED FREEWAYS TO MAKE THEM SAFER, WE SHOULD MAKE THE BART SYSTEM AS SAFE AS POSSIBLE FOR BART RIDERS 49% 36% 2% 9% 5%
40. IT IS IN ALL OF OUR INTERESTS TO MAKE SURE THAT BART, WHICH SERVES AS A VITAL LINK FOR THE ENTIRE BAY AREA AND ITS ECONOMY, IS NOT DISABLED, BECAUSE IF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE WHO TAKE IT TO WORK EVERY DAY WERE FORCED TO DRIVE, THE FREEWAYS WOULD BE GRIDLOCKED 63% 25% 1% 6% 5%
SPLIT 41A. AN INDEPENDENT COMMITTEE OF SEISMIC TECHNICAL EXPERTS AND SCIENTISTS WILL OVERSEE THE PROJECT TO MAKE SURE THE PROJECT STAYS ON BUDGET AND THE WORK GETS DONE PROPERLY 33% 38% 4% 14% 12%
SPLIT 41B. THERE WILL BE AN INDEPENDENT OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE TO MAKE SURE THAT THE MONEY IS SPENT AS PROMISED 34% 37% 4% 13% 13%
42. IT WILL SURE BE A LOT CHEAPER TO RETROFIT BART NOW THAN TO TRY TO REPAIR IT IF IT IS DAMAGED IN A SEVERE EARTHQUAKE 48% 31% 4% 9% 8%
43. WE SHOULD SUPPORT BART BECAUSE IT CONTRIBUTES TO OUR QUALITY-OF-LIFE BY REDUCING TRAFFIC AND IMPROVING AIR QUALITY` 52% 35% 2% 7% 4%
44. NOW THAT THE DEBT TO BUILD BART HAS BEEN FULLY REPAID AND BAY AREA HOMEOWNERS NO LONGER PAY A BART PROPERTY TAX, IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE, THE TAXPAYERS WHO OWN THE 10 BILLION DOLLAR SYSTEM, PROTECT OUR INVESTMENT IN IT BY MAKING IT SAFER AND STRONGER 31% 40% 3% 15% 11%
45. DURING THE LAST EARTHQUAKE, BART WAS A PRIMARY TRANSPORTATION LINK FOR THE BAY AREA, AND HELPED THE REGION GET BACK TO NORMAL MUCH SOONER THAN WOULD OTHERWISE HAVE BEEN THE CASE 43% 39% 7% 7% 5%
46. THE COST OF THIS PROPOSAL TO THE AVERAGE HOMEOWNER WOULD BE LESS THAN 25 CENTS A DAY 27% 34% 6% 18% 17%
47. THE $1.5 BILLION NEEDED FOR A SEISMIC RETROFIT IS BASED ON THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF ENGINEERS, NOT THE POLITICIANS 38% 38% 6% 9% 9%
 48. OTHER KEY SYSTEMS LIKE WATER, ELECTRICITY, HIGHWAYS AND HOSPITALS ARE UNDERTAKING SEISMIC SAFETY PLANS, SO IT IS IMPORTANT THAT BART NOT BE LEFT OUT 30% 39% 3% 17% 11%
49. IN THE AFTERMATH OF AN EARTHQUAKE, BART WILL BE NEEDED TO HELP REUNITE FAMILIES SEPARATED BY THE EARTHQUAKE 32% 34% 3% 18% 12%
50. BART RIDERS REPRESENT 45% OF THE BAY BRIDGE TRAFFIC; WITHOUT BART, THERE WOULD BE SUBSTANTIAL INCREASE IN CARS ON THE HIGHWAYS AND IN THE CITY 64% 26% 2% 5% 3%
51. THE PROPOSED BOND MEASURE WILL NOT ONLY STRENGTHEN THE SYSTEM AGAINST EARTHQUAKES BUT WILL ALSO IMPROVE OVERALL SAFETY AND SECURITY ON THE BART SYSTEM, WHICH IS IMPORTANT IN THIS DAY AND AGE 30% 43% 4% 16% 8%
52. THE HEAD OF THE CALIFORNIA SEISMIC SAFETY COMMISSION SAYS THAT EARTHQUAKE RETROFITTING BART IS CRUCIAL TO RIDER SAFETY 39% 38% 3% 12% 8%
53. WHILE WE DON'T KNOW FOR SURE THE LIKELIHOOD THAT THE TRANSBAY TUBE COULD FAIL IN A MAJOR EARTHQUAKE, IT IS ESSENTIAL TO MOVE AHEAD WITH RETROFITS IN THE INTEREST OF PUBLIC SAFETY 40% 37% 4% 12% 8%
 54. BART IS THE BACKBONE OF THE BAY AREA'S TRANSPORTATION NETWORK AND, AS DEMONSTRATED IN 1989 WHEN THE BAY BRIDGE FAILED, BART'S ABILITY TO MAINTAIN SERVICE AFTER A MAJOR EARTHQUAKE IS ESSENTIAL TO AVOID GRIDLOCK AND KEEP THE REGION'S ECONOMY ON THE MOVE. 52% 34% 3% 6% 5%

 

Rotate entire section with reasons to favor measure

THE FOLLOWING ARE SEASONS PEOPLE GIVE TO OPPOSE THE BOND MEASURE FOR EARTHQUAKE SAFETY FOR BART, PLEASE TELL ME WHETHER EACH IS A VERY PERSUASIVE, SOMEWHAT PERSUASIVE, SOMEWHAT UNPERSUASIVE OR VERY UNPERSUASIVE REASON TO VOTE AGAINST THE BOND MEASURE. (Rotate)

 

    VERY SOMEWHAT NO DIFF/ SOMEWHAT VERY
    PERSUASIVE PERSUASIVE OK  UNPERSUASIVE UNPERSUASIVE
55. $1.5 BILLION WORTH OF REPAIRS MAY BE NEEDED, BUT THEY SHOULD BE PAID FOR BY RIDERS AND THOSE WHO USE THE SYSTEM, NOT BE ALL THE TAXPAYERS 20% 26% 4% 24% 26%
56. WE DID NOT HAVE TO PAY HIGHER LOCAL TAXES FOR EARTHQUAKE REPAIRS TO OUR FREEWAYS, SO WE SHOULD NOT HAVE TO REPAIR BART, EITHER 25% 29% 5% 22% 19%
57. TAXES ON HOMEOWNERS ARE TOO HIGH IN THE AREA ALREADY 37% 25% 6% 26% 24%
58. $1.5 BILLION DOLLARS IS TOO MUCH TO SPEND FOR SOMETHING THAT MAY NOT BE NEEDED OR MAY NOT DO ANY GOOD IN A MAJOR EARTHQUAKE 19% 25% 6% 26% 24%
59. IF THESE REPAIRS ARE SO IMPORTANT, BART SHOULD HAVE BEEN MAKING THEM ALL ALONG, NOT WAITING UNTIL NOW WHEN THEY ARE SO COSTLY THEY NEED MORE TAXES 31% 23% 4% 21% 21%
60. BART SHOULD GET THE MONEY SOMEWHERE ELSE, LIKE FROM THE STATE OR FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, JUST AS THEY WOULD GET IT THERE FOR DISASTER RELIEF 23% 33% 4% 21% 19%
61. BART IS ALREADY PLENTY SAFE, THAT IS WHY IT SURVIVED THE LAST EARTHQUAKE SO WELL 13% 32% 8% 28% 20%
62. BART MANAGES ITS PROJECTS AND MONEY POORLY, ALWAYS TAKING TOO LONG AND GOING WAY OVER BUDGET, SO WE SHOULD NOT GIVE THEM ANY MORE MONEY UNTIL THEY LEARN TO MANAGE IT MORE EFFICIENTLY 25% 29% 9% 22% 16%
63. BART ALREADY TAKES UP TOO MUCH OF THE TRANSIT DOLLARS IN THE BAY AREA 12% 21% 15% 29% 24%
64. WE SHOULD BE SPENDING BART'S MONEY TO ATTRACT MORE RIDERS BY IMPROVING THE FAULTY TRAINS AND EQUIPMENT AT THE STATIONS, NOT BY MAKING UNNEEDED REPAIRS TO THE TUNNELS AND TRACKS 12% 21% 15% 29% 24%
65. WE SHOULD NOT PAY TAXES FOR BART BECAUSE IT IS PRIMARILY A SYSTEM TO GET PEOPLE TO DOWNTOWN SAN FRANCISCO, NOT A SYSTEM THAT BENEFITS US ALL 12% 19% 3% 27% 39%
66. THE BART EXTENSION PROJECT TO SAN FRANCISCO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT HAS BEEN A DISASTER, PROVING THEY WILL NOT SPEND ANY NEW BOND MONEY WISELY 14% 27% 17% 23% 19%
67. THE SYSTEM IS POORLY MANAGED WITH STRIKES AND COST OVERRUNS, AND BART WILL BE UNABLE TO DO THE REPAIRS WITHOUT ASKING US FOR EVEN MORE MONEY 23% 34% 8% 22% 13%
68. BART PROVIDES TERRIBLE CUSTOMER SERVICE, HAS LATE TRAINS AND UNRELIABLE SERVICE, SO THE SYSTEM DOES NOT DESERVE $1.5 BILLION OF OUR TAX DOLLARS 8% 14% 7% 28% 43%
69. BART IS ALREADY GETTING PLENTY OF MORE MONEY BY RAISING FARES, AND CHARGING FOR PARKING, SO WE SHOULD NOT ALSO HAVE TO PAY HIGHER TAXES TO SUPPORT BART'S PLANS 30% 30% 4% 21% 15%
70. THERE ARE MORE IMPORTANT NEEDS ON WHICH WE SHOULD SPEND OUR PROPERTY TAX MONEY THAN WASTING MORE MONEY ON BART 18% 26% 4% 29% 22%
71. THE BOND MEASURE WILL COST THE AVERAGE BAY AREA HOUSEHOLD OVER $80 PER YEAR IN HIGHER TAXES, EVEN FOR THOSE WHO RARELY USE BART 26% 28% 5% 21% 20%

72. NOW THAT YOU HAVE HEARD ARGUMENTS FOR AND AGAINST THE MEASURE, LET ME ASK AGAIN ABOUT A MEASURE ON THE BALLOT CONCERNING BART. I'LL READ THE MEASURE EXACTLY AS IT MAY APPEAR:

IN ORDER TO PROTECT THE PUBLIC SAFETY AND PRESERVE BART SERVICE AFTER A MAJOR EARTHQUAKE, SHALL BART BE AUTHORIZED TO ISSUE 1.5 BILLION DOLLARS IN BONDS TO SEISMICALLY RETROFIT AND STRENGTHEN THE TRANSBAY TUBE AND OTHER BART FACILITIES IN ALAMEDA, CONTRA COSTA, AND SAN FRANCISCO COUNTIES.

WOULD YOU VOTE YES OR VOTE NO ON THIS MEASURE? (If decided, probe: IS THAT DEFINITELY OR PROBABLY?)

(If undecided, ask): AT THE PRESENT TIME, WOULD YOU BE LEANING TOWARD VOTING YES OR TOWARD VOTING NO?

 39% (Definitely Yes)
 26% (Probably Yes)
3% (Lean Yes)
   
67% Total Yes
 
 6% (Still Undecided)
   
15% (Definitely No)
10% (Probably No)
1% (Lean No)
 
27% Total No

73. (If not undecided, ask): CAN YOU TELL ME WHY YOU ARE VOTING THAT WAY? (Accept one response).

 

THERE MAY BE MEASURES ON THE BALLOT NEXT YEAR TO FUND VARIOUS PROJECTS IN CALIFORNIA IN WHAT ORDER WOULD YOU RANK YOUR PRIORITIES?

Code 1A STATE BOND TO BUY NEW FIREFIGHTING EQUIPMENT

Code 2 THE BART EARTHQUAKE SAFETY RETROFIT

Code 3 A STATE BOND FOR EDUCATION

Code 4 A STATE BOND FOR HOUSING

    Code 1 Code 2 Code 3 Code 4 Don't Know
74. First Rank 15% 12% 55% 13% 4%
75. Second Rank 18% 29% 18% 28% 7%
76. Third Rank 28% 32% 13% 19% 9%
77. Fourth Rank 31% 20% 8% 33% 9%

 

AND FOR STATISTICAL PURPOSES ONLY...

 78. DO YOU OWN YOUR HOME, OR DO YOU RENT?  
  70% (Own--Do Not Read)
  28% (Rent--Do Not Read)
  1% (Refused--Do Not Read)
   
79. DO YOU WORK OUTSIDE THE HOME?  
  66% (Yes--Do Not Read)
  33% (No--Do Not Read)
   1% (Refused--Do Not Read)
     
80. DO YOU NORMALLY COMMUTE TO WORK BY  
  64%  CAR OR CARPOOL
11% BART
  8% BART AND OTHER PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION
  5% OTHER PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION
  8% BICYCLE OR WALKING
  2% OR BY SOME OTHER METHOD
   1% (Refused--Do Not Read)
   
81. HOW OFTEN DO YOU RIDE BART  
  3% SIX OR SEVEN DAYS A WEEK
  9% THREE TO FIVE DAYS A WEEK
  8% ONCE OR TWICE A WEEK
  24% A FEW TIMES A MONTH
  33% A FEW TIMES A YEAR
  6% LESS THAN ONCE A YEAR
  16% ALMOST NEVER
  0% (Refused--Do Not Read)
     
82. IS ANYONE IN YOUR HOME A MEMBER OF A LABOR UNION  
  22% (YES--Do Not Read)
78% (NO--Do Not Read)
  0% (Refused--Do Not Read)
     
 83. WHAT WAS THE LAST YEAR OF EDUCATION YOU COMPLETED  
  2% (Less than high school graduate--Do not read)
  11% (High school grad -Do Not Read)
   25% (Some college/technical school -Do Not Read)
   38% (College graduate--Do Not Read)
  24% (Post-graduate education --Do Not Read)
  1% (Refused--Do Not Read)
     
 84. WHAT WAS YOUR AGE ON YOUR LAST BIRTHDAY?  
  13% (18-29)
  19% (30-39)
  21% (40-49)
  18% (65 or older)
  4%  (Refused)
   
85. HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOURSELF RACIALLY?  
  8% (Black-African-American)
  69% (White or specific white ethnic group)
  5% (Hispanic/Latino/Latina , etc.)
  7% (Asian,Asian-American,Chinese,Japanese,Korean,Filipino, etc.)
  5% (Other-Including mixed)
   6% (Refused)

 

THANK YOU. THOSE ARE ALL THE QUESTIONS I HAVE. HAVE A PLEASANT EVENING.