Polls

IssuesPA/Pew Infrastructure Survey: 10 Major Findings
August 2006

The latest IssuesPA poll surveyed 1,507 Pennsylvanians on population shifts, infrastructure concerns, the most pressing problems facing Pennsylvania, and confidence in state and local government. The poll shows that concern over crime/drugs as a problem facing Pennsylvania has reached its highest level ever in IssuesPA/Pew polling; and that unease over gas and fuel prices, which had peaked in April, has returned to the more predictable levels of other perennial concerns. The polling also indicated that 1 out of 4 Pennsylvanians feel that continuing population shifts will adversely effect their quality of life, with half of those polled under the age of 30 indicating that they plan to move out of the region within the next 10 years. The poll sheds light regional differences as the Southeast Suburbs, Philadelphia, and South Central Pennsylvania listed traffic congestion and the availability of affordable housing as their main regional problems, while the Southwest, Northeast, and the rest of the state ranked the condition of major roads, highways, and bridges as the major challenge to their region. The poll concludes by showing that despite all the negativity toward state government reflected in statewide polling over the past year, a majority of Pennsylvanians still have faith in state and local government, yet think they need to work together to compose a common regional plan for land use and development planning.

The poll was conducted for the Pennsylvania Economy League by Princeton Survey Research Associates International from July 17 to July 30, 2006.

Other Datapoints Most Important Problem Facing Pennsylvania Concern About Pennsylvania Population Shifts Expectations for the next 10 years Impact of Infrastructure-Related Problems Different Regions, Different Problems: Philadelphia City Different Regions, Different Problems: Suburban Southeast Different Regions, Different Problems: Southwest Different Regions, Different Problems: South Central Different Regions, Different Problems: Northeast Different Regions, Different Problems: The Rest of the State Infrastructure's Importance to the Region Top Priority for Infrastructure Projects Local Governments and Infrastructure Funding Land Use and Development Planning: Should local governments have a common regional plan or work independently? Confidence in State and Local Government to Plan for Future