Contrary to 8-2 Assembly Vote, Anchorage Evenly Divided on Knik Arm Bridge; New Poll, Recent Community Council Resolutions Show Growing Anti-Bridge Sentiment

Anchorage, AK – A new poll taken after the Anchorage Assembly’s 8-2 pro-bridge vote on March 13 shows that support within Anchorage for the bridge is significantly less than within the Assembly, and support among residents is decreasing over time. The March 14-15 poll showed 46% of Anchorage voters opposed the bridge and 48% supported the bridge, an even split when accounting for the poll’s 6% margin of error.

Hays Research Group (www.haysresearch.com) conducted the poll as part of a larger survey of 300 Municipality of Anchorage residents who voted in at least one of the last two local elections. The poll asked the same question as Knik Arm Bridge and Toll Authority polls asked in March and August of 2005 and in February of 2007:

How do you personally feel about a Knik Arm Crossing project? Are you mostly in favor or opposed? And is that strongly (in favor/opposed) or just somewhat (in favor/opposed)?

Each time this question was asked and as more information about how the bridge will harm – not help – Anchorage has become available, opposition to the bridge has grown. In March 2005, 21% of Anchorage residents opposed the bridge; in August 2005, 30% opposed the bridge; in February 2007, 35% opposed the bridge; and in March 2007, after media coverage and city-wide discussions on the bridge at Assembly meetings on February 27 and March 13, 46% opposed the bridge.

Alaska Transportation Priorities Project Direct Lois Epstein stated that “the Hays Research Group poll shows a growing lack of support for the Knik Arm Bridge project. The more Anchorage residents learn the facts about the bridge, including how it will result in fewer jobs in the city and traffic jams downtown, the more they oppose the project. The public also has a legitimate fear of cost overruns that won’t be covered by tolls.”

Additionally, several Anchorage community councils have passed or soon will pass resolutions opposing the bridge or supporting reallocation of bridge funding to higher priority Anchorage transportation projects:

Oppose:
South Addition Community Council (Res. 10-19-06B), passed October 19, 2006
Rabbit Creek Community Council (Res. 07-2007), passed February 8, 2007
Government Hill Community Council, resolution will be voted on in April, 2007

Reallocate Funding:
Fairview Community Council (Res. 2006-01), passed December 12, 2006

Epstein adds that “the Knik Arm Bridge and Toll Authority’s own studies show the bridge will not solve commuting concerns in the region and bridge construction will create massive new problems for both Anchorage and the Mat-Su Borough. With declining federal funding for transportation projects coming, we need to make smart transportation decisions and the bridge is not a smart decision.”

Download: Press Release March 22, 2007: New Poll (PDF format, 200k)

Download: Hays Research Group Survey: Methodology and Results (PDF format, 224k)

Hays Research Group Website