Oklahoma Poll
|
November 23, 2011
|
Bill Shapard

Tulsa World Poll shows strong support for Tulsa's Fix Our Streets program

By BRIAN BARBER World Staff Writer

Most Tulsans are happy with the way the $451.6 million Fix Our Streets effort is going and will vote to renew the improvements tax package when it's time, a new Tulsa World-sponsored poll showed.

The effort to rebuild and repair the city's crumbling arterial and residential streets was approved by voters in 2008, with the work to wrap up in 2014.

Those polled were asked whether they approve or disapprove of how the work is progressing.

A large majority - 64 percent - said they somewhat-to-strongly approve, while 29 percent somewhat-to-strongly disapprove, the poll showed.

Fix Our Streets always has been touted as a multiphase initiative because of the overwhelming amount of work that needs to be done.

City officials have already begun talking about which projects should be included in the next package to take to voters before it expires in a few years.

The poll asked whether people are supportive of an extension of Fix Our Streets, which is paid for in a combination of sales and property taxes.

In all, 58 percent said they somewhat-to-strongly support a renewal, while 33 percent said they somewhat-to-strongly disapprove.

SoonerPoll.com CEO Bill Shapard said the public, not just at the local level but statewide, has shown willingness to pay for better infrastructure.

"It's no wonder then that the governor has come out and said 'Let's fix all of our bridges,' " he said. "People will get behind efforts like that."

If Fix Our Streets wasn't showing real progress or using the money wisely, Shapard said, the questions would have prompted more negative reactions from those polled.

"Most everyone gets out on the roads, and when you hit a bump, you're thinking about your tax dollars and who should be fixing that," he said.

"It seems to indicate to me that the city is doing a good job of fixing the streets and in a timely and proper manner."

Continued  Click here to read the entire Tulsa World article

Bill Shapard
About the Author

Bill Shapard

Bill is the founder of SoonerPoll.com and ShapardResearch, a full service market research firm based in Oklahoma City. Bill began his career in polling after working on major campaigns for both Republicans and Democrats in Oklahoma from 1996 until founding SoonerPoll in 2004.