Regardless of their political viewpoint, voters believe lawmakers in Washington, D.C., should set aside their partisan biases and work together to improve the country's transportation infrastructure, a new survey from the Rockefeller Foundation finds.

Part of the foundation's $66 million transportation initiative, the Rockefeller Foundation Infrastructure Survey (4 pages, PDF) found that 71 percent of the 1,001 voters surveyed want political leaders to seek common ground on legislation related to roads, bridges, and transit systems, including 66 percent of Tea Party supporters and 71 percent of Republicans. The survey also found that 80 percent of respondents agree that federal funding to improve and modernize transportation will boost local economies and create millions of jobs, while also helping to keep the United States as the world's top economic power.

At the same time, a majority of respondents said they would like changes in the way the federal government pays for infrastructure projects and makes policy. Indeed, at least two-thirds of respondents favored nine of the ten reforms tested in the survey. They include holding government accountable for collecting data and certifying that all projects are delivered on time and fit into an overall national plan (90 percent in favor); allowing local regions to have a greater say in how transportation dollars are used in their area (90 percent); and having a "fix it first" policy that focuses on maintaining existing transportation systems before building new ones (86 percent).

According to the survey, voters approve of several funding streams for national transportation projects, with 78 percent supporting more private investment and 72 percent in favor of imposing penalties on projects that go over budget or exceed their deadline. There also was significant support for establishing a National Infrastructure Bank (60 percent), issuing new transportation bonds (59 percent), and eliminating subsidies for American oil companies that drill in other countries (58 percent).

"Half a century ago, Americans built an interstate highway system that enabled unrivaled economic prosperity and opportunity," said Rockefeller Foundation president Judith Rodin. "Today, almost half of Americans think that their transportation options and roads are inadequate. The Rockefeller Foundation Infrastructure Survey shows that American voters want Washington to work together to pass laws that ensure we fix the infrastructure we have and provide more Americans with more transportation options befitting a twenty-first century economic power."