WSDOT approval rating stagnant, survey says

People are about as happy with the Washington State Department of Transportation now as they were three years ago.

Survey results show that WSDOT is doing just as well as it was in 2012, with the majority of more than 7,500 people saying it is doing an average job.

With 18 percent of people saying WSDOT is doing above average, the bulk of those who took the survey believe it is doing either an average job (47 percent) or below average job (34 percent).

Tell us what slows you down each day

And it’s not just WSDOT that people are frustrated with. Survey takers gave their local transportation system a C-minus, as well.

When asked to name a transportation issue that needs to be addressed for long-term planning, the top response for state and local departments was, not surprisingly, traffic/congestion. Public/mass transportation followed congestion for both state and local.

The majority of people who participated in the survey were from the Puget Sound Regional Council’s area, which includes Snohomish, King, and Pierce counties. That’s probably why congestion was on their minds. A study by INRIX and the Texas A&M Transportation Institute found that drivers spent 63 hours in traffic last year; that equals more than two-and-a-half days and about 28 gallons of fuel.

Thirty-eight percent of survey takers gave WSDOT a below-average grade for funding distribution. Spokane and Palouse gave the lowest ratings. When asked how funding should be allocated, the highest priority was increasing capacity, with maintenance trailing close behind.

Expanding travel options, improving safety and protecting the environment followed the top two, in that order.

The results will be used in future planning.