Case closed, right? Not exactly.

A national telephone survey conducted by the Mineta Transportation Institute found that a majority of Americans, or near majority depending on the question, would support higher taxes for transportation infrastructure — so long as those revenues resulted in clear benefits such as cleaner air or better-maintained roads. Show voters where their dollars are actually going, and they’re much more likely to agree to the higher taxes.

Baseline support for a 10 cent gas tax increase — absent reform or benchmarks — is 24 percent, but that grows to 45 percent if the revenues are dedicated to mitigating climate change, and 48 percent, a near majority, if the revenue is spent on reducing local air pollution, according to the Mineta survey. When the funds go toward improved road maintenance, support jumps to 62 percent, but it drops back to 24 percent if it goes toward maintaining and improving the transportation system in general.

Voters everywhere have a history of agreeing to further tax themselves when they see a clear benefit. According to the Center for Transportation Excellence, a nonpartisan research center, 75 percent of local ballot measures on increasing or preserving transportation investment were approved in the November 2010 election. In April of last year, 63 percent of voters in St. Louis County approved a half-cent sales tax increase to restore eliminated bus lines in the Metro transit system and expand the system further.

Raising taxes is never easy, especially in a tough economy. But the Mineta Transportation Institute’s research gives lawmakers a template for making the case.

Demand for mass transit is surging everywhere — from Nashville, Tennessee to Eau Claire, Wisconsin; Terre Haute, Indiana to Pasadena, California. Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell is encouraging his constituents to bike, walk or carpool at least once every two weeks. And, residents in Peoria and central Illinois started coordinating ridesharing schedules online.

In that same vein, the Las Cruces Sun-News, one of the largest newspapers in New Mexico, encouraged readers to consider new options in an editorial this week, opining:

The economic decision to choose public transportation over one’s personal vehicle could turn into a positive for all concerned.

People who’ve never tried it may actually like it. And if a bus is going where they’re going? Yes, they’ll be more likely to continue using that mode of transportation. It beats paying almost $4 a gallon for gasoline, especially when the personal vehicle gets about 15 miles per almost $4.

Gas prices at or above $4 a gallon generate the need for 670 million additional passenger trips on transit systems, resulting in more than 10.8 billion trips per year, according to the American Public Transportation Association.

Bicycling has become a popular alternative, with new riders benefiting from recent investment in bike facilities and programs. Mirroring the increased demand for transit in 2008, biking increased 15 percent nationwide and 23 percent in the 31 largest bike-friendly cities that year, with a similar uptick occurring today, according to Peopleforbikes.org.

Last time gas prices topped $4 and demand for transit surged, cities with well-established public transit systems like New York and Boston saw increases in transit usage of 5 percent of more, while some of the biggest increases in demand came in areas less associated with transit, like the Southwest. But these are many of the same communities that lack the capacity for a large surge in ridership.

Often lost in the discussion is the fact that many people are stuck without realistic alternatives to pain at the pump: streets too dangerous to walk or bike, destinations too far away, no available transit service, no easy options.

Most of the talk in Washington has focused on the supply side of the gas prices equation — speculation, domestic drilling and the like. But a real-world shift in demand is happening right before our eyes. With the nation’s comprehensive surface transportation bill overdue for renewal, this ought to lend greater urgency to the need for robust investment in an array of options to ensure no one gets stranded or left behind.

While too much of the talk in Washington emphasizes gimmicks like grand jury investigations and “drill, baby, drill,” some leaders have engaged with constituents on increasing transportation options, one of the most important steps we can take to relieve pain at the pump.

Senator Tim Johnson, a Democrat from South Dakota, recently conferred with the Brookings Area Transit Authority, which seeks additional funding and capacity to operate its 21 vehicles. Brookings has a population of 22,000 and is home to South Dakota State University.

Senator Johnson, who is currently serving as chairman of the Senate Banking Committee, noted that investment in transit systems is a vital economic development tool for many South Dakota communities. The system in Brookings faces the dual challenge of an aging population demanding more services and rising prices due to the spike in energy costs.

Brenda Schweitzer, the authority director, “noted that rising gas prices have increased BATA fuel bills by $2,000 just within the past month,” according to the Brookings Register. The Register also reported that “the organization’s out-of-pocket match for fuel is at $5,000 per month right now.”

Johnson assured Schweitzer and other participants in a recent panel that he would use his clout in the Senate to push for a transportation bill that meets the needs of South Dakotans and sparse communities across the country.

“With reliable transit systems, we can strengthen our economic development by connecting people to medical services, schools, family and jobs,” Johnson said on his website. “Meeting with people on the ground who deal with rural transit issues every day helps me as I work to ensure that the needs of rural communities are met.”

The Banking Committee has particular jurisdiction over the transit elements of the next bill, which has been overdue for renewal since late 2009.

Photo: Roll Call

• Members of the Senate’s Environment and Public Works Committee argue against looking at immediate transportation reform. (Streetsblog)

• House Rep. Edward Markey sees the climate bill getting signed before 2010. (National Journal)

• Driving numbers could be low again for the summer of 2009. (Wall Street Journal)

• Gas prices reach an eight-month high. (USA Today)

• The Energy Information Administration projects a steep drop in oil output around the world. (Grist)

• Transportation and housing costs for families can’t be disentangled. (Arizona Daily Star)

• A New Scientist article questions whether trains are a truly green mode of transportation — and Ryan Avent knocks down the challenge.

• The federal stimulus helps jumpstart construction of a new rail tunnel between New York and New Jersey. (CNN)

• High operating costs for paratransit make providing good service to seniors and people with disabilities in D.C. a big challenge. (Washington Post)

• The economy may be slowly improving, but rising gas prices throw a hurdle on the path towards full recovery. (New York Times)

In our previous post breaking down the T4 America Blueprint, we discussed our national objective of creating an energy efficient transportation system that boosts our economy and helps America use less oil. Today, we’re going to look at this issue from a slightly different angle, by explaining how we plan to achieve this goal — and measure our success — through strong, accountable reforms.

It may seem obvious that our federal transportation program should encourage less fuel use. Unfortunately, our existing policies do the exact opposite.

Instead of giving Americans options like public transportation, high-speed rail, and walking and biking, federal policy still has a heavy bias towards new road construction, promoting more driving — even as Americans continue to drive less and use transit in record numbers. And while research shows that transferring even a moderate portion of our goods movement from trucks to rail would have a huge impact on our overall fuel use (not to mention congestion), recent federal transportation bills have done nothing to incentivize this smart and essential shift in our freight policy.

To jumpstart the needed transition to an energy-efficient transportation system and a secure economy, Transportation for America has created a road map to reform that includes strong, clear policies and programs that we recommend Congress adopt in the next transportation bill. Continue reading below the fold to learn more about some of the specific policies and programs we’re proposing to lead this transition:

Build our passenger and freight rail networks

Westbound Freight Originally uploaded by Clark Westfield

While the United States has historically lagged behind other countries in its investment in rail systems, T4 America’s Blueprint includes multiple programs to help us create a 21st Century network of passenger and freight rail infrastructure. Our Intercity Passenger Transportation program (page 35 in the Blueprint) would use a competitive grant process to create a passenger rail network to be completed by the year 2030, focusing on establishing connections between the country’s largest towns and cities.

Our Transportation Projects of National Significance program (page 40), echoed in President Obama’s plan for a National Infrastructure Bank, would fund the kinds of large-scale transportation projects that have a national scope and national benefits — but cross jurisdictions or include different modes, resulting in a level of complexity that poses a significant challenge within our current program. Projects of this scope deserve special consideration for federal funding.

This program would give priority to the projects that promote energy security, like passenger and freight rail. Additionally, the Green Freights and Ports program (page 93) would support the transition to a green, energy efficient economy by targeting federal funding to freight investments that will use less fuel and emit fewer pollutants.

Help create walkable, livable communities

Helping Americans drive less isn’t only about giving them better options — it’s also about investing in communities to make them more accessible and give people the choice of living near the office, grocery store, or their children’s school. For this reason, we’re calling for the federal government to create programs that will link up transportation investments with other issues like land use planning, housing, and economic development, (Sustainability Challenge Grants, page 42) and incentivize investment in biking and walking infrastructure (Active Transportation Innovation Program, pg. 42). Additionally, we support setting aside certain federal funds for direct investment in “livable communities” to support investment in transit-oriented development, allowing people to live closer to jobs and public transportation.

In order to ensure that our communities are accessible to transportation users, T4 America  recommends that any federally funded roads should be built as “Complete Streets,” and include accommodations for bikers, pedestrians and people with disabilities, when appropriate.

Revitalize our public transportation systems

Public transportation use saves us about 1.4 billion gallons of fuel per year, according to the American Public Transportation Association. In the next transportation bill, we are fighting to get rid of the modal silos that separate funding for public transportation from spending on roads and bridges, freeing up localities, regions, and states from inflexible federal mandates to spend money on specific modes, allowing them to decide which type of investment best suits their needs for mobility.

Our Multimodal Access Program (page 87) — which breaks down into categories geographically, instead of by mode — will give communities expanded opportunities to expand their transit capacity while increasing the overall pot of money available for these investments. For significant new investments in transit, Transportation for America supports creating a Major Transit Capital program (page 39) that would create a streamlined federal review process, thereby making it much easier for local and regional governments to get federal approval for new transit projects — compared with the long, uphill battle they often face now to build transit projects.

• Alex Marshall stresses the importance of anticipating demand in transportation planning. (Governing)

• Gas prices near $3 a gallon leave some feeling stressed out. (Detroit Free Press)

• The Hummer brand goes to a company in China. (New York Times)