Mayors to Presidential Candidates

Let’s Talk Infrastructure - Seite 2

While mayors are clearly concerned about the safety of vulnerable road users, their preferred policies are not always consistent with transportation safety best practices in speed limits, parking, and cycling. Large majorities of mayors believe that their speed limits are set at the right levels and enforced adequately. Similarly substantial proportions express favorable views of their cities’ current parking levels and pricing. Over three-quarters of mayors endorse painted bicycle lanes as safe alternatives to physically separated lanes—contrary to statistical analyses of bicycle accident data.

Mayors worry about cars contributing to climate change. Two-thirds of mayors believe vehicles are the biggest source of greenhouse gas emissions from their city, and the same percentage believe it’s important to improve their city’s electric vehicle infrastructure, even if it means less parking for non-electric vehicles. But mayors disagree along party lines on whether cities should play a strong role in reducing the effects of climate change, even if it means sacrificing revenues and/or expending financial resources. While 92 percent of Democrats believe this (55 percent “strongly”), only one quarter of Republicans do. Overall, 70 percent of mayors agree.

“This Survey provides unrivaled insight into the priorities and thinking of America’s urban leaders—especially at a time when they have been given responsibility for an extraordinary range of pressing problems,” said Graham Wilson, Professor and Director of the Boston University Initiative on Cities.

The survey also asked mayors about their attitudes and expectations for opportunity zones in their cities, which were created by the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act to give tax benefits to those who invest in designated areas of need. Nearly three-quarters of America’s mayors are happy with the opportunity zones selected in their cities, despite criticism by some that the program will ultimately benefit wealthy developers over communities in need. Six in 10 mayors believe the program will have a large and positive impact on their city’s economy, while less than a quarter say it will lead to gentrification and residential displacement.