While most Americans don’t have a problem with the tolls on highways, they do have a range of what they would like to pay. More than 4 in 5 (82 percent) Americans think the average toll rate for every 10 miles on an interstate highway should be a dollar or less. In addition, 56 percent think the average toll rate for every 10 miles should be 50 cents or less.

Who should make the decisions?

More than seven in 10 (72 percent) Americans feel that interstate highway funding decisions should be made at the local or state level, while far fewer (27 percent) think this should be a federal responsibility.

Transportation departments — including state departments of transportation (28 percent), local and regional transportation authorities (28 percent), and the U.S. Department of Transportation (24 percent) — top the list of who many Americans think should be the primary decision makers for addressing the needs of interstate highways. Far fewer think this responsibility should be left to local (8 percent), state (7 percent), and federal (3 percent) elected officials.

Similarly, nearly half (41 percent) of Americans think the state departments of transportation — not federal or other state entities — should handle approving the addition of tolls on specific highways, bridges, or tunnels.

“It’s clear Americans want to take the politics out of transportation prioritization and funding,” said Rahn. “It’s time for our elected officials to do the same so our critical interstate highway system remains a valuable, viable asset.”