CLIPBOARD : Toll Road Support: How Arguments Affect It

Off the tops of their heads, a majority of county residents support the construction of three planned toll roads--the Eastern, Foothill and San Joaquin Hills tollways. About half, 51%, approve building the roads, while 34% are opposed. Support increases significantly, however, when people are presented with arguments both for and against the roads--to 58%. Opposition also increases, but by a smaller margin, to 37%.

Among the various demographic groups, support and opposition both increase more or less across the board. The largest changes are on the “favor” side, among the young, the employed and those living in the northern section of the county.

Here’s how views lined up before residents were presented with the arguments and how they changed afterward:

FAVOR OPPOSE Before After Change Before After Change TOTAL 51 58 +7 34 37 +3 AGE 18-34 years 50 62 +12 35 36 +1 35-54 52 58 +6 31 36 +5 55 and older 50 54 +4 37 38 +1 REGION OF COUNTY * North 46 60 +14 34 35 +1 West 50 51 +1 36 42 +6 Central 50 60 +10 36 36 No change South 57 60 +3 30 35 +5 HOUSEHOLD INCOME More than $75,000 59 68 +9 27 30 +3 $50,000-$75,000 53 56 +3 30 36 +6 $35,000-$50,000 51 59 +8 36 36 No change Less than $35,000 42 47 +5 41 46 +5 EMPLOYMENT STATUS Employed 52 62 +10 31 34 +3 Unemployed 46 48 +2 42 43 +1

* North: Anaheim, Brea, Buena Park, Fullerton, La Habra, Orange, Placentia, Villa Park, Yorba Linda. Central: Costa Mesa, Garden Grove, Santa Ana, Tustin, Tustin Foothills. West: Cypress, Fountain Valley, Huntington Beach, La Palma, Los Alamitos, Midway City, Rossmoor, Stanton, Seal Beach, Westminster. South: Capistrano Beach, Dana Point, El Toro, Emerald Bay, Irvine, Laguna Beach, Laguna Hills, Laguna Niguel, Mission Viejo, Newport Beach, San Clemente, San Juan Capistrano, Silverado, South Laguna. Source: Times Orange County Poll