U.S. Transportation Sector Viewed Positively by Policy Insiders — Key Findings from a National Poll

Plymouth Union Public Research (PUP Research) has released its National Transportation Influencer Study, a poll of 522 professionals deeply engaged in U.S. transportation policy, planning, operations, and analysis. Conducted in late November 2025, the survey captures views from lobbyists, agency heads and staff, contractors, consultants, think-tank researchers, association executives, regional planning organization members, and related journalists—the insiders who draft regulations, advise on funding allocations, manage procurements, and guide policy at federal, state, and local levels.

The memo reveals a sector viewed positively overall, with baseline perceptions reflecting confidence in current performance: 33% of respondents rate U.S. transportation as "excellent," 34% as "good" (a combined 67% positive assessment), and just 11% as "poor." Major transit agencies enjoy broad favorability, with roughly 30% of respondents viewing them as "very favorable," another 30% as "somewhat favorable," and only single-digit shares expressing outright unfavorable opinions. A notable portion cite limited familiarity or no strong view, suggesting perceptions are driven more by system-wide outcomes than by individual agency branding.

Key findings highlight priorities and persistent challenges:

• Innovation focus for the next five years — Smart traffic management tops the list at 54%, followed by AI for predictive maintenance (45%), electric and zero-emission fleets (44%), and autonomous/connected vehicles (42%). A strong 90% consider investment in AI important, with 81% believing agencies are prepared to evaluate or procure such solutions.

• Investment needs — Public transit leads (47% say it requires the most modernization and funding), ahead of highways/bridges (42%) and active transportation (37%).

• Structural barriers — Funding shortages (47%) and workforce shortages (40%) rank high, but agreement is even stronger on systemic issues: 73% see outdated procurement rules as a problem (36% strongly), while 82-85% call for greater investment in technology modernization, technical staff capacity, and inter-agency data sharing.

• Public-private partnerships — Overwhelming support at 91% for using PPPs to accelerate technology adoption.

• Trust and communication — Safety (52%) and reliability (44%) drive public confidence most, though 53% agree agencies must improve communications and 48% link transparency shortfalls to eroded trust.

• Outlook — Optimism prevails, with 85% positive about the next decade (41% "very optimistic," 44% "somewhat"), and pessimism limited to 15%. This sentiment crosses political, demographic, and professional lines.

Among agency-specific perceptions, favorability ratings cluster closely across major systems. Notably, the Jacksonville Transportation Authority (JTA)—operating in a smaller market—ranks at the top alongside larger peers such as MARTA (Atlanta) and Houston Metro. In contrast, the New York MTA registers the highest share of negative views among the agencies assessed.

These results come at a pivotal time, with major events on the horizon—including the 2026 FIFA World Cup, U.S. Semiquincentennial preparations, and 2028 Olympics infrastructure demands—placing added pressure on funding, innovation, and delivery. The poll underscores that while the policy community sees clear paths forward through targeted reforms and technology, systemic hurdles in procurement, staffing, and data continue to constrain progress.

The full memo is available at pup-research.com. As debates over infrastructure reauthorization, electrification mandates, autonomous vehicle rules, and transit funding intensify, these insider perspectives are likely to inform decisions from the U.S. Department of Transportation to state capitals and local boards.