A majority of Americans want to see improvements to the nation’s transportation network and key infrastructure facilities, according to a new America THINKS survey from HNTB Corporation.

Nearly two out of three (65 percent) Americans surveyed fear a local infrastructure failure will occur within a year, while an overwhelming 95 percent stress the importance of rebuilding physical infrastructure in advance of natural disasters so it survives increasingly intense weather patterns.

Seventy percent of respondents said they would alter their travel patterns if local mobility were seamless, 57 percent said they would take public transit more often, and the same percentage said they would drive less. Sixty-six percent said they would be willing to pay more for at least one mode of transportation if it improved their travel experience.

HNTB noted that today’s U.S. infrastructure investments, approximately 2 percent of gross domestic product, have declined by 50 percent compared with 1960. Ninety-three percent  think that at least one U.S. transportation mode is in need of either innovation or repair: 26 percent of this group said U.S. rail systems are in need of innovation and 15 percent similarly cited bus systems. The figures for repair of these modes are 11 percent and 5 percent respectively.

“The United States has seen a period of immense economic growth and potential that has grown out of investments made in the nation’s transportation system over the last six decades. Today the returns on that investment are diminishing rapidly due to congestion, failing roads, bridges, and transit rails,” said Pete Rahn, HNTB leader national transportation practice. “Yet we haven’t found a compelling vision that will drive future state and federal investments and spur even more future growth.”

The survey, conducted by Kelton, used an e-mail invitation and online survey to poll a random nationwide sample of 1,152 Americans Sept. 26-Oct. 3, 2013.

The report is part of HNTB’s ­ongoing series of white papers. Details are avail­able here.