Most Triangle voters are willing to pay higher taxes to beef up public transportation service in the region - even though most don't ride buses now and don't expect to ride buses and trains in the future, according to a new poll.

Of 901 Wake, Durham and Orange county registered voters surveyed by phone in early March, 58 percent said they would vote for a proposed half-cent increase in the local sales tax to pay for a network of rail transit and more buses. Thirty-nine percent said they would vote against it.

Triangle elected officials are developing long-range plans for an improved transit system. In 2011 or 2012, officials are expected to call for a local referendum on whether to levy a half-cent sales tax to help pay for transit.

The survey was conducted by Fallon Research, based in Columbus, Ohio, for the Regional Transportation Alliance, a nonprofit Triangle business group that lobbies for transportation improvements. Fallon said the poll had a margin of error of 3.26 percentage points.

Other findings in the poll:

Nine percent use public transportation frequently or very frequently, and 69 percent do not use it at all. The share of transit users grows to 23 percent among those aged 18 to 29.

Thirty-two percent say they would use an expanded bus system frequently or very frequently, and 43 percent say they would use a train system.

Travel between Wake, Durham and Orange counties should be the highest priority (29 percent) for an improved transit system. Travel to Research Triangle Park followed at 27 percent.

Improving public education should be the top priority for local elected officials, according to 32 percent of respondents, followed by attracting more jobs and businesses (30 percent). Expanding public transportation was chosen as the top priority by 7 percent. Although most respondents said they would not use transit, 65 percent agreed that more public transportation choices would improve the region's quality of life.

Asked to rate the chief benefits of transit, they put reduced traffic congestion at the top (31 percent), followed by better air quality and environmental preservation (20 percent) and more convenience and travel options (20 percent).