Concurrent Track Session: Using Performance Measurement for Federal and State Programs
Description:
U.S. DOT is in the process of developing a number of significant rules related to the performance
management requirements of MAP-21. This session will be structured as a Town Hall Meeting on
implementation issues concerning national-level performance measures such as data collection and
reporting requirements, target setting, performance plans, and other pertinent issues identified by
AASHTO stakeholders. During the Town Hall, U.S. DOT staff will be available to answer questions from
the audience.
Date: Sunday, October 20, 2013
Time: 3:30pm to 5:00pm
Moderators:
 Paul Degges, Tennessee DOT (SCOPM P/RM Task Force Co-Chair)
 Lynn Zanto, Montana DOT (SCOPM P/RM Task Force Co-Chair)
 Pete Stephanos, FHWA
The purpose of the roundtable discussion is to better understand:
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Best practices used by State DOTs today that can be shared with others.
Actions State DOTs are taking to prepare for the new MAP-21 performance requirements
Key implementation challenges and opportunities.
Potential roles for AASHTO and FHWA to address gaps that exist today?
State DOT staffing and/or resource needs to more effectively manage performance.
Performance Measures
- Needs – What data needs do you have today that would support improved performance-based
decision making?
- Availability and Timeliness - The availability of information in national data sources typically lag
in time. How do you deal with this today and what recommendations might you have to
address or remedy this situation?
- Quality - How are you assessing the quality of data to support your performance
measures? Where needs exist today to improve data quality?
- Consistency – How important is the need for consistency in data collection and reporting? How
can the new federal requirements be implemented so that regional data needs are balanced
with the consistency necessary to tell a national story?
- Collaboration – How do you work with MPOs in your state today to collect and share data? Do
you envision an increased need in the future to work together with MPOs and local agencies to
share data?
Target Setting
- Managing Risks - What do you see as a State DOTs and MPOs greatest risk in setting
targets? How do you envision you will manage these risks?
- Coordinating Targets - How is coordination with MPO’s, local agencies, and public
transportation agencies done today in setting priorities for your state? What challenges do you
anticipate coordinating on the selection of targets to meet MAP-21 requirements?
- Trade-Off Decisions - MAP-21 will require targets to be set across a wide set of performance
areas. What are some suggestions for balancing the performance trade-offs across these
areas?
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Target Reporting – There is an expectation that the performance elements of the federal
highway program will be transparent to the public. How do you suggest for this information to
be made available? Do you see value in rolling up State and/or MPO targets at a regional or
national level?
Circle of Influence – State DOTs may own and maintain only a portion of the roadways that will
need to be considered in a target. How do you envision handling this situation?
Planning and Programming
- Linking Investments to Performance – How can a State effectively link projects/funding
categories in a STIP to specific areas of performance?
- Integrating Plans – How do you envision integrating individual performance plans such as the
Strategic Highway Safety Plan and the Highway Asset Management Plan into the planning and
programming process?
- Performance-based Decisions - To what degree do you allocate funding now on need? What
management practices will need to change to meet the performance based planning
requirements of MAP-21?
- National Reporting of Plans – Do you see any value in communicating at a regional or national
level the planned investments to be conducted (and/or needs) to meet performance targets?
Reporting
- Reports that Work - What are the most effective performance reporting approaches you have
used in your state?
- Transparency – Congress expects the performance elements of the federal program to be
transparent to the public. How do you recommend the new reporting requirements be
implemented and used to effectively report State progress?
- Comparisons – It is inevitable that some will use the information generated from a performance
program to make comparisons between States or will use the information to rank States. What
proactive steps can be taken to get ahead of this potential use of information?
Accountability and Transparency
 Progress Assessment – How do you assess progress toward the achievement of targets/goals in
your State today? What actions are taken if a desired level of progress is not achieved or,
conversely, is exceeded?
 Significant Progress Determination – A State will need to make significant progress toward the
achievement of targets in two federal-aid programs (NHPP and HSIP). How would you
recommend making this determination considering the need for consistency in administering
this requirement and the flexibility provided to States in the targets they set?
Organization
- Structure - Has performance management been institutionalized in your organization? If so,
how has this been accomplished?
- Communications - How does your agency promote coordination on performance measures and
outcomes across various transportation disciplines?
- Staffing - What resources should AASHTO and FHWA develop to address the perceived shortage
staff with the technical skill set to implement MAP-21. What are you doing to address this skill
shortage?
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