Performance Measures to Improve Transportation Systems: Summary of the Second National Conference (2005)

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v i i Preface On August 22–24, 2004, the TransportationResearch Board (TRB) convened the SecondNational Conference on Performance Measures in Irvine, California. The conference—sponsored jointly by TRB, the Federal Highway Administration, and the Federal Transit Administration—brought together approximately 125 individuals from across the trans- portation planning communities, at national, state, regional, and local levels and from the public and private sectors and academia. More than 20 state departments of transportation participated in the conference, along with a similar number of local and regional agencies. The first National Performance Measures Confer- ence was held in November 2000. With transportation agencies just beginning to explore performance meas- ures at that time, the first conference focused on the def- inition of performance measures. Potential measures were identified, and their use within transportation agencies was encouraged. Since 2000 the use of perfor- mance measures has increased greatly, both in the num- ber of agencies adopting them and in the applications of the measures. Thus the second national conference con- tinued the dialogue on the use of performance measures in transportation agencies and provided a forum to exchange perspectives on performance measures used throughout the transportation delivery process. The Second National Conference on Performance Measures had two primary objectives: to explore the implementation and use of performance measures and to discuss how to monitor the impact of performance measures on the delivery and quality of transportation services. To plan the conference, TRB assembled a com- mittee, appointed by the National Research Council, to organize and develop the conference program. The plan- ning committee was cochaired by Lance Neumann and Sandra Straehl. The summary of the conference was pre- pared by Katherine Turnbull of the Texas Transporta- tion Institute, who also supported the committee in developing the conference program and inviting selected speakers and participants. The program was designed to maximize the exchange of information and perspectives among the participants. Two workshops, Performance Measures Basics and Communicating Transportation Systems Performance and Measurement, were held at the beginning of the conference. Resource papers were commissioned on the five themes discussed during the conference: • Performance Measures—State of the Practice, • Impact of Performance Measures on Internal and External Relationships, • Tying Together Performance-Based Program Development and Delivery, • Data and Tools Required to Support Decision Making, and • Measuring Performance in Difficult-to-Measure Areas. The papers were presented in panel sessions, and each was followed by a panel discussion. The panels, composed of experts from across the country, explored aspects of each topic in more depth. Breakout sessions to encourage the exchange of information and experi- ence followed. The conference participants also had the opportunity to hear a report on an International Scan of Performance Measures. This conference summary report is based on the con- ference agenda. The presentations made in each confer- ence session are summarized, starting with a presentation by the resource paper authors and contin- uing through the panel discussion. The breakout ses- sions are summarized at the end of the main report. These summaries highlight a variety of agency experi- ences with the use of performance measures and identify research that could improve the use of performance measures. The resource papers prepared for the confer- 99395mvp1_8 12/13/05 12:17 PM Page vii

ence appear in this document, and a list of conference attendees is provided. This report has been reviewed in draft form by indi- viduals chosen for their diverse perspectives and techni- cal expertise, in accordance with procedures approved by the National Research Council’s Report Review Committee. The purposes of this independent review are to provide candid and critical comments that will assist the institution in making the published report as sound as possible and to ensure that the report meets institutional standards for objectivity, evidence, and responsiveness to the project charge. The review com- ments and draft manuscript remain confidential to pro- tect the integrity of the deliberative process. TRB thanks the following individuals for their review of this report: Mark E. Hallenbeck, University of Wash- ington, Seattle; Charles L. Purvis, Metropolitan Trans- portation Commission, Oakland, California; and Sandra Straehl, Montana Department of Transporta- tion, Helena. Although the reviewers listed above provided many constructive comments and suggestions, they did not see the final draft of the report before its release. The review of this report was overseen by C. Michael Wal- ton, University of Texas at Austin. Appointed by the National Research Council, he was responsible for making certain that an independent examination of this report was carried out in accordance with institu- tional procedures and that all review comments were carefully considered. The committee thanks Katherine Turnbull for her work in preparing this conference summary report and extends a special thanks to the Federal Highway Admin- istration and the Federal Transit Administration for pro- viding the vision and encouragement that made the conference the success that it was. PERFORMANCE MEASURES TO IMPROVE TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMSv i i i 99395mvp1_8 12/13/05 12:17 PM Page viii