Measuring Transportation Network Performance (2010)

Below is the uncorrected machine-read text of this chapter, intended to provide our own search engines and external engines with highly rich, chapter-representative searchable text of each book. Because it is UNCORRECTED material, please consider the following text as a useful but insufficient proxy for the authoritative book pages.

32 Network performance analysis is part of a broad trend by transportation agencies toward using performance measures to support transportation programming and investment decisions. Agencies are recognizing the need to evaluate the transportation system as a network because of the various agencies, modes, and strategies that contribute to overall performance. This guidebook has provided examples of how transporta- tion agencies are implementing network performance to address congestion and system operations. Though network performance analysis has possible implications for all types of transportation investments, much of the work to date has focused on these challenges. Summary of Building Blocks The guidebook has identified three key building blocks needed to support network performance analysis. This section summarizes the key findings from the guidebook. Partnerships The scenarios have been organized around three basic types of partnerships: regional, peer-to-peer, and intra-agency. Though partnerships have been important for all of these scenarios, there are some clear differences. Regional and intra-agency scenarios are less in need of a separate organization or formal partnership. Even the formal partnerships set up as part of the intra-agency scenario are committees that can be created by directive. Where formal partnerships exist, a range of approaches may apply: • In the multistate scenario, a strong independent organization focused on multistate objectives led the effort. Project- specific steering committees also may be needed to draw in other relevant partners. • In the megaregional scenario, several organizations con- tributed important roles, including technical support, partnership facilitation, and others. The regional agencies involved already were familiar with one another. Performance Measurement Framework A framework for establishing performance measures is a critical component of establishing network performance. The framework helps a set of agencies define the transportation network under consideration, the relevant strategies to evalu- ate, and the measures to help assess network performance. The development of a framework is likely to be closely tailored to the specific parties involved and the issues of interest at the time. Each of the scenarios outlined developed unique frame- works for network performance, with different strategies and outcomes. For example, in the multistate scenario, the performance measurement framework provided a means to consider the appropriate mix of public and private investment in various rail infrastructure projects. In the regional scenarios, the framework was built to help MPOs expand their area of con- cern to address investments and policy changes such as relia- bility, land use, pricing, and other nontraditional investments. Network performance analysis helps illustrate the impact of various types of investments and policies on overall system performance. A framework should provide focused and clearly articulated goals, carried through to the selection of performance mea- sures, to elicit support from participants. A well-stated agenda opens doors to collaboration. Data/Methodology Data and tools are a central part of considering network per- formance. A basic question of network performance is whether or not new measures are required. The research generally C H A P T E R 8 Conclusion

33 suggests that the measures are the same or similar to ones that have been used, but in many cases new or improved data or tools are needed to be able to capture the performance of the network. Examples of data and tools include the following: • For the regional scenarios, a combination of scenario plan- ning and tackling new issues requires sketch models or other tools that can capture the long-range benefits of issues such as reliability, pricing strategies, and land use strategies; • For the multistate scenario, an economic analysis model helped the states compare strategies across state boundaries; • For the megaregional scenario, significant work was needed to bind together several independent travel demand mod- els used by the individual MPOs that made up the partner- ship; and • For the intraregional scenario, data and tools were generally already available, but individual DOT departments were not necessarily aware of what other departments were using. Integrating data across departments requires understanding the specific needs and data quality requirements, as well as developing methods to access data for multiple purposes. Summary Performance measures have been widely accepted as valu- able tools for use by transportation agencies as they look to increase accountability, make strategic investments, and fully understand the implications and impacts of programs and policies. This research effort looked at how those practices have been applied to network-level situations, across modes and jurisdictions, and the associated benefits and challenges. Con- clusions from this effort include the following: • Measuring network performance offers benefits that include understanding the implications of programs and improvements, selecting the best option to improve net- work mobility, and finding efficiencies through partner- ships and data sharing. • One basic question of this project is, “Are there network per- formance measures?” Network performance measurement is unique not in the process or measures used but in the part- nerships and collaboration required. Working across agen- cies to establish common goals and developing methods for measuring those goals is inherently challenging. A range of approaches may be appropriate, depending on the specific agencies involved and their relationship to one another (i.e., peer institutions and existing agreements on cooperation). As such, this research project was organized around a com- mon framework and a set of partnership scenarios. • As regions expand past the traditional MPO boundaries and travel and economies become interdependent through the formation of megaregions, the importance of network-level performance measurement will increase. More agencies will find these tools and processes critical for addressing the transportation challenges they face. • As agencies continue to engage in network-level perfor- mance measurement, the processes and practices will become more standardized and transferable. This research project began with a question about measur- ing performance at a network level. Though clear technical challenges are noted throughout the final report and guide- book, it quickly became clear through the research that a deeper understanding of the partnerships necessary to consider network performance was required. Several partnership mod- els are described here, but future research should take these models further; develop an understanding of the institutional, legal, and other challenges; and develop recommendations to help agencies apply these partnerships in the future, especially for the multistate and megaregional partnerships.