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C H A P T E R 4
Survey Research Methodology
As described in this chapter, interviews and a survey were used a broad category evaluation of a transportation agency's
to identify the business process and institutional characteristics relative commitment and probable effectiveness could be
of the states that had more comprehensive SO&M programs made. Identification of more mature transportation agency
(identified initially from secondary data). programs versus those that are still transitioning toward more
comprehensive and effective programs was assessed by com-
bining the few sources that cover most or all transportation
Interviews and Survey
agencies. As indicated in the following list, the data include
Based on the hypothesis presented in Chapter 2 and the sources that indicate levels of deployment, performance report-
insights provided by organizational development and process ing (if any), self-evaluation of the status of applied strategies,
improvement theory and practice in Chapter 3, a survey issue self-reporting, level of participation in national programs,
approach was developed to systematically identify key busi- topic-specific citations, and anecdotes. The indicators and
ness processes essential to more effective programs and the sources included the following:
institutional features that appear to support these processes.
The purpose of the survey and interviews was not to iden- · Survey on the extent of deployment of ITS infrastructure--
tify specific states as exemplary; rather, it was to determine reported at the metropolitan level for the top 70 metro-
general relationships, business processes, and institutional politan areas in terms of percentage of freeway miles under
architecture that appear to be associated with the more effec- detection and surveillance, coverage of safety service patrols,
tive states. level of ITS integration. (Source: U.S. Department of Trans-
This three-step approach was followed: portation, Research and Innovative Technology Adminis-
tration, 2009b.)
· Step 1: Identification of clusters of states with similar com- · State programs in traveler information--511 program
mitment to and development of effective SO&M programs. and travel time information on dynamic message signs.
· Step 2: State DOT management interviews and surveys of (Source: U.S. Department of Transportation, FHWA, 2011.)
selected states. · Incident management--self-assessment score (72 regions).
· Step 3: Analysis of the survey and interviews to identify key (Source: U.S. Department of Transportation, FHWA,
relationships between business processes and institutions. 2009a.)
· State authorizing legislation regarding quick incident clear-
The range of business process and institutional differences ance. (Source: Dunn and Latoski, 2003.)
among states was also assessed. · Level of participation in operations/ITS initiatives including
the following:
ITS deployment activities. (Sources: I-95 Corridor Coali-
Step 1: Identification of More
tion, 2009; Gary-Chicago-Milwaukee Corridor Coalition,
Effective States--Reliance
2009.)
On Indirect Indicators
TMC pooled fund participation. (Source: U.S. Depart-
There is no available performance outcome data that can ment of Transportation, FHWA, 2009e.)
be used to directly identify the more effective transportation Road weather management and Remote Weather Infor-
agency SO&M programs on an absolute scale. Therefore, only mation System (RWIS) stations. (Source: U.S. Department
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