Conference Proceedings 26 - Transportation Research Board

SUMMARIES OF 20 POSTER SESSIONS 181NEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENT OFTRANSPORTATIONContactThomas Clash, New York State Department ofTransportation, Statewide Planning Section, 1220Washington Avenue, State Campus, Building 4,Room 111, Albany, NY 12232-0411518-457-1716, 518-457-4944 (fax)tclash@gw.dot.state.ny.usPoster Session SummaryThe New York State Department of Transportation’s(NYSDOT’s) poster presentation reflects the department’suse of performance measurement as a criticaldecision support tool for helping it to manage a large,multiyear capital and maintenance program. The presentationhighlights NYSDOT’s attempt to integratethe use of this tool within a comprehensive managementframework for both program development andmanagement. This framework consists of the followingkey elements:• Establishment of major program area goals (e.g.,pavements, bridges, safety, and mobility), which establishthe department’s strategic direction;• Formal program update process; and• Use of performance measurements to assess effectivenessin each program area and as a basis forreassessment of strategic goals.The poster presentation used NYSDOT’s currentpavement goal as one example of how the departmentintegrates performance measurement into thisprogrammatic framework. The pavement goal is asfollows:Maintain a balanced program of preventive maintenanceand capital projects which result in 60 percentof lane mileage in good or excellent condition. Givepriority to NHS [National Highway System] andother corridors with high commercial traffic or potentialfor economic growth.The department then relies on three primary performancemeasures to assess how individual regionsand the state as a whole are accomplishing the goal.The measures are as follows:• Percentage of lane miles with surface ratingsgreater than 7 (good or excellent);• NHS average surface rating = 7.00; and• 14-year average treatment life.These measurements, along with computerized models,enable NYSDOT to both assess past performanceand to project future performance based on specificfunding levels and varying program strategies. Theposter presentation provided specific graphical examplesof what the department uses to achieve theseobjectives through performance measurements.The presentation concluded with a statement of thekeys to success in the use of performance measurements.They include the following• Identification of clear and measurable transportationgoals (strategic direction); and• Disciplined business process for establishinggoals, program development, measurement and evaluationof goal accomplishment, and reassessment ofgoals for the future.The use of agreed-on performance measurementwithin this overall management framework providesimportant technical and management tools for thedepartment’s regional transportation planners andengineers with project selection responsibilities andfor central office management charged with statewideprogrammatic responsibility and quality assurancevis-à-vis the individual regional programs. Above all,NYSDOT’s approach recognizes that performancemeasurement is a decision support tool rather than astand-alone mechanism for simply displaying data.METROPOLITAN ATLANTA RAPID TRANSITAUTHORITY (MARTA)ContactKenneth Sadeckas, Metropolitan Atlanta RapidTransit Authority, 2424 Piedmont Road NE, Atlanta,GA 30324404-848-5780, 404-848-5683 (fax)kasadeckas@itamarta.comPoster Session SummaryThe Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority’s(MARTA’s) organizational performance review processis driven with a focus on our mission ‘‘to providequality public transportation in a safe and effectivemanner.’’ Performance indicators relating to our stra-