Compendium of State Performance Management Practices and Methodologies for Setting a National Safety Performance Target

Project Title: Evaluation to Improve State Performance Management Practices and Methodologies for Setting a National Safety Performance Target for the Federal-Aid Highway Program

Introduction to Survey

Over the last several years, Transportation Performance Management - a strategic approach that uses system information to make investment and policy decisions to achieve national performance goals – has emerged as a best practice within the transportation industry. The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) recognizes the need to prepare for and transition to the administration of a consistent performance management framework for State and local highway safety programs and the call for a nationwide highway safety performance target for fatalities. This need is also recognized and further supported by the US-DOT, the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO), the Governor’s Highway Safety Association (GHSA) and many other highway safety stakeholders.

To prepare for the implementation of a national performance target for fatalities, FHWA is seeking feedback from its customers on additional FHWA services needed - or how they can be improved - to assist agencies in target setting and information on how States, Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs) and local agencies currently set targets . To develop strategies for improvement and to collect this feedback on current experiences, FHWA, through its contractor, Cambridge Systematics, is conducting a survey to solicit information from its customers to understand and improve methods to assist in fatality target-setting practices. Information collected from the survey will only be used internally as background and supporting information for an overall research project on target setting methodologies.

To assist FHWA in improving its safety program, please answer the following questions related to the FHWA tools and services used to support target setting, how FHWA can improve its services in support of the fatality targets adopted by your state and the methodologies used to select the fatality target in your state. We appreciate your support of this effort. FHWA remains committed to working with our state, regional, and local partners to understand and build on best practices.

Background Information

1. Agency

2. Name of person/s completing survey instrument

3. Title

4. Department/Division

5. Business Telephone Number

6. Business Email Address

Survey Questions

1. Does your state set a fatality target?

1. Yes

2. No

3. I do not know

If the participant answers “Yes” to Question #1 the questionnaire will continue to Question #2. If the participant answers “No” or “I do not know” to Question #1, the questionnaire will continue to question 1A.

Question 1A: Select all statements that apply to your state’s activities related to performance management targets.

1. The state has considered developing a fatality target.

2. There have been discussions about plans to develop a fatality target.

3. The state is developing a methodology to set a target.

4. The state has other performance based targets for highway safety in place.

5. The state is not considering development of a fatality target.

If the participant selects response “a” “b” “c” or “d” to Question 1A, the questionnaire will continue to Question 5.

2. What is the state fatality target?

3. Did your state set interim targets?

   1. Yes

   2. No

   3. I do not know

If the participant answers “Yes” to Question #3 the questionnaire will continue to Question #3A. If the participant answers “No “or “I do not know” to Question #3, the questionnaire will skip to the Question #4.

Question 3A: What are the interim targets?

4. What methodology did your agency use to set the overall and/or interim targets? Please select all that apply.

   1. Target based on a linear fatality reduction trend line over a specified time frame

   2. Target based on the output of a forecasting or analysis tool. Please describe the tool and/or analysis method.

   3. Target was mandated by the policy makers.

   4. Target was set by a committee, consensus, or a leadership group through deliberation and discussion.

   5. Adopted the AASHTO target to halve fatalities by 2030

   6. Adopted the Towards Zero Deaths target

   7. Other - please specify the prescribed methodology for setting the target

5. Which of the following FHWA supported tools or services did you use or do you intend to use to develop fatality targets?

Highway Safety Manual (HSM)	GIS Safety Analysis Tool
Interactive Highway Safety Design Model (IHSDM)	Highway Performance Monitoring System (HPMS)
SafetyAnalyst	FARS
Highway Economic Requirements System (HERS)	FastFARS
Pedestrian and Bicycle Crash Analysis Tool (PBCAT)	National Automotive Sampling System – General Estimates System (NASS-GES)
	Other – please specify

6. Do these tools meet your needs for setting and evaluating performance targets?

1. Yes

2. No

If participants answer “no” to Question 6, the questionnaire will go to Question 6A. If Question 6 is “yes”, the questionnaire will skip to Question 7.

Question 6A: What improvements to these products or services would better assist your State/jurisdiction in developing, setting and evaluating the target?

For those answering “No” or “I do not know” to Question 1, skip to Question #10.

7. What data were used to support the selection of the fatality reduction target?

1. Fatalities

2. Fatality rate

3. Serious injuries

4. Other - Please specify.

8. Did your agency consider using a different methodology to select the fatality target?

1. Yes

2. No

3. I do not know

9. Was the feasibility of meeting the fatality target tested through analysis?

a) Yes

b) No

c) In Progress

d) I do not know

If the participant answers “Yes” or “In Progress” (a or c) to Question #10, the questionnaire will continue to Question #10A. If the participant answers “No” or “I do not know” (b or d) to Question #10, the questionnaire will skip to Question #11.

Question 10A: How was the feasibility of meeting the target tested?

10. Which of the following capacity building strategies that FHWA offers would assist your State in developing, setting and achieving highway safety performance measures and targets?

    1. Guidance materials

    2. Peer exchange

    3. Technical assistance

    4. Training

    5. Other

11. Would your state be interested in hosting or attending an FHWA sponsored Peer Exchange to assist FHWA in sharing information to improve FHWA products and services for target setting methods and practices?

1. Yes

2. No

3. I do not know

End of questionnaire for those answering “No” or “I do not know” to Question 1.

12. Do other agencies in the state also set fatality targets and, if so, are they consistent with the target identified in Question #2?

1. Yes, and they are consistent

2. Yes, but they are not consistent

3. No

4. I do not know

If the participant answers “Yes” to Question #12 (a or b) the questionnaire will continue to Question #12A. If the participant answers “No” or “I do not know” to Question #12, the questionnaire ends.

Question 12A: If yes (a or b), please provide the other agency’s name and a contact for follow up.

1. Agency Name

2. Title

3. Department/Division

4. Business Telephone Number

5. Business Email Address

6. I do not know the contact information