In 2007, the Washington State Legislature amended RCW 47.04.280 (f
ormally referred to as the 'Transportation Benchmarks') to establish five statewide transportation policy goals to guide the planning, operation, performance of, and investment in the state’s transportation system. These goals are not prioritized.
- Preservation: To maintain, preserve and extend the life and utility of prior investments in transportation systems and services.
- Safety: To provide for and improve the safety and security of transportation customers and the transportation system.
- Mobility (addressing congestion): To improve the predictable movement of goods and people throughout Washington state.
- Environment: To enhance Washington's quality of life through transportation investments that promote energy conservation, enhance healthy communities and protect the environment.
- Stewardship: To continuously improve the quality, effectiveness and efficiency of the transportation system.
Biennial Transportation Attainment Reports
The Office of Financial Management (OFM) is responsible for establishing objectives and performance measures for each of the five legislatively adopted goals, and for preparing a biennial progress report (also referred to as an “attainment report”) for the Legislature and Governor. (RCW 47.01.071(5)) A baseline report was submitted to the Governor and Legislature in January 2008. OFM is preparing the report in consultation with state agencies other public agencies, and transportation entitities. The first progress report is due to the Legislature October 2008 with subsequent reports due on a biennial basis.
Baseline Report
The Baseline Attainment Report (available as a 1.0 MB PDF file by clicking here) was submitted to the 2008 Legislature to provide opportunity for legislative feedback. OFM will work with the Legislature and transportation providers to incorporate their feedback, and to refine the data and performance measures for the first biennial progress report to be completed by October 2008.
This report contains the proposed objectives and performance measures that best assess progress toward the goals and contribute to the overall performance of the transportation system. Rather than report on agency-specific performance, the baseline report and the subsequent biennial reports will focus on overall system performance. A resource list is provided in the appendix to provide access to related data and measures, many of which are being used to make investment decisions, develop strategies and programs, provide accountability and for internal management.
The report uses existing performance measures and relies heavily on data from state agencies. Future reports will contain more data from other sources, which may include federal, regional, tribal and local government data as well as freight, port and transit data. Not all of the measures lend themselves to specific targets. Targets that were developed through the Governor’s Priorities of Government budget process, Government Management Accountability & Performance program, and the state’s Strategic Highway Safety Plan are noted. In several cases, specific measures have yet to be developed, but the issues are important so they are shown as “placeholders.” All of the measures are expected to evolve as the state makes progress in assessing the performance of the multifaceted components of the state’s transportation system.