Date:  Wednesday, May 11, 2011

Contact: Daniela Bremmer, Director of Strategic Assessment, daniela.bremmer@wsdot.wa.gov, 360-705-7953 (Olympia)

OLYMPIA –Washington has been ranked among the top 13 states in the nation in using performance measures – such as safety, improved traffic flow and increased economic growth – to show taxpayers how their transportation dollars are being spent.

A new report released by the Pew Center on the States and The Rockefeller Foundation, “Measuring Transportation Investments: The Road to Results,” said the 13 states earned the distinction of leading the way by having “goals, performance measures and data that put their lawmakers in a better position to make cost-effective policy and spending choices.”

The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) specializes in using performance data to track highway systems operations including congestion, collisions and collision response. WSDOT’s rapid response to incidents that block the highway is spotlighted as an exemplary practice. The report recognized WSDOT’s efforts for not only improving safety, but also for reducing time wasted and lost mobility.

“Performance management is all about showing people that their taxes are being used for projects that provide real benefits,” said Washington Secretary of Transportation Paula Hammond. “Our ability to invest in future transportation improvements relies on our credible, transparent and accountable reporting.”

The report highlights WSDOT’s use of cost-benefit and other types of economic analysis to make transportation decisions. The report cited centerline rumble strip installation as a key example. WSDOT’s research showed that centerline rumble strips could prevent serious and costly crashes. These low-cost improvements provided a return on investment of approximately 25 to one.

In addition to Washington, California, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Maryland, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Oregon, Texas, Utah and Virginia were rated as “leading the way” with clear goals, performance measures and good data.

The Pew Center on the States is a nonprofit organization that identifies and advances effective solutions to critical issues facing states. The Rockefeller Foundation supports work that enables individuals, communities, and institutions to access new tools, practices, resources, services, and products.
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