National MAP-21 Implementation and Monitoring

Abstract

This report presents an analysis of performance measures adopted by states and Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs) in light of the adoption of such measures in the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP-21). MAP-21 was signed into law by President Obama on July 6, 2012. It featured a new federal emphasis on performance measurement. This focus promotes transparency of public data and decision-making and attempts to improve the accountability of public spending by better-linking investments to outcomes. MAP-21 identified seven thematic areas for which the Secretary of Transportation determined performance measures should be adopted. These areas include (1) safety, (2) infrastructure condition, (3) congestion reduction, (4) system reliability, (5) freight movement and economic vitality, (6) environmental sustainability, and (7) reduced project delivery delays. The project team studied 377 MPOs across the country and selected 40 MPOs for further detailed analyses. The analyses revealed similar findings to those at the state-level where some MPOs have implemented performance measures as suggested by the federal legislation while many other MPOs have not yet adopted any performance measures. An analysis of measures implemented by all state DOTs and MPOs reveals that agencies have independently implemented a vast number of measures that fall into the seven with the exception of significant deficiencies in freight movement and economic vitality and environmental sustainability measures.