PERFORMANCE. A TQ POINT/COUNTERPOINT EXCHANGE WITH DAVID T. HARTGEN AND LANCE A. NEUMANN

We all agree about some things. We should all be accountable. Government agencies should steward public resources carefully. We should constantly strive for better performance. But generalities of this sort become controversial when translated into specific performance measures, particularly in public enterprises with complex missions. They raise difficult questions about agency missions, the nuances of specific measures, the possibility of misapplication, or fears that system performance will be interpreted as agency performance. How far have transportation agencies come in using performance measures? What are the benefits and pitfalls? How far should they go? Are avoidable obstacles blocking progress here? These are difficult questions being faced by all transportation agencies, by the public that supports them, and by the elected leaders that oversee them. In the exchange that follows, the authors discuss past experiences and future opportunities relative to performance measures.

• Record URL:
  • https://hdl.handle.net/2027/mdp.39015047929339?urlappend=%3Bseq=11
• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/oclc/7938948
• Corporate Authors:

  Eno Transportation Foundation

  1250 I Street, NW, Suite 750
  Washington, DC  United States  20005
• Authors:
  • Hartgen, D T
  • Neumann, L A
• Publication Date: 2002

Language

• English

Media Info

• Pagination: p. 5-19
• Serial:
  • Transportation Quarterly
  • Volume: 56
  • Issue Number: 1
  • Publisher: Eno Transportation Foundation
  • ISSN: 0278-9434

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Benefits; Decision making; Government agencies; Organizational effectiveness; Performance; Performance measurement; Private enterprise; Public service; Systems; Transportation planning
• Uncontrolled Terms: Accountability; Elected officials; Missions
• Subject Areas: Highways; Planning and Forecasting; I72: Traffic and Transport Planning;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00920166
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Feb 16 2002 12:00AM