State Transportation Planning: Linking Quantifiable Performance Measures and Infrastructure Condition Outcomes

This study focuses on whether state Departments of Transportations (DOTs) with quantifiable performance targets have better road repair and maintenance outcomes than DOTs without quantifiable performance targets. We also examine state DOT use of quantifiable pavement condition targets to examine differences across states in terms of agency and governance/legislative factors. While the results are mixed, they suggest that state agency capacity may be related to the use of concrete and specific performance measures. Furthermore, these concrete and specific performance measures may be related to the use of external accountability bodies and citizen participation. This suggests that quantifiable performance targets may be a useful tool for decision making, planning, and resource allocation in pursuit of desired performance outcomes