Following the recommendations of the OECD 1997 report, Performance Indicators for the Road Sector, a task force was established to field test a selection of 15 performance indicators used by road administrations throughout the world. The objective of the project was to assess the applicability of the performance indicators to improving the management of road administration. The field test was conducted over the period 1997-99 in 15 member countries. This report outlines the approach adopted and summarises the results of the field tests. The 15 indicators that were field tested included: average road user costs; level of satisfaction regarding travel time and its reliability and quality of road user information; protected road user risk; unprotected road user risk; environmental policy/programmes; processes in place for market research and customer feedback; long-term programmes; allocation of resources to road infrastructure; quality management/audit programmes; forecast values of road costs vs actual costs; overhead percentage; value of assets; roughness; state of road bridges; satisfaction with road condition. A key aspect of the project was the comparison of the processes in which the indicators are applied by different road administrations. Qualitative assessment on the role of and function served by road administrations, and whether the execution of their mandates reflects the views of the public and government, suggested a need cultural change in most cases toward a client focused approach. The task force concluded that quantitative comparison between administration is of limited usefulness unless it is accompanied by a thorough examination of the underlying reasons for any differences. (Author/publisher)
Samenvatting