TPM Transportation Pooled Fund

Study Description

Background:
Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century (MAP-21) establishes a broad performance-based approach to the Federal Highway Program. MAP-21 identifies seven performance areas in which the US DOT, in consultation with their stakeholders, will develop performance measures. Under MAP-21, State Transportation Agencies (STAs), Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs), and public transit providers are required to develop strategies and targets for each of the performance measures established by USDOT. States are required to set targets no later than one year after USDOT establishes the performance measures, and MPOs are required to set targets no later than 180 days after the State sets targets. Public transportation providers are required to set State of Good Repair and Safety targets no later than three months after USDOT establishes measures and MPOs select targets no later than 180 days after public transportation providers set targets. While FHWA and most States have experience measuring different aspects of highway system performance, experience is much more limited in how to manage a performance-based program that includes establishing and investing toward specific outcome-oriented performance targets and accountability for achieving those targets. The focus of this pooled-fund project will be to determine and support participating State’s, MPO’s, and Public Transportation providers Transportation Performance Management (TPM) Capacity Development needs.

Objectives:
The focus of this pooled fund project will be to research and assess training and educational needs of contributing members, develop and deliver training, and to facilitate the sharing and retention of performance management best practices. Funding will be used to:
• Identify Gaps in TPM Knowledge, Skills and Abilities—Conduct a needs analysis for learning and capacity development of contributing members resulting in a short and long-term capacity building roadmap;
• Develop and Deliver Learning and Capacity Development Resources—Develop training and educational material to meet the gaps identified in the knowledge, skills and abilities;
• Establish a TPM Information Clearinghouse—The TPM Information Clearinghouse will be used to showcase PM best practices, foster collaboration, and serve as a repository for PM resources; and
• Support Knowledge Transfer Among Pooled Fund States

Specifically this pooled fund will:
Guide the prioritization of needs for determining training and other educational support for contributing members:
1. Provide and promote communication and information sharing among member States related to learning and capacity development needs in the areas of performance management and provide input on research topics.
2. Develop framework and roadmap for addressing learning and capacity development needs.
3. Identify learning and capacity development resources needed to support the development of PM skills.
4. Develop online and/or blended training courses and materials that are suitable for a wide variety of audiences such as State Departments of Transportation (State DOTs), Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs), Public Transit Providers, and local governments.
5. Support a TPM Information Clearinghouse which will serve as a repository for TPM best practices and other resource information to assist states, MPO’s and local government with learning about TPM and their implementation of TPM.