FAA Operations (Air Traffic Services)

Safety

65% Adequate

OMB downgraded the program in the areas of strategic and performance planning (lack of quantified long term goals and efficiency measures). Although FAA has been meeting its overall aviation fatal accident goal, it has not been as effective in meeting program performance measures such as preventing runway incursions or controller operational errors.

Cost efficiency measures have been developed as well as targets established for the 2006 President's Budget. Measures have been briefed to the GAO and DOT IG as well as reported publicly in the 2004 ATO Annual Performance Report. Targets are being formulated and will be set by the end of September 2005.

FAA Research, Engineering & Development (RD&E)

Safety, Mobility

93% Effective

The program received high marks in all evaluation areas. This program received the highest scores ever achieved by a DOT program

Delphi financial reports are used in conjunction with CAS reports within ATO Planning and ATO Finance as part of the RE&D funds management and tracking.

FHWA Highway Infrastructure Investments

Organizational Excellence

FY 2004 Score was 82%; FY 2005 Score = 70% Moderately Effective

The OMB review emphasized stewardship and oversight, bringing FHWA administrative funds into this review which resulted in a score reduction of 12 points.

FHWA has prepared a plan for improving program and project oversight of States. Directed more resources to comprehensive evaluation activities, particularly at the State project level. Devise efficiency measures to show that program delivery is cost­effective. With the passage of the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, and Efficient Transportation Equity Act, A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU), proposed budget and legislative changes will allow FHWA to more effectively and efficiently meet its performance goals.

FHWA – Federal Lands Highways Program

Environmental Stewardship

82% Moderately Effective

OMB noted that the evaluation score reflected good business planning and an internal efficiency measures.

A team with FHWA and National Park Service employees was established to develop guidance to facilitate the implementation of the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) concerning the delivery of a larger Park Roads and Parkway Program. The Team identified eleven issues that are critical to the delivery of the program. Several groups are currently working on many of these issues and it has been proposed that additional teams be established to address the remaining issues. The ultimate goal is to develop a comprehensive delivery plan and performance measures.

FRA – Railroad Safety Program

Safety

80% Moderately Effective

The program received relatively good scores across the board with no major deficiencies noted.

FRA has developed a schedule for hiring independent reviewers to evaluate elements of the safety program on a five-year rolling basis. FRA plans to request funding from OMB for independent evaluation in FY 2007 budget.

FTA – New Starts

Organization Excellence

83% Moderately Effective

The program received relatively good scores across the board with no major deficiencies noted.

1. Provide a performance-based budget justification for the New Starts program.
2. As FTA uses new performance targets to measure performance, the 2006 budget will better reflect how funding impacts performance.

Research and Special Programs Administration (now PHMSA) – HAZMAT Emergency Preparedness Grants

Safety

83% Moderately Effective

OMB noted that the Hazmat Emergency Preparedness grant program was effective and efficiently run. However, OMB downgraded the program for not having long term performance goals specific to the grant program.

PHMSA has completed the preliminary work to begin assessing the alignment between activities and DOT goals. A comprehensive program evaluation is schedule to be conducted in FY 2007.

FMCSA Safety Grants

Safety, Security

FY 2004 score 61%; FY 2005 score 72%

Improved score was a result of a positive performance trend toward meeting the long term performance targets.

FMCSA Division Administrators have completed and are now implementing their first annual Division Safety Plans. Division Safety Plans identify state-specific priority safety initiatives addressing Division safety goals that derive from agency goals.  The Division Safety Plans, in consonance with MCSAP grants, strengthen the link between state Commercial Vehicle Safety Plans (CVSP) and National highway safety objectives.

Accountability for agency operational targets in the performance budget is cascaded from headquarters Program Managers to Field Administrators and Division Administrators, and results are reported in the DOT PAR. Division Administrators also track and report quarterly on progress toward Division Safety Plan initiatives and milestones.

FMCSA has aligned the agency performance budget request and program priorities consistent with the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU).