The Federal Highway Administration Fiscal Year 2001 Performance Plan is a companion piece to the FHWA FY 1998 Strategic Plan and to the FY 2001 Budget Request. This Performance Plan defines the annualized performance goals and the measures we will use in achieving our long- term strategic goals. Our strategic goals are highlighted in this plan and are explained in more detail in the FHWA Strategic Plan.

The Performance Plan describes one fiscal year’s effort, showing how this effort fits into the long-range plan for the Agency and aligns with the strategic goals and objectives of the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT). At the end of the fiscal year, our actual performance will be evaluated against the goals and performance measures in this plan.

FHWA has revised some of its performance goals and measures. The revisions reflect the nation's evolving priorities, budgetary fluctuations, and our growing experience and confidence in the use of strategic and performance planning.

Revalidation

The plan underwent an extensive revalidation effort in the Summer of 2000. Several meetings were held between headquarters management and representatives from the Division Offices and the Resource Centers. Feedback received at these meetings resulted in several changes to the plan that will increase its usefulness and clarity:

• The goal chapters have been simplified. Each now contains the Strategic Goal and Strategic Objective, followed by the Performance Goal, Performance Measure/Target, and Strategies.
  
  
• The "Why We Act" and "Special Challenges" statements that were previously under separate headings have been rewritten and incorporated with the performance goals they support.
  
  
• "Strategies" have received a greater focus, as they give direction and guidance to FHWA staff and outline how we will achieve our goals.
  
  
• "For FY2001, we have arrayed all of the initiatives submitted for the plan in a set of matrices that correspond to each goal area (Appendix I). These matrices provide managers in the field and at headquarters guidance to carry out our national strategies and achieve our performance goals.
  
  
• Appendix II details FHWA's support for the DOT's Organizational Excellence goal developed for the FY2000-2005 DOT Strategic Plan.
  
  
• The matrix in Appendix II shows how major program funding relates to our strategic goals.
  
  
• A team was established to develop criteria for evaluating performance goals and measures and to make recommendations to improve existing National goals or measures.

Background

The FHWA 1998 National Strategic Plan provides a "blueprint" of the Agency's priorities for its contributions to the Nation’s highways and intermodal transportation system. It frames our vision and mission, and it is the Agency’s approach to aligning our efforts and resources and measuring progress toward specific objectives. The FHWA role in accomplishing these goals is one element in the total DOT program to advance the quality and performance of our Nation’s transportation system. Our partners, customers, and stakeholders in the highway and transportation community each play a vital role in the success of our program.

FHWA Vision

Create the best transportation system in the world.

The FHWA, in partnership with the State, local and private transportation communities, is preparing for the future. Our vision is to create the safest, most efficient and effective highway intermodal transportation system in the world for the American people--a transportation system where everyone has access within and beyond their community and to the world; a transportation system where crashes, delays, and congestion are significantly reduced; a transportation system where freight moves easily and at the lowest costs across towns, States, and international borders; a system where roads protect ecosystems and where travel on our roadways does not degrade the quality of life; a system that supports our country's national defense mobility; and a system where essential transportation services are restored immediately after disasters and emergencies.

FHWA Mission

We continually improve the quality of our Nation’s highway system and its intermodal connections.

We carry out this mission by providing leadership, expertise, resources and information in cooperation with our partners to enhance the country’s economic vitality, quality of life, and environment.

FHWA Strategic Goals

Safety Continually improve highway safety.

Mobility Continually improve the public’s access to activities, goods, and services through preservation, improvement, and expansion of the highway transportation system and enhancement of its operations, efficiency, and intermodal connections.

Productivity Continuously improve the economic efficiency of the Nation’s transportation system to enhance America’s position in the global economy.

Human and Natural Environment Protect and enhance the natural environment and communities affected by highway transportation.

National Security Improve the Nation’s national defense mobility.

The FHWA recognizes that it cannot achieve these goals and objectives without the active participation and support of its employees and its partners throughout government, academia, and the private sector. Since the beginning of the highway program, planning, constructing, and maintaining the Nation’s highway system has been a cooperative effort. These partnerships must not only continue, they must expand and be strengthened to meet the transportation demands of the 21st century. The FHWA recognizes that data to measure program performance may involve data collection by the States, local governments, and other organizations, and we will continue to work with our partners to streamline data requirements and minimize the reporting burden.

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