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Highway Trust Fund

Financial Report for Fiscal Year 2004

Management's Discussion and Analysis

Table of Contents | Management's Discussion and Analysis | Financial Section | Appendices

 

Program Assessment Rating Tool (PART)

OMB institutionalized PART to answer whether a federal program is demonstrating value to the taxpayer. PART is intended to demonstrate that a program 1) has a track record of results, and 2) warrants continued or additional resources.

In FY 2002 (for federal budget year 2004), PART assessments were performed on one HTF program and in FY 2003 (for federal budget year 2005), on four HTF programs. All were considered moderately effective, a more positive program rating from OMB as compared to other federal programs that were assessed during these same time periods. Summary information is provided on each PART grouped by modal administration.

 

FHWA

Federal-aid Highway Program

Rating – Moderately Effective

The Federal-aid Highway program provides federal financial and technical assistance to states to construct and maintain the national system of roads and bridges.

The assessment found that the program has been generally successful in improving highway safety and maintaining mobility, but that it should also take steps to improve oversight of the states' management of federal highway dollars.

OMB recommended that FHWA:

  • Advocate amending the program's authorizing statute to establish an oversight program to monitor the effective and efficient use of funds;
  • Prepare a plan for improving program and project oversight of states;
  • Direct more resources to comprehensive evaluation activities, particularly at the state project level; and,
  • Devise efficiency measures to show that program delivery is cost-effective.
FHWA Actions Responding to OMB Recommendations

FHWA developed efficiency measures to track (1) the percentage of major federally-funded infrastructure projects that meet schedule and cost estimates established in project or contract agreements, or miss them by less than 10 percent; and (2) the median time to complete environmental impact statements and environmental assessments for the Department's funded infrastructure projects.

FHWA also identified and implemented steps to mitigate the risks involved in a major or mega-project costing over $1 billion by developing a comprehensive, standard oversight approach that includes the development of financial plans and the monitoring of project costs, schedule, and performance. Monthly cost, schedule, and status reports were prepared for all major projects. Periodic status meetings were held with the State Transportation Agency's project management team, the Department's modal administrations, and other agencies involved in the project to discuss project costs, schedules, quality issues, and the status of other items. These discussions were sufficiently detailed to allow the involved parties to recognize significant issues and develop actions designed to mitigate any adverse impacts and increase emphasis on oversight of higher-level management and financial issues.

Completion Date: Ongoing

Federal Lands Highway Program

Rating – Moderately Effective

The Federal Lands Highway program ensures effective and efficient funding and administration for a coordinated program of public roads and bridges serving federal and Indian lands, provides needed transportation access for Native Americans, and protects and enhances the Nation's resources.

OMB recommended that FHWA:

  • Schedule comprehensive evaluations of program effectiveness; and,
  • Develop a comprehensive evaluation plan based on the commitments made by FHWA in the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) that implements the President's National Park Service Initiative.
FHWA Actions Responding to OMB Recommendations

Federal Lands formed a team with the National Park Service to develop guidance to facilitate the implementation of an agreement concerning the delivery of a larger Park Roads and Parkway Program. The team identified 11 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.

Completion Date: 9/15/2005

 

FTA

New Starts Program

Rating – Moderately Effective

FTA's New Starts program provides grants and technical assistance to local transit agencies for new transit construction projects.

The assessment of the New Starts program affirmed that the program is well managed and is administered effectively and appropriately. As a result, this program is also helping FTA meet the Department's mobility goal. This was the second-highest rated PART analysis in the Department for an agency program.

OMB recommended that FTA:

  • Provide a performance-based budget justification for the New Starts program; and,
  • As FTA uses new performance targets to measure performance, the FY 2006 budget should reflect how funding impacts performance.
FTA Actions Responding to OMB Recommendations:

FTA provided a performance-based budget justification for the New Starts program for FY 2005. FTA used the new performance targets to measure performance of the New Starts program. Ridership and cost containment measures were also integrated into the performance based FY 2006 budget to OMB.

 

FMCSA

FMCSA Grant Program – Block/Formula Grant

Rating – Moderately Effective

The FMCSA grant program distributes block grants to states based on a formula. The Motor Carrier Safety Assistance Program (MCSAP) reduces CMV-involved crashes, fatalities, and injuries through consistent, uniform, and effective state CMV safety programs; and is in close alignment with the Agency mission of saving lives and reducing injuries by preventing truck and bus crashes.

The assessment found that the program is strong overall, but increased statewide commitment is needed to reach the federal annual and long-term goals of the program. Also federal managers and program partners are not held accountable for cost, schedule, and performance results.

OMB recommended that FMCSA:

  • Commit partners to working toward the same long-term/annual goals and link state and federal program goals;
  • Promote accountability of federal managers by holding them accountable for cost, schedule, and performance results; and,
  • Use Safe, Accountable, Flexible and Efficient Transportation Equity Act (SAFETEA) reauthorization proposals to effectively distribute $227 million in grants to states to reward them for implementing CMV safety measures and reduce state fatality rates.
FMCSA Actions Responding to OMB Recommendations:

FMCSA now requires its State Division Administrators to submit, each fiscal year, a safety plan to coordinate, focus, and align its state partners with FMCSA's long-term strategic goal of reducing the rates of crashes, injuries, and fatalities involving large trucks and buses. The safety plan identifies large truck safety problems within each state and develops specific strategies and activities to measurably reduce their severity. The plan also includes output and outcome goals to enable federal managers and partners to gauge and assess their success.

 

NHTSA

NHTSA Grant Program

Rating – Moderately Effective

The NHTSA Grant Program provides money to every state, territory, and Indian nation to fund a wide range of highway safety programs. State highway programs are funded with Occupant Protection Incentive Grants, Safety Incentive Grants for Primary Seat Belt Laws, State Safety Data Grants, and Emergency Medical Services Grants, among others.

The assessment showed that the program is in close alignment with the Agency mission of saving lives and reducing injuries by preventing vehicle crashes. The assessment also found that NHTSA was successful in meeting its performance goal to decrease the fatality rate and has a good working relationship with states.

OMB recommended that NHTSA:

  • Streamline grant programs to reduce complexity and increase grantee focus on safety performance;
  • Increase the direct appropriation of funds for the grant program; and,
  • Create an accountability mechanism to link state performance and incentive grant awards.
NHTSA Actions Responding to OMB Recommendations:

To measure its efficiency, NHTSA began tracking the allocation of Section 402 formula grants within 45 days of enactment of appropriation. NHTSA's SAFETEA proposal to Congress also included a streamlined grants program to reduce complexity and increase focus on safety performance.

NHTSA also began the implementation of procedures to increase the review of state grant programs to insure greater accountability for use of grant funds to improve performance. NHTSA will perform a management review of every state every three years and will perform special management reviews when state performance in specific areas, such as impaired driving and occupant protection, is below national norms and is not improving.

 

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