Performance measures tell us how well we are doing or how successful an activity is that we're engaged in.  In transportation planning, performance measures tell us how well our polices, programs and strategies are helping meet regional goals or priorities. SRTA's role is to monitor how the region's transportation system is performing, develop recommendations (targets) on how the transportation system can be improved, and track our progress in reaching targets.

When considering what performance measures to use, SRTA considers the following:

• Is it required by federal or state law?
• Is it tied to goals and objectives of the Regional Transportation Plan (RTP)?
• Is data readily available and in a consistent format that can be used repeatedly?
• Can it assist SRTA (or local agencies) in sharing our "story" when competing for transportation planning and capital funds?

Federal Performance Measures

Since 2012, the US Department of Transportation has focused on a performance-based planning approach to our transportation systems.  The Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century (MAP-21) federal transportation bill was the first time that a set of national performance measures were defined.  States and metropolitan planning organizations (MPOs) are now required to develop performance measure targets for the following categories below.  Please click one of the category titles to learn more.

• Safety
• Pavement and Bridge Condition
• Congestion Reduction
• System Reliability
• Freight Movement and Economic Vitality
• Environmental Sustainability

*Some performance target setting efforts may not be currently underway.  Please check back regularly for updates.*

Reporting Requirements

The Federal Highway Administration and Federal Transit Administration are tasked with developing and issuing guidance (called Final Rules) for each of the national performance measures.  After each Final Rule is issued, each state is required to develop targets for each performance measure within one year (unless otherwise specified).  MPOs are then required to either adopt the state's targets or develop their own regionally-specific targets within six months (180 days) of the adoption of state targets.  MPOs are also required to incorporate the performance measure targets in their metropolitan transportation plan (also called regional transportation plan) and transportation improvement programs (TIPs).

Coordination

MAP-21 requires that state Departments of Transportation (DOTs) coordinate with MPO, local agencies and public transportation providers when setting performance targets.  MPOs, to the extent practicable, must coordinate with relevant State and public transportation providers when setting regional targets.  SRTA is working with the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans), the cities of Anderson, Redding and Shasta Lake, the County of Shasta, the Redding Area Bus Authority and other transportation providers throughout the process.

Regional Performance Measures and Targets

Besides developing and tracking progress on federally required performance measures, SRTA has developed a few regionally-specific performance measures.  These measures are tied to specific goals and strategies as part of SRTA's Regional Transportation Plan and Sustainable Communities Strategy.  These include:

• Increase travel mode share for carpooling, biking, walking and public transit;
• Increase (in miles) the non-motorized transportation network;
• Reduce average travel time (in minutes);
• Reduce number of miles of roadways at level of service (LOS) D, E and F;
• Increase number of jobs and housing within 1/2 mile of transit stops;
• Reduce vehicle air pollutants (Nox, PM-2.5/PM-10, Ozone) and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions;
• Reduce vehicle miles traveled (VMT);
• Increase the number (in acres) of agricultural and environmentally-sensitive lands saved from development.