Federal Highway Administration

Region 04 NEPA Reviewers

FHWA Survey of Resource Agencies
Rating Processes With Transportation Agencies

July 29, 2003

THE GALLUP ORGANIZATION


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Introduction

The following pages provide a summary of responses to the Gallup/FHWA Survey of Resource Agencies. Respondents were asked to rate a recent project with a transportation agency, so the data reflect the views of the resource agencies toward those projects with transportation agencies. The survey statements were generally rated on a scale which required a response from among six response categories:

5
Strongly Agree Extremely Satisfied Excellent
4
3
2
1
Strongly Disagree Extremely Dissatisfied Poor

Does Not Apply or Don't Know

The statement or dimension averages are based on a 5-point scale, with " 1 " being the lowest possible average and " 5 " being the highest average. " Does Not Apply " or "Don't Know " responses are not scored. The FHWA Resource Agency Scorecard provides feedback on how the region is doing with regards to NEPA processes as compared to the "best practice " or highest scoring region for each survey item.
Note the following term definitions :

Term Definition
Index The average top box response percentages for statements measuring each category of survey items (Relationship, Communication, Timeliness, Performance, General).
Top Box The percentage of "5" (Strongly Agree / Extremely Satisfied / Excellent) responses.
Best Practice Region The region with the highest percentage of top box responses.
Region 1 Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont
Region 2 New Jersey, New York
Region 3 Delaware, Washington D.C., Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia
Region 4 Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee
Region 5 Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, Wisconsin
Region 6 Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas
Region 7 Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska
Region 8 Colorado, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, Wyoming
Region 9 Arizona, California, Hawaii, Nevada
Region 10 Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, Washington


Resource Agency Scorecard


%1 - %5 and means not shown when n < 5
* Denotes more than one best practice region with multiple sample sizes

Unit : Region 04
Total N : 34
Index Region 04
Top Box(%5)
Best Practice Region
Top Box(%5)
RELATIONSHIP 48 58
COMMUNICATION 38 51
TIMELINESS 35 42
PERFORMANCE 32 51
GENERAL 35 42


Gallup FHWA Resource Survey Items


Question Text Region 04
Top Box(%5)
Best Practice Region
Top Box(%5)
Overall satisfaction with the transportation agency's performance on this project (1) 35 38


RELATIONSHIP


Question Text Region 04
Top Box(%5)
Best Practice Region
Top Box(%5)
My agency knew what was expected (6a) 74 76
The transportation agency provided my agency with materials we needed (6b) 29 57
The transportation agency appreciated our contribution to the process (6c) 47 47
The transportation agency wanted to play an active role (6d) 47 60
My agency's opinions seemed to count (6e) 56 71
The transportation agency helped to move this project forward (6g) 58 58
The transportation agency made efforts to improve the process (6h) 27 45


COMMUNICATION


Question Text Region 04
Top Box(%5)
Best Practice Region
Top Box(%5)
Involved us early on in the process (7a) 38 65
Responded in a timely way (7b) 45 63
Invited our participation in key meetings (7c) 48 60
Kept us informed of their progress (7d) 30 44
Were open and honest with us (7e) 45 60
Were open to our suggestions or alternatives (7f) 40 47
Gave reasonable suggestions or alternatives (7g) 31 38
Gave clear explanations if they did not agree with our recommendations (7h) 25 33
Willing to compromise (7i) 30 50
Adequate participation at key meetings (7j) 41 71
Sufficient level of communication (7k) 44 62


TIMELINESS


Question Text Region 04
Top Box(%5)
Best Practice Region
Top Box(%5)
Adhered to schedules (8a) 21 53
Gave my agency enough time to accomplish tasks (8b) 41 55
Entire process took reasonable amount of time (8c) 41 52
Process could have been shortened (8d) (% 1=Strongly Disagree) 37 37


PERFORMANCE


Question Text Region 04
Top Box(%5)
Best Practice Region
Top Box(%5)
Quality of information (9a) 18 33
Completeness of information (9b) 15 38
Competence of agency staff (9c) 47 75
Ability to stay organized (9d) 37 67
Understanding my agency's requirements (9e) 29 57
Level of resources devoted (9f) 44 67
Range of reasonable alternatives suggested (9g) 35 42
Willingness to consider mitigation measures (9h) 36 47
How good a job they did at protecting the environment (9i) 23 40


GENERAL


Question Text Region 04
Top Box(%5)
Best Practice Region
Top Box(%5)
Understands my agency's mission (11a) 39 43
Cares about my agency's mission (11b) 31 31
Committed to doing quality work (11c) 38 52
Has competent staff (11d) 39 70
Sufficient level of trust between the two agencies (11e) 32 52
Committed to making environmental review process efficient (11f) 26 34
Willing to compromise (11g) 18 25
Sufficient level of communication between the two agencies (11h) 41 43
Committed to improving the environment (11i) 16 33
Change in relationship over past 3 years (% 3=Improved) (12) 71 71
Overall characterization of relationship (% 5=Excellent) (13) 32 43


PROBLEMS (YES/NO)


Question Text Region 04
Top Box(%5)
Best Practice Region
Top Box(%5)
Experienced a problem (2) 35 22
Problem at early project planning/scoping (3a) 36 14
Problem at defining purpose and need (3b) 17 13
Problem at information/data collection (3c) 55 29
Problem at development/analysis of alternatives (3d) 42 38
Problem at analysis of impacts (3e) 67 29
Problem at selection of alternative (3f) 33 33
Problem at commitment to mitigation (3g) 36 33
Problem at finalizing documents/response to comments (3h) 33 0
Question Number Client-Specific Items Region Type Sample
Size
Extremely Dissatisfied...Extremely Satisfied Mean
Score
Best
Practice
Region
%Top Box Summary
Previous Waves
Now
%1 %2 %3 %4 %5
01 Overall, how satisfied were you with the agency's performance on this project? Region 04 34 0 3 29 32 35 4 35
Best Practice Region 21 0 5 19 38 38 4.1 7
Question Number Client-Specific Items Region Type Sample
Size
Strongly Disagree...Strongly Agree Mean
Score
Best
Practice
Region
%Top Box Summary
Previous Waves
Now
%1 %2 %3 %4 %5
06A My agency knew what was expected of it in this process. Region 04 34 0 0 9 18 74 4.65 74
Best Practice Region 21 0 0 5 19 76 4.71 7
Question Number Client-Specific Items Region Type Sample
Size
Strongly Disagree...Strongly Agree Mean
Score
Best
Practice
Region
%Top Box Summary
Previous Waves
Now
%1 %2 %3 %4 %5
06B The transportation agency provided my agency with the materials, information, or documentation that we needed. Region 04 34 0 12 18 41 29 3.88 29
Best Practice Region 21 0 14 0 29 57 4.29 7
Question Number Client-Specific Items Region Type Sample
Size
Strongly Disagree...Strongly Agree Mean
Score
Best
Practice
Region
%Top Box Summary
Previous Waves
Now
%1 %2 %3 %4 %5
06C The transportation agency appreciated our contribution to the process. Region 04 30 3 7 20 23 47 4.03 47
Best Practice Region 19 11 5 11 26 47 3.95 7
Question Number Client-Specific Items Region Type Sample
Size
Strongly Disagree...Strongly Agree Mean
Score
Best
Practice
Region
%Top Box Summary
Previous Waves
Now
%1 %2 %3 %4 %5
06D The transportation agency wanted to play an active role Region 04 34 3 15 15 21 47 3.94 47
Best Practice Region 20 0 0 5 35 60 4.55 1
Question Number Client-Specific Items Region Type Sample
Size
Strongly Disagree...Strongly Agree Mean
Score
Best
Practice
Region
%Top Box Summary
Previous Waves
Now
%1 %2 %3 %4 %5
06E My agency's opinions counted in the permitting process. Region 04 32 0 9 16 19 56 4.22 56
Best Practice Region 21 5 10 0 14 71 4.38 7
Question Number Client-Specific Items Region Type Sample
Size
Strongly Disagree...Strongly Agree Mean
Score
Best
Practice
Region
%Top Box Summary
Previous Waves
Now
%1 %2 %3 %4 %5
06G The transportation agency helped to move this project forward. Region 04 33 3 0 27 12 58 4.21 58
Best Practice Region 33 3 0 27 12 58 4.21 4
Question Number Client-Specific Items Region Type Sample
Size
Strongly Disagree...Strongly Agree Mean
Score
Best
Practice
Region
%Top Box Summary
Previous Waves
Now
%1 %2 %3 %4 %5
06H The transportation agency made efforts to improve the process. Region 04 30 10 13 27 23 27 3.43 27
Best Practice Region 20 0 10 25 20 45 4 1
Question Number Client-Specific Items Region Type Sample
Size
Strongly Disagree...Strongly Agree Mean
Score
Best
Practice
Region
%Top Box Summary
Previous Waves
Now
%1 %2 %3 %4 %5
07A Involved us early on in the process. Region 04 32 0 22 25 16 38 3.69 38
Best Practice Region 31 6 6 6 16 65 4.26 3
Question Number Client-Specific Items Region Type Sample
Size
Strongly Disagree...Strongly Agree Mean
Score
Best
Practice
Region
%Top Box Summary
Previous Waves
Now
%1 %2 %3 %4 %5
07B Responded in a timely way to our requests. Region 04 29 3 3 14 34 45 4.14 45
Best Practice Region 19 0 0 26 11 63 4.37 7
Question Number Client-Specific Items Region Type Sample
Size
Strongly Disagree...Strongly Agree Mean
Score
Best
Practice
Region
%Top Box Summary
Previous Waves
Now
%1 %2 %3 %4 %5
07C Invited our participation in key meetings. Region 04 29 7 10 24 10 48 3.83 48
Best Practice Region 20 5 0 20 15 60 4.25 1
Question Number Client-Specific Items Region Type Sample
Size
Strongly Disagree...Strongly Agree Mean
Score
Best
Practice
Region
%Top Box Summary
Previous Waves
Now
%1 %2 %3 %4 %5
07D Kept us informed of their progress. Region 04 30 3 20 23 23 30 3.57 30
Best Practice Region 18 0 22 17 17 44 3.83 7
Question Number Client-Specific Items Region Type Sample
Size
Strongly Disagree...Strongly Agree Mean
Score
Best
Practice
Region
%Top Box Summary
Previous Waves
Now
%1 %2 %3 %4 %5
07E Were open and honest with us. Region 04 33 3 3 15 33 45 4.15 45
Best Practice Region 20 0 10 5 25 60 4.35 1
Question Number Client-Specific Items Region Type Sample
Size
Strongly Disagree...Strongly Agree Mean
Score
Best
Practice
Region
%Top Box Summary
Previous Waves
Now
%1 %2 %3 %4 %5
07F Were open to our suggestions or alternatives. Region 04 30 0 13 23 23 40 3.9 40
Best Practice Region 19 5 11 16 21 47 3.95 7
Question Number Client-Specific Items Region Type Sample
Size
Strongly Disagree...Strongly Agree Mean
Score
Best
Practice
Region
%Top Box Summary
Previous Waves
Now
%1 %2 %3 %4 %5
07G Gave reasonable suggestions or alternatives. Region 04 29 3 3 28 34 31 3.86 31
Best Practice Region 29 3 7 10 41 38 4.03 3
Question Number Client-Specific Items Region Type Sample
Size
Strongly Disagree...Strongly Agree Mean
Score
Best
Practice
Region
%Top Box Summary
Previous Waves
Now
%1 %2 %3 %4 %5
07H Gave clear explanations if they did not agree with our recommendations. Region 04 24 0 21 29 25 25 3.54 25
Best Practice Region 27 4 19 26 19 33 3.59 9
Question Number Client-Specific Items Region Type Sample
Size
Strongly Disagree...Strongly Agree Mean
Score
Best
Practice
Region
%Top Box Summary
Previous Waves
Now
%1 %2 %3 %4 %5
07I Willing to compromise Region 04 30 0 10 27 33 30 3.83 30
Best Practice Region 16 0 19 19 13 50 3.94 7
Question Number Client-Specific Items Region Type Sample
Size
Strongly Disagree...Strongly Agree Mean
Score
Best
Practice
Region
%Top Box Summary
Previous Waves
Now
%1 %2 %3 %4 %5
07J Had adequate participation at key meetings. Region 04 27 0 0 22 37 41 4.19 41
Best Practice Region 17 0 0 0 29 71 4.71 7
Question Number Client-Specific Items Region Type Sample
Size
Strongly Disagree...Strongly Agree Mean
Score
Best
Practice
Region
%Top Box Summary
Previous Waves
Now
%1 %2 %3 %4 %5
07K Overall, there was a sufficient level of communication between the two agencies on this project. Region 04 34 3 3 18 32 44 4.12 44
Best Practice Region 21 0 0 10 29 62 4.52 7
Question Number Client-Specific Items Region Type Sample
Size
Strongly Disagree...Strongly Agree Mean
Score
Best
Practice
Region
%Top Box Summary
Previous Waves
Now
%1 %2 %3 %4 %5
08A Adhered to schedules set throughout the process. Region 04 24 4 8 29 38 21 3.63 21
Best Practice Region 19 0 5 16 26 53 4.26 7
Question Number Client-Specific Items Region Type Sample
Size
Strongly Disagree...Strongly Agree Mean
Score
Best
Practice
Region
%Top Box Summary
Previous Waves
Now
%1 %2 %3 %4 %5
08B Gave your agency enough time to accomplish tasks. Region 04 34 3 6 18 32 41 4.03 41
Best Practice Region 31 0 3 19 23 55 4.29 3
Question Number Client-Specific Items Region Type Sample
Size
Strongly Disagree...Strongly Agree Mean
Score
Best
Practice
Region
%Top Box Summary
Previous Waves
Now
%1 %2 %3 %4 %5
08C Entire process took a reasonable amount of time. Region 04 34 9 12 15 24 41 3.76 41
Best Practice Region 21 0 5 19 24 52 4.24 7
Question Number Client-Specific Items Region Type Sample
Size
Strongly Disagree...Strongly Agree Mean
Score
Best
Practice
Region
%Top Box Summary
Previous Waves
Now
%1 %2 %3 %4 %5
08D The Process could have been shortened without compromising NEPA. Region 04 27 37 11 15 19 19 2.7 37
Best Practice Region 27 37 11 15 19 19 2.7 4
Question Number Client-Specific Items Region Type Sample
Size
Strongly Disagree...Strongly Agree Mean
Score
Best
Practice
Region
%Top Box Summary
Previous Waves
Now
%1 %2 %3 %4 %5
09A Quality of information the transportation agency provided to your agency. Region 04 34 0 9 21 53 18 3.79 18
Best Practice Region 21 0 14 5 48 33 4 7
Question Number Client-Specific Items Region Type Sample
Size
Poor...Excellent Mean
Score
Best
Practice
Region
%Top Box Summary
Previous Waves
Now
%1 %2 %3 %4 %5
09B Completeness of information they provided. Region 04 34 0 6 41 38 15 3.62 15
Best Practice Region 21 0 14 14 33 38 3.95 7
Question Number Client-Specific Items Region Type Sample
Size
Poor...Excellent Mean
Score
Best
Practice
Region
%Top Box Summary
Previous Waves
Now
%1 %2 %3 %4 %5
09C Competence of their agency staff you interacted with. Region 04 32 0 0 9 44 47 4.38 47
Best Practice Region 20 0 5 5 15 75 4.6 7
Question Number Client-Specific Items Region Type Sample
Size
Poor...Excellent Mean
Score
Best
Practice
Region
%Top Box Summary
Previous Waves
Now
%1 %2 %3 %4 %5
09D Ability to stay organized throughout the project. Region 04 30 0 7 23 33 37 4 37
Best Practice Region 21 0 0 10 24 67 4.57 7
Question Number Client-Specific Items Region Type Sample
Size
Poor...Excellent Mean
Score
Best
Practice
Region
%Top Box Summary
Previous Waves
Now
%1 %2 %3 %4 %5
09E Their understanding of your agency's requirements. Region 04 34 3 3 21 44 29 3.94 29
Best Practice Region 21 10 5 10 19 57 4.1 7
Question Number Client-Specific Items Region Type Sample
Size
Poor...Excellent Mean
Score
Best
Practice
Region
%Top Box Summary
Previous Waves
Now
%1 %2 %3 %4 %5
09F The level of resources they devoted to this project. Region 04 27 0 0 19 37 44 4.26 44
Best Practice Region 18 0 6 11 17 67 4.44 7
Question Number Client-Specific Items Region Type Sample
Size
Poor...Excellent Mean
Score
Best
Practice
Region
%Top Box Summary
Previous Waves
Now
%1 %2 %3 %4 %5
09G Range of reasonable alternatives they suggested for this project. Region 04 26 0 23 15 27 35 3.73 35
Best Practice Region 26 4 0 12 42 42 4.19 3
Question Number Client-Specific Items Region Type Sample
Size
Poor...Excellent Mean
Score
Best
Practice
Region
%Top Box Summary
Previous Waves
Now
%1 %2 %3 %4 %5
09H Willingness to consider a range of mitigation measures. Region 04 25 0 8 36 20 36 3.84 36
Best Practice Region 19 0 16 5 32 47 4.11 7
Question Number Client-Specific Items Region Type Sample
Size
Poor...Excellent Mean
Score
Best
Practice
Region
%Top Box Summary
Previous Waves
Now
%1 %2 %3 %4 %5
09I How good a job they did at protecting the environment. Region 04 30 3 7 33 33 23 3.67 23
Best Practice Region 20 0 15 15 30 40 3.95 7
Question Number Client-Specific Items Region Type Sample
Size
Strongly Disagree...Strongly Agree Mean
Score
Best
Practice
Region
%Top Box Summary
Previous Waves
Now
%1 %2 %3 %4 %5
11A Understands your agency's mission. Region 04 33 0 9 21 30 39 4 39
Best Practice Region 21 0 10 24 24 43 4 7
Question Number Client-Specific Items Region Type Sample
Size
Strongly Disagree...Strongly Agree Mean
Score
Best
Practice
Region
%Top Box Summary
Previous Waves
Now
%1 %2 %3 %4 %5
11B Cares about your agency's mission. Region 04 32 6 19 25 19 31 3.5 31
Best Practice Region 32 6 19 25 19 31 3.5 4
Question Number Client-Specific Items Region Type Sample
Size
Strongly Disagree...Strongly Agree Mean
Score
Best
Practice
Region
%Top Box Summary
Previous Waves
Now
%1 %2 %3 %4 %5
11C Committed to doing quality work. Region 04 32 0 3 22 38 38 4.09 38
Best Practice Region 21 0 10 14 24 52 4.19 7
Question Number Client-Specific Items Region Type Sample
Size
Strongly Disagree...Strongly Agree Mean
Score
Best
Practice
Region
%Top Box Summary
Previous Waves
Now
%1 %2 %3 %4 %5
11D Has competent staff. Region 04 33 0 0 21 39 39 4.18 39
Best Practice Region 20 0 5 10 15 70 4.5 7
Question Number Client-Specific Items Region Type Sample
Size
Strongly Disagree...Strongly Agree Mean
Score
Best
Practice
Region
%Top Box Summary
Previous Waves
Now
%1 %2 %3 %4 %5
11E There is a sufficient level of trust between your two agencies. Region 04 34 6 9 21 32 32 3.76 32
Best Practice Region 21 0 14 29 5 52 3.95 7
Question Number Client-Specific Items Region Type Sample
Size
Strongly Disagree...Strongly Agree Mean
Score
Best
Practice
Region
%Top Box Summary
Previous Waves
Now
%1 %2 %3 %4 %5
11F Is committed to making the environmental review process efficient. Region 04 34 3 3 32 35 26 3.79 26
Best Practice Region 32 0 13 19 34 34 3.91 3
Question Number Client-Specific Items Region Type Sample
Size
Strongly Disagree...Strongly Agree Mean
Score
Best
Practice
Region
%Top Box Summary
Previous Waves
Now
%1 %2 %3 %4 %5
11G Is willing to compromise. Region 04 34 0 6 50 26 18 3.56 18
Best Practice Region 20 0 5 25 45 25 3.9 1
Question Number Client-Specific Items Region Type Sample
Size
Strongly Disagree...Strongly Agree Mean
Score
Best
Practice
Region
%Top Box Summary
Previous Waves
Now
%1 %2 %3 %4 %5
11H There is a sufficient level of communication between the two agencies. Region 04 34 0 6 29 24 41 4 41
Best Practice Region 21 0 5 24 29 43 4.1 7
Question Number Client-Specific Items Region Type Sample
Size
Strongly Disagree...Strongly Agree Mean
Score
Best
Practice
Region
%Top Box Summary
Previous Waves
Now
%1 %2 %3 %4 %5
11I Is committed to improving the environment. Region 04 32 6 16 34 28 16 3.31 16
Best Practice Region 21 5 19 14 29 33 3.67 7
Question Number Client-Specific Items Region Type Sample
Size
Worse...Improved Best
Practice
Region
% Top Box
Summary
Previous
Waves
Now
%1 %2 %3
12 Over the past 3 years, has your agency's overall relationship with the transportation agency improved, stayed the same, or gotten worse? Region 04 34 0 29 71 71
Best Practice Region 34 0 29 71 4
Question Number Client-Specific Items Region Type Sample
Size
Poor...Excellent Mean
Score
Best
Practice
Region
%Top Box Summary
Previous Waves
Now
%1 %2 %3 %4 %5
13 How would you characterize the relationship between your agency and the transportation agency? Region 04 34 0 3 24 41 32 4.03 32
Best Practice Region 21 0 10 14 33 43 4.1 7
Question Number Client-Specific Items Region Type Sample
Size
YES NO Best
Practice
Region
% of Yes
Response
Summary
Previous Waves
Now
%1 %2
02 Did you experience any problems with the transportation agency during this project? Region 04 34 35 65 35