Federal Highway Administration

Region 07 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 07
Total N : 21
Index Region 07
Top Box(%5)
Best Practice Region
Top Box(%5)
RELATIONSHIP 58 58
COMMUNICATION 51 51
TIMELINESS 42 42
PERFORMANCE 51 51
GENERAL 42 42


Gallup FHWA Resource Survey Items


Question Text Region 07
Top Box(%5)
Best Practice Region
Top Box(%5)
Overall satisfaction with the transportation agency's performance on this project (1) 38 38


RELATIONSHIP


Question Text Region 07
Top Box(%5)
Best Practice Region
Top Box(%5)
My agency knew what was expected (6a) 76 76
The transportation agency provided my agency with materials we needed (6b) 57 57
The transportation agency appreciated our contribution to the process (6c) 47 47
The transportation agency wanted to play an active role (6d) 60 60
My agency's opinions seemed to count (6e) 71 71
The transportation agency helped to move this project forward (6g) 57 58
The transportation agency made efforts to improve the process (6h) 35 45

COMMUNICATION


Question Text Region 07
Top Box(%5)
Best Practice Region
Top Box(%5)
Involved us early on in the process (7a) 52 65
Responded in a timely way (7b) 63 63
Invited our participation in key meetings (7c) 50 60
Kept us informed of their progress (7d) 44 44
Were open and honest with us (7e) 50 60
Were open to our suggestions or alternatives (7f) 47 47
Gave reasonable suggestions or alternatives (7g) 35 38
Gave clear explanations if they did not agree with our recommendations (7h) 31 33
Willing to compromise (7i) 50 50
Adequate participation at key meetings (7j) 71 71
Sufficient level of communication (7k) 62 62

TIMELINESS


Question Text Region 07
Top Box(%5)
Best Practice Region
Top Box(%5)
Adhered to schedules (8a) 53 53
Gave my agency enough time to accomplish tasks (8b) 43 55
Entire process took reasonable amount of time (8c) 52 52
Process could have been shortened (8d) (% 1=Strongly Disagree) 19 37

PERFORMANCE


Question Text Region 07
Top Box(%5)
Best Practice Region
Top Box(%5)
Quality of information (9a) 33 33
Completeness of information (9b) 38 38
Competence of agency staff (9c) 75 75
Ability to stay organized (9d) 67 67
Understanding my agency's requirements (9e) 57 57
Level of resources devoted (9f) 67 67
Range of reasonable alternatives suggested (9g) 32 42
Willingness to consider mitigation measures (9h) 47 47
How good a job they did at protecting the environment (9i) 40 40

GENERAL


Question Text Region 07
Top Box(%5)
Best Practice Region
Top Box(%5)
Understands my agency's mission (11a) 43 43
Cares about my agency's mission (11b) 25 31
Committed to doing quality work (11c) 52 52
Has competent staff (11d) 70 70
Sufficient level of trust between the two agencies (11e) 52 52
Committed to making environmental review process efficient (11f) 33 34
Willing to compromise (11g) 15 25
Sufficient level of communication between the two agencies (11h) 43 43
Committed to improving the environment (11i) 33 33
Change in relationship over past 3 years (% 3=Improved) (12) 50 71
Overall characterization of relationship (% 5=Excellent) (13) 43 43

PROBLEMS (YES/NO)


Question Text Region 07
Top Box(%5)
Best Practice Region
Top Box(%5)
Experienced a problem (2) 29 22
Problem at early project planning/scoping (3a) 50 14
Problem at defining purpose and need (3b) 50 13
Problem at information/data collection (3c) 67 29
Problem at development/analysis of alternatives (3d) 50 38
Problem at analysis of impacts (3e) 50 29
Problem at selection of alternative (3f) 50 33
Problem at commitment to mitigation (3g) 33 33
Problem at finalizing documents/response to comments (3h) 0 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 07 21 0 5 19 38 38 4.1 38
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
01 Overall, how satisfied were you with the agency's performance on this project? Region 07 21 0 0 5 19 76 4.71 76
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
01 Overall, how satisfied were you with the agency's performance on this project? Region 07 21 0 14 0 29 57 4.29 57
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
01 Overall, how satisfied were you with the agency's performance on this project? Region 07 19 11 5 11 26 47 3.95 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
01 Overall, how satisfied were you with the agency's performance on this project? Region 07 20 0 10 15 15 60 4.25 60
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
01 Overall, how satisfied were you with the agency's performance on this project? Region 07 21 5 10 0 14 71 4.38 71
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
01 Overall, how satisfied were you with the agency's performance on this project? Region 07 21 0 10 10 24 57 4.29 57
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
01 Overall, how satisfied were you with the agency's performance on this project? Region 07 17 0 24 18 24 35 3.71 35
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
01 Overall, how satisfied were you with the agency's performance on this project? Region 07 21 5 5 14 24 52 4.14 52
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
01 Overall, how satisfied were you with the agency's performance on this project? Region 07 19 0 0 26 11 63 4.37 63
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
01 Overall, how satisfied were you with the agency's performance on this project? Region 07 16 0 6 13 31 50 4.25 50
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
01 Overall, how satisfied were you with the agency's performance on this project? Region 07 18 0 22 17 17 44 3.83 44
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
01 Overall, how satisfied were you with the agency's performance on this project? Region 07 20 0 10 15 25 50 4.15 50
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
01 Overall, how satisfied were you with the agency's performance on this project? Region 07 19 5 11 16 21 47 3.95 47
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
01 Overall, how satisfied were you with the agency's performance on this project? Region 07 20 10 5 5 45 35 3.9 35
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
01 Overall, how satisfied were you with the agency's performance on this project? Region 07 13 15 8 15 31 31 3.54 31
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
01 Overall, how satisfied were you with the agency's performance on this project? Region 07 16 0 19 19 13 50 3.94 50
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
01 Overall, how satisfied were you with the agency's performance on this project? Region 07 17 0 0 0 29 71 4.71 71
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
01 Overall, how satisfied were you with the agency's performance on this project? Region 07 21 0 0 10 29 62 4.52 62
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
01 Overall, how satisfied were you with the agency's performance on this project? Region 07 19 0 5 16 26 53 4.26 53
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
01 Overall, how satisfied were you with the agency's performance on this project? Region 07 21 0 5 14 38 43 4.19 43
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
01 Overall, how satisfied were you with the agency's performance on this project? Region 07 21 0 5 19 24 52 4.24 52
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
01 Overall, how satisfied were you with the agency's performance on this project? Region 07 16 19 38 25 13 6 2.5 19
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
01 Overall, how satisfied were you with the agency's performance on this project? Region 07 21 0 14 5 48 33 4 33
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
01 Overall, how satisfied were you with the agency's performance on this project? Region 07 21 0 14 14 33 38 3.95 38
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
01 Overall, how satisfied were you with the agency's performance on this project? Region 07 20 0 5 5 15 75 4.6 75
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
01 Overall, how satisfied were you with the agency's performance on this project? Region 07 21 0 0 10 24 67 4.57 67
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
01 Overall, how satisfied were you with the agency's performance on this project? Region 07 21 10 5 10 19 57 4.1 57
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
01 Overall, how satisfied were you with the agency's performance on this project? Region 07 18 0 6 11 17 67 4.44 67
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
01 Overall, how satisfied were you with the agency's performance on this project? Region 07 19 5 5 26 32 32 3.79 32
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
01 Overall, how satisfied were you with the agency's performance on this project? Region 07 19 0 16 5 32 47 4.11 47
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
01 Overall, how satisfied were you with the agency's performance on this project? Region 07 20 0 15 15 30 40 3.95 40
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
01 Overall, how satisfied were you with the agency's performance on this project? Region 07 21 0 10 24 24 43 4 43
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
01 Overall, how satisfied were you with the agency's performance on this project? Region 07 20 10 5 35 25 25 3.5 25
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
01 Overall, how satisfied were you with the agency's performance on this project? Region 07 21 0 10 14 24 52 4.19 52
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
01 Overall, how satisfied were you with the agency's performance on this project? Region 07 20 0 5 10 15 70 4.5 70
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
01 Overall, how satisfied were you with the agency's performance on this project? Region 07 21 0 14 29 5 52 3.95 52
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
01 Overall, how satisfied were you with the agency's performance on this project? Region 07 21 5 10 10 43 33 3.9 33
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
01 Overall, how satisfied were you with the agency's performance on this project? Region 07 20 0 15 25 45 15 3.6 15
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
01 Overall, how satisfied were you with the agency's performance on this project? Region 07 21 0 5 24 29 43 4.1 43
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
01 Overall, how satisfied were you with the agency's performance on this project? Region 07 21 5 19 14 29 33 3.67 33
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 07 20 10 40 50 50
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
01 Overall, how satisfied were you with the agency's performance on this project? Region 07 21 0 10 14 33 43 4.1 43
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 07 21 29 71 29
Best Practice Region 32 22 78