Federal Highway Administration

Region 02 NEPA Reviewers


FHWA Survey of Transportation Agencies
Rating Processes With Resource Agencies


July 29, 2003

THE GALLUP ORGANIZATION

Introduction

The following pages provide a summary of responses to the Gallup/FHWA Survey of Transportation Agencies. Respondents were asked to rate a recent project with a resource agency, so the data reflect the views of the transportation agencies toward those projects with resource 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 :

Transportation Agency Scorecard

Gallup FHWA Transportation Survey Items

RELATIONSHIP

COMMUNICATION

TIMELINESS

PERFORMANCE

GENERAL

PROBLEMS (YES/NO)

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 02	24	13	4	25	42	17	3.46		17
		Best Practice Region	52	0	6	17	37	40	4.12	6

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 02	24	4	4	13	17	63	4.29		63
		Best Practice Region	41	0	7	10	17	66	4.41	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
06B	The resource agency provided my agency with the materials, information, or documentation that we needed.	Region 02	23	9	13	30	13	35	3.52		35
		Best Practice Region	48	0	8	19	31	42	4.06	6

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 resource agency wanted to play an active role	Region 02	24	17	13	13	25	33	3.46		33
		Best Practice Region	40	0	13	13	20	55	4.18	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
06E	My agency's opinions counted in the permitting process.	Region 02	24	17	4	21	17	42	3.63		42
		Best Practice Region	33	0	6	15	33	45	4.18	5

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
06F	The resource agency felt the mission of this project was important.	Region 02	22	14	0	9	41	36	3.86		36
		Best Practice Region	26	8	8	8	35	42	3.96	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 resource agency helped to move this project forward.	Region 02	23	22	4	30	13	30	3.26		30
		Best Practice Region	51	4	6	22	31	37	3.92	6

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 resource agency made efforts to improve the process.	Region 02	24	25	21	33	13	8	2.58		8
		Best Practice Region	47	2	13	30	28	28	3.66	6

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 02	22	18	14	23	27	18	3.14		18
		Best Practice Region	51	4	8	25	18	45	3.92	6

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 02	19	21	16	32	16	16	2.89		16
		Best Practice Region	31	6	6	13	23	52	4.06	6

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 02	23	22	35	9	17	17	2.74		17
		Best Practice Region	44	7	9	32	27	25	3.55	6

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 02	23	22	4	9	26	39	3.57		39
		Best Practice Region	35	6	3	9	14	69	4.37	5

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 02	23	9	13	22	17	39	3.65		39
		Best Practice Region	45	0	7	18	36	40	4.09	6

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 02	23	17	22	17	22	22	3.09		22
		Best Practice Region	45	2	16	16	33	33	3.8	6

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 02	17	6	6	18	41	29	3.82		29
		Best Practice Region	29	7	10	24	24	34	3.69	5

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 02	20	15	15	30	15	25	3.2		25
		Best Practice Region	40	3	10	33	25	30	3.7	6

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 02	19	26	21	16	11	26	2.89		26
		Best Practice Region	28	4	14	14	21	46	3.93	5

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 02	23	13	9	13	26	39	3.7		39
		Best Practice Region	52	0	4	29	21	46	4.1	6

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 02	21	19	10	14	33	24	3.33		24
		Best Practice Region	39	5	3	26	28	38	3.92	8

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 02	22	9	5	18	32	36	3.82		36
		Best Practice Region	30	0	3	13	33	50	4.3	8

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 02	23	13	17	17	22	30	3.39		30
		Best Practice Region	23	0	9	30	22	39	3.91	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
08D	The Process could have been shortened without compromising NEPA.	Region 02	22	23	5	9	23	41	3.55		23
		Best Practice Region	22	23	5	9	23	41	3.55	2

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 resource agency provided to your agency.	Region 02	22	14	5	36	27	18	3.32		18
		Best Practice Region	48	2	4	21	40	33	3.98	6

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 02	23	13	0	26	35	26	3.61		26
		Best Practice Region	48	2	8	29	23	38	3.85	6

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 02	23	4	9	17	30	39	3.91		39
		Best Practice Region	51	0	4	16	29	51	4.27	6

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 02	23	4	9	30	26	30	3.7		30
		Best Practice Region	51	0	10	18	37	35	3.98	6

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 02	21	10	24	14	19	33	3.43		33
		Best Practice Region	51	0	16	12	37	35	3.92	6

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 02	22	14	23	18	32	14	3.09		14
		Best Practice Region	49	0	8	35	29	29	3.78	6

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 02	14	14	14	36	21	14	3.07		14
		Best Practice Region	38	5	13	21	29	32	3.68	6

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 02	19	11	26	11	21	32	3.37		32
		Best Practice Region	43	0	5	23	28	44	4.12	6

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 02	23	9	17	17	30	26	3.48		26
		Best Practice Region	41	7	7	20	27	39	3.83	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
11B	Cares about your agency's mission.	Region 02	24	13	13	29	29	17	3.25		17
		Best Practice Region	37	3	24	22	27	24	3.46	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 02	22	5	0	23	32	41	4.05		41
		Best Practice Region	39	0	0	15	28	56	4.41	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
11D	Has competent staff.	Region 02	24	8	4	17	29	42	3.92		42
		Best Practice Region	39	0	5	8	44	44	4.26	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
11E	There is a sufficient level of trust between your two agencies.	Region 02	23	4	17	35	17	26	3.43		26
		Best Practice Region	51	2	20	25	24	29	3.59	6

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 02	24	17	21	21	25	17	3.04		17
		Best Practice Region	51	4	16	24	29	27	3.61	6

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 02	24	17	8	25	38	13	3.21		13
		Best Practice Region	39	3	13	33	36	15	3.49	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
11H	There is a sufficient level of communication between the two agencies.	Region 02	24	8	25	17	33	17	3.25		17
		Best Practice Region	41	5	10	17	32	37	3.85	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
11J	Is committed to transportation improvements.	Region 02	24	25	4	29	21	21	3.08		21
		Best Practice Region	35	3	26	23	20	29	3.46	5

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 resource agency improved, stayed the same, or gotten worse?	Region 02	24	8	54	38		38
		Best Practice Region	23	9	26	65	1

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 resource agency?	Region 02	24	13	13	25	33	17	3.29		17
		Best Practice Region	41	2	2	34	37	24	3.78	4

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 resource agency during this project?	Region 02	24	50	50		50
		Best Practice Region	23	22	78	1

Question Number	Client-Specific Items	Region Type	Sample Size	YES NO		Best Practice Region	% of Yes Response Summary Previous Waves Now
				%1	%2
03A	Problems at early project planning or scoping.	Region 02	12	25	75		25
		Best Practice Region	*	20	80	1,7,9,10

Question Number	Client-Specific Items	Region Type	Sample Size	YES NO		Best Practice Region	% of Yes Response Summary Previous Waves Now
				%1	%2
03B	Problems at defining purpose and need.	Region 02	12	33	67		33
		Best Practice Region	18	6	94	3

Question Number	Client-Specific Items	Region Type	Sample Size	YES NO		Best Practice Region	% of Yes Response Summary Previous Waves Now
				%1	%2
03C	Problems at information or data collection.	Region 02	11	18	82		18
		Best Practice Region	11	18	82	2

Question Number	Client-Specific Items	Region Type	Sample Size	YES NO		Best Practice Region	% of Yes Response Summary Previous Waves Now
				%1	%2
03D	Problems at development and analysis of alternatives.	Region 02	12	33	67		33
		Best Practice Region	*	25	75	1,6

Question Number	Client-Specific Items	Region Type	Sample Size	YES NO		Best Practice Region	% of Yes Response Summary Previous Waves Now
				%1	%2
03E	Problems at analysis of impacts.	Region 02	10	70	30		70
		Best Practice Region	5	40	60	1

Question Number	Client-Specific Items	Region Type	Sample Size	YES NO		Best Practice Region	% of Yes Response Summary Previous Waves Now
				%1	%2
03F	Problems at selection of preferred alternatives.	Region 02	11	55	45		55
		Best Practice Region	*	17	83	3,6

Question Number	Client-Specific Items	Region Type	Sample Size	YES NO		Best Practice Region	% of Yes Response Summary Previous Waves Now
				%1	%2
03G	Problems at commitment to mitigation measures.	Region 02	11	36	64		36
		Best Practice Region	13	23	77	4

Question Number	Client-Specific Items	Region Type	Sample Size	YES NO		Best Practice Region	% of Yes Response Summary Previous Waves Now
				%1	%2
03H	Problems at finalizing documents or response to comments.	Region 02	11	64	36		64
		Best Practice Region	5	40	60	1