Program Evaluation

Anticipated as a phased research and measurement program, in December 1999 the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) awarded the Center for Transportation and the Environment (known at the time as the Southern Coalition for Advanced Transportation (SCAT)) a contract to conduct a research and measurement program. The goals of the contract are the following:

  1. To enhance the media campaign program area;
  2. To evaluate the qualitative and quantitative impacts of each of the three program areas (media campaign, employer and individual outreach services, and regional supporting programs and services); and
  3. To establish a consistent evaluation protocol and reporting procedure across the program areas.

The first year of the contract (Phase One, FY2000), the measurement team provided strategic direction and a preliminary effectiveness evaluation to the media campaign; inventoried evaluation tools available to assess the impacts of the Atlanta TDM Framework program; and conducted a preliminary evaluation on reductions in vehicle miles traveled using existing and consistent data sources.

In the second year of the contract (Phase Two, FY2001), the measurement team provided more focused strategic direction to the media campaign and employer and individual outreach programs. The measurement team also provided enhanced data collection tools, methodologies, and performance measures. As a result, the measurement team presented a more inclusive and rigorous assessment of Atlanta TDM Framework effectiveness at the end of FY2001 (including vehicle trips, vehicle miles, and emission reduced).

A primary work product of Phase Two was the Atlanta TDM Framework Evaluation Plan (FY2001-FY2003). The evaluation plan combines the primary work elements of Phase One and Phase Two into a single, structured evaluation program. Implementation and refinement of the evaluation plan is the primary motivation for work to be completed in the third year of the contract (Phase Three, FY2002).

Primary work tasks include the facilitation of performance targets for programs and services supporting the Atlanta TDM Framework and implementation of several data collection tools to measure both regional and programmatic effectiveness.

FY2000 (Phase One) Evaluation

FY2001 (Phase Two) Evaluation