Comments on: The New DOT is Still Using the Old Measuring Stick http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/02/21/the-new-dot-is-still-using-the-old-measuring-stick/ Covering the New York City Streets Renaissance Mon, 23 Nov 2009 00:01:47 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8 hourly 1 By: Josh http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/02/21/the-new-dot-is-still-using-the-old-measuring-stick/comment-page-1/#comment-44811 Josh Thu, 21 Feb 2008 21:28:06 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/02/21/the-new-dot-is-still-using-the-old-measuring-stick/#comment-44811 Ed wrote: "- Percent of all NYC highways that receive a cleanliness rating of good" Zero point zero zero? Ed wrote:
"- Percent of all NYC highways that receive a cleanliness rating of good"

Zero point zero zero?

]]> By: Ed http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/02/21/the-new-dot-is-still-using-the-old-measuring-stick/comment-page-1/#comment-44809 Ed Thu, 21 Feb 2008 19:36:44 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/02/21/the-new-dot-is-still-using-the-old-measuring-stick/#comment-44809 Hey I agree that the report is behind the times, but it says that 10 new measures were added to this year's report, including traffic fatalities. Isn't that some progress? New DOT indicators - Average time to fix traffic signals (hours) - Average time to repair priority regulatory signs after notification (days) - Average time to repair streetlights - by DOT (days) - Average time to repair streetlights - by ConEd (days) - Traffic fatalities - motorists/passengers - Traffic fatalities - bicyclists/pedestrians - Percent of metered spaces that have muni-meters (multi-space meters) - Percent of all NYC highways that receive a cleanliness rating of good Hey I agree that the report is behind the times, but it says that 10 new measures were added to this year's report, including traffic fatalities. Isn't that some progress?

New DOT indicators
- Average time to fix traffic signals (hours)
- Average time to repair priority regulatory signs after notification (days)
- Average time to repair streetlights - by DOT (days)
- Average time to repair streetlights - by ConEd (days)
- Traffic fatalities - motorists/passengers
- Traffic fatalities - bicyclists/pedestrians
- Percent of metered spaces that have muni-meters (multi-space meters)
- Percent of all NYC highways that receive a cleanliness rating of good

]]> By: lee http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/02/21/the-new-dot-is-still-using-the-old-measuring-stick/comment-page-1/#comment-44808 lee Thu, 21 Feb 2008 19:32:55 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/02/21/the-new-dot-is-still-using-the-old-measuring-stick/#comment-44808 ok, well it is pretty sloppy to have a headline talking about old measurements and a graphic showing new ones. It makes me wonder how closely the writer read the report. The MMR and the TfL report are not comparable. One is a citywide report encompassing all agencies. The other focuses on a single (though wide reaching) program of a single agency. A fair comparison would be between the TfL report and the DOT's River Crossings report. ok, well it is pretty sloppy to have a headline talking about old measurements and a graphic showing new ones. It makes me wonder how closely the writer read the report.

The MMR and the TfL report are not comparable. One is a citywide report encompassing all agencies. The other focuses on a single (though wide reaching) program of a single agency. A fair comparison would be between the TfL report and the DOT's River Crossings report.

]]> By: Josh http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/02/21/the-new-dot-is-still-using-the-old-measuring-stick/comment-page-1/#comment-44807 Josh Thu, 21 Feb 2008 19:31:33 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/02/21/the-new-dot-is-still-using-the-old-measuring-stick/#comment-44807 London has been doing bureaucracy for longer than we have, doesn't it stand to reason that they're better at it than we are? London has been doing bureaucracy for longer than we have, doesn't it stand to reason that they're better at it than we are?

]]> By: Dotty http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/02/21/the-new-dot-is-still-using-the-old-measuring-stick/comment-page-1/#comment-44805 Dotty Thu, 21 Feb 2008 18:51:17 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/02/21/the-new-dot-is-still-using-the-old-measuring-stick/#comment-44805 OK, Lee. DOT tweaked some of the categories a little bit this year. Whoopee. This is still essentially the same report as last year and the year before. As noted above, the MMR is supposed to provide us with an annual report on how city services "are affecting the lives of New Yorkers." Knowing the number of traffic signals fixed and the time to do the repairs doesn't meet that mandate. This is a measurement of DOT's internal function. The London comparison is apt, I think, because we see a city transpo agency that is setting real public policy goals and measuring their progress towards those goals. And, Jeffrey, who says the MMR is supposed to be nothing more than a top-line accounting ("analysis" is too generous) of city agency operations? That's not what the City Charter says its supposed to be. OK, Lee. DOT tweaked some of the categories a little bit this year. Whoopee. This is still essentially the same report as last year and the year before.

As noted above, the MMR is supposed to provide us with an annual report on how city services "are affecting the lives of New Yorkers." Knowing the number of traffic signals fixed and the time to do the repairs doesn't meet that mandate. This is a measurement of DOT's internal function. The London comparison is apt, I think, because we see a city transpo agency that is setting real public policy goals and measuring their progress towards those goals.

And, Jeffrey, who says the MMR is supposed to be nothing more than a top-line accounting ("analysis" is too generous) of city agency operations? That's not what the City Charter says its supposed to be.

]]> By: Jeffrey Hyman http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/02/21/the-new-dot-is-still-using-the-old-measuring-stick/comment-page-1/#comment-44804 Jeffrey Hyman Thu, 21 Feb 2008 17:41:10 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/02/21/the-new-dot-is-still-using-the-old-measuring-stick/#comment-44804 I agree with lee; one report studies 22 square kilometres and the other provides a top-line analysis of the entire city of New York. I agree with lee; one report studies 22 square kilometres and the other provides a top-line analysis of the entire city of New York.

]]> By: Spud Spudly http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/02/21/the-new-dot-is-still-using-the-old-measuring-stick/comment-page-1/#comment-44802 Spud Spudly Thu, 21 Feb 2008 16:58:29 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/02/21/the-new-dot-is-still-using-the-old-measuring-stick/#comment-44802 Isn't the average time it takes to fix a traffic light something more than a "car-oriented metric?" Isn't every single person who is being transported on the surface of NYC in any manner at all dependent on traffic lights in a major way? Isn't the average time it takes to fix a traffic light something more than a "car-oriented metric?" Isn't every single person who is being transported on the surface of NYC in any manner at all dependent on traffic lights in a major way?

]]> By: Ben Fried http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/02/21/the-new-dot-is-still-using-the-old-measuring-stick/comment-page-1/#comment-44801 Ben Fried Thu, 21 Feb 2008 16:53:56 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/02/21/the-new-dot-is-still-using-the-old-measuring-stick/#comment-44801 Thanks Red. Having great editors sure helps. Thanks Red. Having great editors sure helps.

]]> By: lee http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/02/21/the-new-dot-is-still-using-the-old-measuring-stick/comment-page-1/#comment-44800 lee Thu, 21 Feb 2008 16:51:42 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/02/21/the-new-dot-is-still-using-the-old-measuring-stick/#comment-44800 the same old measuring stick, used for the first time this year. It is interesting that the page image you show from the MMR uses measurements that are all entirely new to the report this year (page60.) It's only deja vu if you are from the future. Also comparing the MMR to a report solely designed to assess congestion pricing results is not a fair comparison. Especially since the DOT does not operate buses. If you want those stats go look at the MTA reports. http://mta.info/mta/ind-perform/per-nyct.htm the same old measuring stick, used for the first time this year.

It is interesting that the page image you show from the MMR uses measurements that are all entirely new to the report this year (page60.) It's only deja vu if you are from the future.

Also comparing the MMR to a report solely designed to assess congestion pricing results is not a fair comparison. Especially since the DOT does not operate buses. If you want those stats go look at the MTA reports. http://mta.info/mta/ind-perform/per-nyct.htm

]]> By: Red http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/02/21/the-new-dot-is-still-using-the-old-measuring-stick/comment-page-1/#comment-44799 Red Thu, 21 Feb 2008 16:44:42 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/02/21/the-new-dot-is-still-using-the-old-measuring-stick/#comment-44799 Ben Fried has been doing a great job. Good pickup, Streetsblog. Ben Fried has been doing a great job. Good pickup, Streetsblog.

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