VDOT STATEWIDE CONFIDENCE MEASUREMENT STUDY

SPONSOR:

Virginia Department of Transportation

Contact: Lynda South, Office of Public Affairs

RESEARCH VENDOR:

Siddall, Matus and Coughter, Richmond, VA. Conducted: 2000

Contact: Karen Smith, Ph.D., at Southeastern Institute of Research, Inc.

Telephone: 804-358-8981

Email: KSmth@SIRResearch.com

OVERALL PURPOSE:

This research was designed to assess the overall imagery of VDOT among residents of the Commonwealth of Virginia to better understand the impact of VDOT communications on its imagery and assessment of its efforts. This research provided insight to VDOT management regarding the need to better understand its use of communications, the effectiveness and impact of its communications and the way in which VDOT manages and organizes communication efforts. Thus, this research led to an in-depth VDOT communications audit which was conducted in 2001.

OBJECTIVES OF RESEARCH:

Ž Measure perceptions of VDOT on having a plan for managing transportation needs across the state.

Ž Develop rating of VDOT on its management of transportation needs within specific local areas.

Ž Measure VDOT’s rating on management of construction projects.

Ž Measure VDOT’s effectiveness in alerting residents about road construction in their area.

Ž Determine the perception of management of VDOT as an organization.

METHODOLOGY:

Mode of Data Collection	Telephone survey
Completed Interviews	500 statewide
Survey Population	All heads of household in Virginia distributed across six geographic regions: Northern Virginia, Central Virginia, Tidewater, South Central Virginia, the Valley and Southwest Virginia.
Survey Instrument	Questionnaire administered by telephone interviewers.
Criteria for Participation	Male/female head of household residing within Virginia.

SELECTED KEY FINDINGS:

Ž VDOT was rated only moderately favorably for having a plan for managing transporta-tion needs across the state. On a scale of 1 to 10 where the higher the score the more favorable the rating, VDOT received a mean rating of 6.2 overall. Ratings varied considerably from region to region, however. The most favorable ratings were in South Central Virginia (6.6) and the Valley (6.7). Least favorable ratings were posted for Northern Virginia, 5.5.

Ž VDOT’s overall rating for its management of transportation needs within the respondent’s local area of residence was 6.1. Again, ratings varied from region to region. The most favorable rating for VDOT was posted for the Valley, 6.9. The least favorable ratings were posted for Northern Virginia (5.4) and South Central Virginia (5.5).

Ž Overall, VDOT was rated slightly lower for its management of construction projects – 5.9 mean score on a 10-point scale. VDOT’s most favorable rating was in the Valley (6.5). Its least favorable ratings for management of construction projects were in Tidewater (5.5) and Northern Virginia (5.6).

Ž Only about one-half (55%) of Virginia residents rated VDOT favorably in regard to the information it has provided about road construction in the resident’s local area. On a 4-point scale ranging from “very effective” to “very ineffective,” only 55% said VDOT’s communication was “effective” (“very” and “fairly”).

Ž For management as an organization, VDOT received a mean score of 6.4. It was rated most favorably in the Southwest (6.8) and the Valley (6.8) and least favorably in Tidewater (6.0).

AVAILABLE DOCUMENTS:

Questionnaire

Data Tables

KEY WORDS:

communications, communications audit, construction, management, imagery, information, transportation needs