What does quality of life mean to Minnesotans and how does transportation fit into that description? This research looks at these questions, as well as Minnesotans’ satisfaction with Mn/DOT programs and services and how this research can guide the development of Mn/DOT’s performance measures.

1. Understanding & Aligning
Transportation with Quality of Life
Ingrid E. Schneider, Ph.D., Tian Guo, M.S.
Karla Rains, MnDOT
June 12, 2013

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Quality of Life (QOL)

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Measures, scores, results, &
dashboards…
Oh my!

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Purpose: Connect QOL, transportation,
performance measures

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3 study methods
Literature
review
Focus groups Questionnaire

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Method 1, Literature review QOL

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Method 2, Focus groups
(n=29)

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Focus group results: 11 QOL areas

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Purpose: Connect QOL, transportation,
performance measures

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Focus group results:
7 separate transportation areas
• Access
• Design
• Environment
• Maintenance
• Mobility
• Safety
• Transparency (planning & communications)

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Method 3: Questionnaire
45% response rate
(mail survey)
4, 7 point scales +
Regression ,
importance/performance,
& forced choice

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Questionnaire results
preview

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Minnesotans’ satisfied with
Quality of Life

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Importance of QOL areas
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%
Rec and entertainment
Local services and amenities
Transportation
Spirituality faith and serenity
Education
Environment
Employment and finances
Housing
Family, friends and neighors
Safety and security
Health
Very unimportant Somewhat unimportant Slightly unimportant
Neither Slight important Somewhat important
Very important

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Importance of 5 QOL life areas differ
significantly across age groups

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Relationship among 11 QOL areas
Factor 1 Factor 2 Factor 3
Health Education Local services/
amenities
Spirituality, faith &
serenity
Family/friends Environment Recreation
Safety/security Employment
Housing
Transportation

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Focus group results: 7 transportation areas
• Access
• Design
• Environment
• Maintenance
• Mobility
• Safety
• Transparency (planning &
communications)

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All transportation areas are important

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8 out of 10 Minnesotans’ satisfied
with MnDOT services

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7 of 8 areas significant predictors of satisfaction with
MnDOT services
Satisfaction
with MnDOT
services
Accessibility
.13
Planning
.17
Design
.13
Safety
.11
Communication
.11
Mobility
.04
Maintenance
.27

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Four areas
identified as
‘good work’

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Maintenance quotes
• “Our snow and ice removal is remarkable.”
(Minneapolis)
• “We could do without potholes” (Willmar)
• “Does MnDOT check or compare how long roads
last? They just don’t seem to last as long as they
used to” (Rochester)
• “More funding to increase maintenance so fillings
don’t fall out when driving” (Brainerd)
• “How does asphalt compare to concrete?”
(Minneapolis)

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Maintenance: 5 significant predictors statewide
Keep road surface
smooth, .48
Satisfaction
with
maintenance
Road/pavement
makings clearly
visible, .12
Visual appeal of
roadsides, .08
Clearing roads of
debris, .07
Rest areas for
road trips, .05

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Maintenance: most important selected items
(identified by 10%+)
76
54
13 11 11
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
Clearing roads
of snow and ice
Keeping road
surfaces
smooth
Clearing
sidewalks of
snow and ice
Making
road/pavement
markings
clearly visible
Making
highway signs
clearly
readable
%ofrespondentscitedtheitemas
mostimportantenvironmentitem

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Important for Minnesota’s future?
Short term (5-10 years)
• Maintenance
• Access
• Safety
Next generation…
• Access
• Maintenance
• Safety

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Performance measure
considerations

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Existing
MnDOT
measure
Corresponding or
related items in
questionnaire
Available item that
significantly predicts
satisfaction with MnDOT
services & identified as
important
Traffic
fatalities
Perceived pedestrian safety
in community
Perceived pedestrian
safety in community
Perceived road safety
excluding other drivers
Perceived road safety with
other drivers
Perceived road safety
excluding other drivers
Perceived railroad crossing
safety
Perceived bike safety
considering design

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Purpose: Connect QOL, transport,
performance measures

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Next stop…
• Understand
– QOL
– MnDOT role
– Sharing results
– Performance
measures
considerations &
implementation
– Applying learning
to public outreach

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Incorporating Results
– Review of Service Satisfaction: Improvement Needs
• Maintenance: Road Smoothness aligns with Investment Strategy
– Corridor Investment Management Strategy [CIMS]
• Program works at a corridor level with other state agencies also
affecting users QOL [DEED, Health, Housing, Education, etc.]
– Performance Measurement
• Affirmed existing Annual Performance Report customer measures
• Added new measures: safety-based [modal fatalities], environment
– Education and Outreach
• Created public educational materials grounded in QOL learning
• Information used to communicate customer-defined value of
transportation [A to B video]

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Questions?
– Full reports
• www.tourism.umn.edu
• Literature review, Focus Groups, Questionnaire,
• Final report
– Contacts:
• ingridss@umn.edu; 612 624 4947
• Karla.Rains@state.mn.us; 651 366 3172