Performance Measures

Introduction

Roads are a vital part of our integrated transport network that ensure the smooth running of our daily lives while making a valuable contribution to the economy. Reliable and accessible transport infrastructure is a cornerstone for socioeconomic progress. Our roads are essential in connecting rail, sea, air and inland port facilities to their markets. They enable productivity, growth, reduce journey times and costs, create jobs and connect people and places. We use performance measurement to gain insight into, and make judgements about, the effectiveness and efficiency of the services we provide. Our performance measures are integrated within an evaluation and reporting process that is reviewed monthly by our Leadership team.

Alignment with Government Goals

We contribute towards three goals identified by the Western Australian Government achieved through a service-based outcome approach. The following table identifies the six services that drive our outcomes to deliver road related services to our customers.

Following are key effectiveness and efficiency indicators that measure the extent of impact and success in the delivery and use of resources to provide our services.

Understanding our Measures

The report begins with a summary of our service outcomes and measures for each indicator showing the trend over time and the current year results against the State Budget Papers. Following this is a narrative on each of the efficiency and effectiveness indicators for the six outcome-based services. There have been no changes to the approaches or methodology underpinning our measures this year. The following information gives an overview of the approach taken for two of the more prominent measures featured in this report.

Community Perception

Four of the measures are derived from an annual Community Perceptions Survey that reflects the satisfaction levels of our customers across the state. An external research company collected the data by way of online interviews, social media interviews and a small number of computer-assisted telephone interviews (CATI) using a developed structured questionnaire.

The population for the purpose of the research is all Western Australian residents 17 years of age and over. A sample of 709 residents from rural areas (100+ respondents from each region) and 638 residents from the Perth metropolitan area were surveyed. A stratified random sample is taken from the population ensuring that each person is given equal opportunity of being selected. The total sample of 1,347 produced a sampling precision of +/- 2.67 per cent at the 95 per cent confidence interval. We are 95 per cent confident that the results would be within +/-2.67 per cent should a census of the population be undertaken.

In each case, respondents had the opportunity to rate Main Roads' performance as terrible, poor, okay, good or excellent in terms of road safety, providing cycleway and pedestrian facilities, road maintenance and overall performance. The reported results represent only the total of okay, good and excellent ratings.

On Time and On Cost

Eight of our efficiency measures are based on reporting against the delivery of our contracts in terms of time and cost. To recognise the complexity of achieving this and consistent with approaches taken in other road agencies, all reporting against these measures includes a 10 per cent margin when calculating the outcome. A target of 90 per cent has been established for each of the On Time and On Cost measures based on what is an acceptable outcome considering risk and the variable nature of delivering road contracts. A result within the target range indicates that internal processes and procedures are appropriate, working well and deployed, while a result below, warrants further investigation to determine if there are any underlying systemic issues.

Summary of Key Performance Measures and Outcomes

Road Safety

Outcome: Providing a safe road Environment

This service seeks to reduce the state's road fatality rate to the lowest in Australia by minimising road factors contributing to road trauma and reducing the serious crash injury rate. We demonstrate this through the following measures:

Effectiveness indicators

Community Satisfaction with Road Safety

This indicator represents how satisfied the community is with Main Roads' overall performance in road safety. Main Roads exceeded the target for the fourth year in a row with 91 per cent of participants rating Main Roads okay or better. Several regions improved this year, with Wheatbelt achieving its best result in five years, up seven per cent from 2021 to 78 per cent.

Black Spot Location Indicator

The indicator gives a measure of the number of locations on the road network that meet state black spot (high risk locations) criteria based on an analysis of crash history. The measure uses a sliding window to determine whether the number of locations eligible for funding is increasing or decreasing, considering the amount of travel in the state. Broadly, the decrease in the recorded crash data appears to be a contributing factor in the reduction of the total qualifying locations over time, as well as the flattening of traffic volume since 2017. This corresponds with a more gradual, flattened reduction in Black Spot qualifying Locations per 100MVKT from 2018 onwards.

Efficiency Indicators

Percentage of Contracts Completed on Time

This indicator represents the percentage of contracts delivered on time in the Road Safety Service. The result achieved was 72 per cent against a target of 90 per cent with 18 of the 64 eligible contracts not delivered within the expected period. Of these three requests for variation of contract period remains under negotiation while seven contracts were delayed due to inclement weather and because of issues with service relocation. Of the remaining contracts two were late because of poor contractor performance, two were impacted by resourcing and supply chain issues and four had changes to design that did not result in extensions of time being granted. The result is an improvement on the previous year.

Percentage of Contracts Completed on Budget

This indicator represents the percentage of contracts delivered on budget in the Road Safety Service. Of the 64 eligible contracts there were two that were not on budget, one request for variation remains in negotiation while the other incurred additional costs because of issues with underground services. The result is above the target of 90 per cent.

Road Safety Efficiency and Road System Management

Outcome: Reliable and Efficient Movement of people and Goods

The Efficiency Service seeks to improve the efficiency, capacity and utilisation of the existing road network while the Road System Management Service seeks to optimise real-time management of the network, provide traveller information, asset management planning and to support service delivery throughout the organisation. Together these services contribute to achieving the outcome. We demonstrate this through the following measures:

Effectiveness Indicators

Community Satisfaction

This indicator represents how satisfied the community is with Main Roads, overall performance in the management and operation of the state road network. The rating decreased slightly this year with 89 per cent of survey respondents rating Main Roads' performance as okay or better. Two regions exceeded the 90 per cent target with South West experiencing a significant improvement to achieve a four year high of 96 per cent.

Road Network Permitted for use by Heavy Freight Vehicles

This indicator relates to the efficient movement of goods within Western Australia and the percentage of available state roads accessed by the following types of vehicles; B-Doubles, Double road trains and Triple road trains. The use of larger vehicles with heavy loads can increase the overall efficiency of freight transport operations, resulting in lower transport costs. However to maintain road safety and guard against infrastructure damage, restrictions are placed on some trucks. Because of the high efficiency of these vehicles, the proportion of roads accessible to them is a key factor in the overall efficiency of freight transport in our state. Over the past four years the trend has remained consistent with minor fluctuations attributed to changes in ownership of roads between state and local government.

Network Configuration - Roads

This indicator shows the percentage of travel undertaken on roads meeting specific criteria for seal width, carriageway width and curve rating. The indicator gives a measure of the ability of Main Roads to plan for and maintain roads to desirable standards. In 2021-22, 94 per cent of travel was undertaken on roads meeting the seal width, carriageway width and curve rating criteria, which is above the target of 92 per cent for that period. The results over the four-year period show a consistent, upward trend and demonstrate that Main Roads continues to plan and program works to improve roads that are below the criteria.

Network Configuration - Bridges

Like the roads measure, bridges are assessed for strength and width using agreed investigatory criteria. The monitoring of bridge strength and width needs to ensure a safe and efficient road network relating to improved access and transport efficiencies. These measures are indicators for the number of bridges that meet, or are above, the investigatory criteria, recorded as a percentage of the total number of bridges on main roads and highways. Bridges that do not meet the investigatory criteria for strength or width are considered in assessing, scoping and prioritising works, as part of the 10-year bridge strategy.

Strength - The results of this indicator show that 94 per cent of the bridges meet the agreed criteria for strength against a target of 94 per cent.

Width - In relation to width, 96 per cent of bridges meet the criteria against a target of 96 per cent.

Efficiency Indicators

Percentage of Contracts Completed on Time

This indicator represents the percentage of contracts delivered on time in the Road Efficiency Service. The result achieved was 68 per cent against a target of 90 per cent with seven of the 22 eligible contracts not delivered within the expected period of which two are still in progress. Of the remaining contracts, two have been delayed because of inclement weather, two are because of poor contractor performance and one was delayed due to concurrent activities within the reseal worksite.

Percentage of Contracts Completed on Budget

This indicator represents the percentage of contracts that were delivered on budget in the Road Efficiency Service. Only two of the 22 eligible contracts were not on budget, with one being due to a change in scope and the other impacted by inclement weather. The result for this service at 91 per cent is above the target.

Average Cost of Network Management

This indicator measures the financial efficiency of the Road System Management program in terms of cost per million vehicle kilometres travelled to manage the road system. To compare current figures with previous years, all figures have been adjusted and reported in terms of current year's dollars. In respect of the current year, the result of $6,701 per million vehicle kilometres travelled is higher than the target of $5,450. In response to continued economic recovery there continues to be an increase in project planning and development not originally factored whe Price Index.

State Development

Outcome: Facilitating economic and regional development

This service expands the road network in accordance with state and Commonwealth transport and land use strategies that will facilitate the economic and regional development of the state. We demonstrate this through the following measures:

Effectiveness indicators

Return on Construction Expenditure

New roads and bridge construction adds to the capacity of the road network. Return on Construction Expenditure is based on Benefit Cost Ratio (BCR) estimates of a set of projects undertaken each year. It indicates the extent to which road and bridge construction expenditure will deliver future economic benefits to the community. This indicator represents the expenditure weighted BCR for the State Development Service and Road Efficiency Service for which a BCR has been calculated. The result exceeds the target with an expenditure weighted average result of 2.91 against the target of 2.78.

Efficiency Indicators

Percentage of Contracts Completed on Time

This indicator represents the percentage of contracts delivered on time in the State Development Service. There are no contracts over budget for this service therefore the result achieved was 100 per cent, exceeding the 90 per cent target.

Percentage of Contracts Completed on Budget

This indicator represents the percentage of contracts delivered on budget in the State Development Service. There are no contracts over budget for this service therefore the result achieved was 100 per cent, exceeding the 90 per cent target.

Road Maintenance

Outcome: Providing a well-maintained road network

This service seeks to maintain the existing road and bridge network by maximising asset life and minimising whole of life costs. We demonstrate this through the following measures:

Effectiveness indicators

Community Satisfaction of Road Maintenance

This indicator represents how satisfied the community is with Main Roads' overall performance in the maintenance of the state road network. 85 per cent of survey participants rate our performance as okay or better. Regionally, Mid West-Gascoyne, South West and Wheatbelt all experienced large improvements on 2021, up seven, nine and eight per cent respectively.

Preventative Maintenance Indicator

The Preventative Maintenance Indicator provides a measure of the proportion of sealed state road network that has a surfacing age younger than its optimal target age. The indicator provides a measure of proactive maintenance undertaken on the network annually. Sections of the network with a surfacing age younger than the target age are classified as 'good'. This year the analysis shows that 86 per cent of the network is 'good', which exceeds the target of 85 per cent. The 2021-22 result exceeds the established target for the second consecutive year.

Smooth Travel Exposure

This indicator is based on the percentage of travel undertaken on the state road network meeting specific roughness criteria. However given that we only complete a survey of the network once every two years this year is a non-reporting period. The next result will be available and reported as at 30 June 2023.

Efficiency Indicators

Average Cost of Network Maintenance Per Lane Kilometre of Road Network

This indicator identifies the financial efficiency of road and roadside maintenance works by showing the cost per lane kilometre to maintain acceptable travel conditions on state roads. In determining the cost basis expenditure on structures and infrastructure depreciation has been excluded. To compare current figures with previous years all figures have been adjusted and reported in terms of current year's dollars which can influence the trend result. The inclusion of reseal, rehabilitation and natural disasters makes this KPI sensitive to additional budget being made available to address flood damage and maintenance backlog. This year's result shows a variance against the target with the result being higher than estimated.

Community Access

Outcome: Improving community access and roadside amenity

This service seeks to provide infrastructure that will increase personal mobility and community access. We demonstrate this through the following measures:

Effectiveness indicators

Unplanned Road Closure on the State Road Network

Ideally all Main Roads' sealed road network is available to all road users however there are unplanned road closures for reasons including flooding, cyclones, bushfires and major road crashes. The availability of the sealed road network is measured as a percentage of calendar days that the whole network is available to the road user. Closure is determined by measuring the number of whole days (24 hours commencing from the time the road is closed) that any section of the sealed road network in Western Australia is closed. This year the road network was available 87 per cent of the year, which is below the target of 95 per cent. This was due to a major bushfire in the Boranup area, significant flooding resulting from a Tropical Low across the Kimberley Region and other flooding events across Pilbara and Kimberley regions during the wet season.

Community Satisfaction with Cycleways and Pedestrian Facilities

This indicator represents how satisfied the community is Main Roads' performance in the construction, maintenance and management of cycleways and pedestrian facilities. 88 per cent of survey participants rated our performance as okay or better this year, coming in just under our target. The Metropolitan region continues to achieve the highest result for this indicator, although the Wheatbelt region did see a seven per cent improvement on their 2021 result.

Efficiency Indicators

Percentage of Contracts Completed on Time

This indicator represents the percentage of contracts delivered on time in the Community Access Service. Of the 13 eligible contracts seven were not on time, with four being due to a change in scope, one impacted by supply chain issues, one by inclement weather and one because of issues gaining service relocation approvals. The 46 per cent result for this service is below the target.

Percentage of Contracts Completed on Budget

This indicator represents the percentage of contracts delivered on budget in the Community Access Service. Of the 13 eligible contracts two were not on budget with one being due to supply chain issues and the other because of additional sealing works being undertaken in which a variation is under consideration but not yet approved. The result for this service at 85 per cent is below the target.