A preliminary literature review at the commencement of this project indicated that the vast majority of the required information and data to complete this project would need to be obtained directly from Canadian transportation agencies. Consequently, a survey of federal, provincial and municipal transportation agencies has been the key component of the study. Agency surveys have been carried out using a network of regional representatives stationed in all major Canadian geographical regions. To maximize the efficiency of the survey, ARA developed a comprehensive survey package consisting of the survey questionnaires and procedures, and carried out pilot surveys, before launching the detailed agency surveys. This chapter describes the survey design, the contents of the survey questionnaires, and outlines the results of the survey.
Survey Design
The survey design utilized a network of four regional representatives stationed in four major regions of the country:
• Atlantic Canada;
• Québec;
• Ontario; and
• Western Canada and Prairies.
The ARA regional representatives are professional engineers, with extensive experience in highway engineering, that live and work in the regions. They have been able to establish rapport with the representatives of key provincial and municipal transportation agencies in their regions, and are familiar with local highway technology.
The survey procedure included the following steps:
1. Development of a summary list of survey data items. Based on the objectives of the study, ARA developed a comprehensive list of all data items that needed to be obtained through the surveys.
Considering the reluctance of people to spend time responding to external surveys, the list was scrutinized to ensure that it contains only essential data items.
2. Development of survey package. Data items were grouped into three separate provincial survey questionnaires and one municipal survey questionnaire. The three provincial survey
questionnaires were an investment questionnaire, road inventory questionnaire, and a unit cost questionnaire. The grouping was designed to ensure that each questionnaire could be addressed by one specific respondent or an organizational unit within an agency.
3. Preparation of the list of agencies to survey. The objective of this task was to survey all provincial and territorial transportation agencies and approximately 20 municipalities representing both large and small communities in all regions of the country. The survey list included not only the names of the agencies, but also the names of specific agency
representatives.
4. Pilot testing. Pilot testing of the survey package was carried out to ensure that survey questions were unequivocal and practical.
5. Review and approval of survey package. The survey package was submitted for review and approval to Transport Canada. Full-scale survey work was carried out after the survey package was pilot-tested and approved.
6. Survey administration. The survey questionnaires were sent to specific representatives of transportation agencies rather than to an agency address. Often, the intended recipient of the survey was contacted in advance of sending the survey questionnaires to ensure that the right recipient (and potential respondent) had been selected, and to introduce the survey. The survey questionnaires also included an introductory letter prepared by Transport Canada and a document explaining the purpose of the survey. The mailing of questionnaires was followed by telephone calls and/or personal visits to obtain responses. Survey responses were acknowledged and in may instances followed by clarifying questions. The survey administration was the responsibility of the appropriate regional representatives. The regional representatives also notified the provincial members the Transport Canada Full Cost Investigation Task Force about survey activities in their provinces.
7. Data recording and analysis. All survey data were tabulated and analysed. Survey results are presented in the subsequent chapters.
Survey Package
In order to provide a customized (province and municipality-specific) survey package, a model survey package, intended for distribution to provincial and municipal transportation agencies, was originally developed for Ontario. The model package was then customized by the regional representatives for other provinces and territories to reflect local provincial and municipal conditions. The model survey package is given in Appendix A.
The model survey package consists of four individual survey packets:
• Provincial Investment Survey;
• Provincial Highway Inventory Survey;
• Provincial Cost Survey; and
• Municipal Survey.
The use of the individual packets was necessary because the different survey packets were directed to different survey respondents within the agencies. In many cases, the four survey packets were further subdivided and sent to different respondents. For example, one part of the Provincial Highway Inventory Survey packet was sent to a respondent responsible for road inventory and the second part to a respondent responsible to bridge inventory.
Table 1 provides a brief description of the model survey package, including information on the administration of the surveys, the description of the individual survey packets, and size of the survey packets.
In addition to the surveys that were part of the survey package, ARA has also carried out an extensive literature review, an internet search of databases posted by Canadian transportation agencies, and consulted many individual experts regarding specific topics. The topics for which additional expert advice was obtained included the cost of winter maintenance, grading (earth work) quantities, and the use of fencing along roadways.
Table 1. Main Components of the Model Survey Package
The response rate was at least 83 percent for provincial surveys and 60 percent for municipal surveys (Table 2). These response rates are unusually high considering the demanding nature of the surveys and response rates achieved by others. For example, a recent survey of 545 Canadian municipalities (with population of 5,000 people or more) achieved the response rate of 12 percent [1]. The response rate of Ontario municipalities, achieved by the Ontario Roads Coalition, was about 20 percent [2].
Table 2. Response Rate for Surveys Provincial Expenditure Survey 12 10 83%
Provincial Highway Inventory Survey 12 11 92%
Provincial Cost Survey 12 11 92%
Municipal Survey 25 15 60%
The list of agencies and their representatives that have received the survey is presented in Appendix B.
Survey results are presented in different chapters of the report as summarized in Table 3. All survey responses were inventoried and were submitted to Transport Canada.
Table 3. Presentation of Survey Results
Type of Survey Data Chapter No.
Road inventory, age of pavements and bridges 4
Traffic volumes 5
Unit costs of road infrastructure materials 8 Pavement preservation strategies and costs 7
Routine maintenance costs 8
Winter maintenance costs 8