THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
Performance Agreement
between
The President of the United States
William Jefferson Clinton
and
The Secretary of Transportation
Federico Pena
The American people deserve a government that works better and costs less. The departments and agencies of the Federal Government hold a vital key to improving performance and to restoring the faith of the American people in their government. Many changes will need to take place for this broad goal to be realized. The purpose of these agreements is to establish clarity and consensus about the priorities for departmental performance. We are committed to making the Department of Transportation work better and cost less. This agreement provides a clear expression of priorities that were developed in collaboration with every operating administration within the Department, and indicates how the Department will meet the needs and expectations of the American people.
This agreement reflects the major multi-year objectives developed by the Secretary and his senior managers as well as specific performance measures to be accomplished in Fiscal Year 1994. It also describes delegations of functions by the President of the United States to support the achievement of these objectives.
The Secretary commits to accomplish the following:
Goal 1: "Tie America together" through an effective intermodal transportation system.
Objective: Achieve a national transportation system that integrates all modes; emphasizes connections (e.g. sea to port, port to rail, airport to transit, transit to commuter rail); promotes choices and coordination of transportation services; and positions this country as an effective economic competitor in the global market.
Objective: Support the airline, maritime, and passenger rail industries through implementation of the Administration's proposed initiatives.
Goal 2: Invest strategically in transportation infrastructure in order to increase productivity, stimulate the economy, and create jobs.
Objective: Work to complete what we have started and to repair what is broken on time and within budget.
Objective: Ensure that new projects strengthen the national and regional economies and support and encourage noneconomic benefits such as reduced congestion, increased efficiency, and enhanced safety.
Goal 3: Create a new alliance between the Nation's transpor- tation and technology industries to make both industries more efficient and globally competitive.
Objective: Accelerate technological advancements to make our transportation system more efficient, environmentally sound, and safe.
Objective: Promote further development and exportation of transportation technology.
Goal 4: Promote safe and secure transportation.
Objective: Significantly reduce the rate of deaths and injuries that occur on our transportation system.
Objective: Minimize the dangers to communities and industry associated with the transportation of goods.
Goal 5: Actively enhance our environment through wise transportation decisions.
Objective: Harmonize transportation policies and investments with environmental concerns.
Objective: Provide leadership by our own example by implementing environmentally friendly solutions in pursuing the Department's daily activities.
Goal 6: Put people first in our transportation system by making it relevant and accessible to users.
Objective: Put consumers and the travelling public first.
Objective: Ensure that transportation policies and investments embrace the concerns of the travelling public, neighborhoods, economic development interests, and other societal concerns.
Goal 7: Transform the Department of Transportation by empowering employees in a new team effort to achieve the Department's goals.
Objective: Listen to our customers, both internal and external, and provide them with the quality services that they want.
Objective: Cultivate a responsive work ethic which rewards those who get the job done.
To measure progress against the above objectives, the Secretary has committed the Department to accomplishing specific measurable results. Those specific measures for Fiscal Year 1994 are described in Annex A.
To maintain focus and a sense of urgency, and to have a real impact on performance, the Department will hold periodic reviews of progress and discussions of difficulties encountered, and will make course corrections. Progress reviews will be held by the President and/or his designees and the Department of Transportation officials and, with greater frequency, within the Department.
In order to accomplish the objectives and measures described above during Fiscal Year 1994, the Secretary asks to be provided with the following specific authorities and commitments consistent with all applicable laws:
Expedited and regardful review by OMB of significant
agency action that directly accomplishes objectives contained in
this agreement within Administration policy.
This agreement will remain in effect until modified. It is expected that it will be updated annually to reflect significant changes in budget, policy, personnel or other factors that may affect our goals and our ability to accomplish these objectives.
This agreement is intended only to improve the internal management of the Executive Branch and is not intended to and does not create any right to administrative or judical review, or to any other right, benefit or trust responsibility, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or equity by a party against the United States, its agencies or instrumentalities, its officers or employees or any other person.
This agreement reflects our joint commitment to creating a Department of Transportation that works better and costs less and fulfills our sacred trust to the American people.
Federico Pena William J. Clinton Secretary President of the United States
Department of Transportation