Ricky Vara

Audience Analysis

Audience and Purpose

Who is the primary audience for your report?

The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) is the primary audience.

Who are two secondary audiences for your report?

Two secondary audiences would be the Washington State Transportation Commission
(WSTC) and the governor of Washington State Jay Inslee.

What is your relationship with the primary audience?

The WSDOTs mission is ensuring that people and goods move safely and efficiently.
("Washington State Department of Transportation") I am someone who is a part of
Washington States transportation system.

What is the purpose of the document?

My purpose is to propose that the WSDOT add Wenatchee Valley to its high speed rail
route. Currently there is a high speed route but it goes around Wenatchee.

How would the primary audience use the document?

The primary audience would use the document to see that a high speed rail route
passing through Wenatchee would be valuable to accomplishing their mission and to
show that a high speed rail system is in demand.

What is the primary audiences knowledge level and technical background in

relation to the ideas in the report?
The primary audience is very familiar with the ideas in the report. According to the
WSDOT website they have recently accomplished 14 high speed rail projects.

What is the primary audiences prior knowledge about this topic?

The WSDOT has a rail and freight division which is in control of passenger amtrak trains
and freight trains. The program was started in 1994, so they have 20 plus years of
experience.

What information does the primary audience need in order to order to fully
understand your report?
In order for the WSDOT to fully understand my report they need to understand that
having a high speed rail system pass through Wenatchee would benefit Washington
 Ricky Vara

State. A few other students in class also suggest that Wenatchee is inconveniently
located and would benefit from quicker travel time.

Are there any cultural considerations that you need to keep in mind?
By adding a high speed rail route that passes through Wenatchee it may be important to
consider how the project would be funded and possible effects on our environment.

What are some of the probable questions the primary audience will have after
reading your report?
The WSDOT may ask if the cost of building a high speed rail system in Wenatchee is
financially worth it. They may also ask how this project will be funded.

Audiences Probable Attitude and Personality

What is the primary audiences attitude toward the topic?

The primary audiences attitude toward this topic is positive. The WSDOT already has a
goal that they have set out to accomplish which includes making Washington State
amtraks more frequent and reliable.

What are some of the probable objections the primary audience will have?
One probable objection the primary audience will have is that this proposed project
doesnt fit exactly into their current goal. Specifically their goal wishes to improve the
frequency and reliability of amtraks along the I-5. And Wenatchee isnt along the I-5.

What is the primary audiences probable attitude towards you as a writer?

If I am able to write a good proposal that used correct information and display that I
have done research on this topic the primary audiences attitude towards me should be
positive.

What is the organizational climate of the primary audience?

The WSDOT appears to be a organization that is open to change. According to their
website they often conduct research to see which stops are needed and which arent.
The WSDOT also has a contact page which allows you to get into contact with several
different people including general inquires and a marketing manager.

Who will be the people most affected by the project and your report?
People living along Washington State Highway U.S. 2 will be most affected by the
project.
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What is the primary audiences probable reaction to your report?

The primary audiences probable reaction could vary; however, if a high enough
demand is show than the WSDOT may decided to take action.

Audience Expectations About the Document

What kinds of source material will the primary audience like to see?
The WSDOT would want to see surveys and data showing that a high speed rail system
passing through Wenatchee would be in demand.

What are some potential problems that your report may cause for the primary
audience?
Some potential problems are that the WSDOT may feel that the report doesnt have
enough information to move forward with a plan.

About how long and detailed should your report be for this audience?
Seeing how the primary audience is very well informed on how this project would work I
wouldnt need to spend any time explaining that to them. This proposal should be
simple in detail and not very long in length. As long as I am able to communicate what
the project is and express a need for such a system.

What is the ideal format and medium for this audience and report?
The ideal format would be a business appropriate proposal that is typed. The WSDOT
office is in Olympia so the proposal should be mailed to their office.

What kind of tone should you use in this document for this audience?
This proposal should have a positive and persuasive tone.

The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) is an

organization that has been around for many years. The WSDOT also cares a lot about
being able to safely and efficiently transport people. Having this in mind it is apparent
that my proposal is in favor of their current goals. Currently, only one train passes
through Wenatchee a day. It arrives in Wenatchee at 5:45 am and takes 4 hours to get
to Seattle. By car you can get to Seattle in less than 3 hours. So it is not time efficient to
take the train. By adding a high speed rail system the WSDOT would be able to
accomplish their goal of efficiently transporting people.
In order for the WSDOT to understand and agree with this proposal they first
need to understand that such a system is in demand. They should also see that this
project would be able to benefit them. The WSDOT is privately and publicly funded.
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Meaning they rely a lot on partnerships. I believe they would be able to secure
partnerships in Central Washington.
Knowing the possible problems with the proposal helps with coming up with
solutions. To show that the system is in need surveys could be taken. These surveys
would ask various questions asking how people currently get to Seattle and the average
time it takes. This data could be used to show that having a high speed rail system
would increase the efficiency of travelling across state. Data could also be arranged to
show how many car accidents occur on Washington State highway U.S. 2. This data
could be compared to how many accidents occur on the rail system. By doing this it
would show that riding the rail system is safer than driving. If my proposal is able to
arrange all this data correctly then the WSDOT can realize that my proposed project
and their current goals align. If they can see this connection then they will be more
willing to add a high speed rail system along WA highway U.S. 2.
 Ricky Vara

Works Cited

"Washington State Department of Transportation." WSDOT. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Feb.

2017. <http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/>.