EXAMPLES OF MISSION STATEMENTS FOR ROAD ADMINISTRATIONS

Source: Richard Robinson. (prepared June 2004)

Note that the distinction between mission statements and objectives is not always made in
existing policy documents of road administrations. Nevertheless, the following are examples of
‘policy statements’ from different road administrations.

Example 1

The overall objectives of the road transport sub-sector are derived from the urgent need for
overall socio-economic development of the country. This requires that the transport needs of the
productive, social and administrative sectors, and the public at large should be catered for. More
specifically, the sub-sector’s development efforts should seek to achieve the following objectives:

i) improving transport operating efficiency and reducing road transport costs for both freight
and passengers so as to encourage production, distribution and export

ii) providing access to rural, and other neglected and food deficit areas to support efficient
production, exchange and distribution throughout the country; and to expedite the
utilisation of the vast natural resources of [country] which are unexploited. Attention is
drawn to the need to decrease the extent of use of the slow and burdensome modes of
rural transport which consume a considerable portion of the time of rural households, and
leave little time for productive activities, by providing the required infrastructure and
transport services; and

iii) developing institutional capacity of the road sub-sector at central and regional levels

Example 2

[The road administration] will be:

a) A Road Authority responsible for public roads which provides to the road users safe,
convenient and economical travel conditions

b) A Production Organisation, which

• implements road management services ordered by the Government

• manages and evaluates its activities using indicators of productivity and business
economics

• conducts business activities, such as consulting services and contracting

• utilises net budgeting to the fullest extent

• may borrow money to finance its activities

• decides on its own production programmes

Example 3
The highway system will be maintained and operated in a manner such that:

• Comfort, convenience and safety are afforded to the public

• The investment in highways, bridges and appurtenances is preserved

• The aesthetics and compatibility of the highway system with the environment is
preserved

• The necessary expenditure of resources is accomplished with continuing

emphasis on economy

Example 4

The Ministry will aim to:

• Preserve the investments already made in the existing highways infrastructure

• Stimulate increased socio-economic development of the country

• Achieve effective utilisation of the existing highway system

• Provide increased rural employment through the use of labour-based methods

• Provide safer highways

Example 5

To provide an integrated, well-managed, viable and sustainable transport infrastructure meeting

national and regional goals into the 21st century, in order to establish a coherent base to promote
accessibility and the safe, reliable, effective and efficient movement of people, goods and
services.

Example 6

The role of [the road administration] is:

• to be the national road management authority, with the responsibility for

planning, design, construction and maintenance of the national road network

• to take overall, national responsibility for road traffic safety

• to take national responsibility in the road transportation sector for an

environmentally sustainable transport system

• to take national responsibility for questions concerning all commercial and

international road transport; and

• to be the Government’s expert authority on matters concerning public road

transport
Example 7

The [ministry] has formulated the following medium term network policy for main roads:

• The provision of an efficient, safe and sustainable main road network as a support
for accelerated integrated development and consolidation of peace and national
unity

• The development of a local construction industry as a measure of ensuring a

sustainable road network

Example 8

The [minister’s] strategic aim is to ensure that this country has the modern transport system it needs to
achieve sustainable economic growth:

• with as little adverse impact as possible on the environment

• in ways that ensure personal safety and give customers freedom of choice; and

• at a cost it can afford

The [minister’s] priorities are to:

• Reduce still further the adverse impact of transport on the environment and to encourage a
wider national debate on how this is to achieved by

¾ continuing with efforts to reduce traffic-related air pollution

¾ further developing the tools available to local authorities to reduce transport demand

• Maintain and improve standards of safety and security in transport by:

¾ reducing the number of road accidents in which people, particularly children, are killed
or injured

• Harness private finance and private sector project management skills for transport
projects by:

¾ letting contracts for the first eight road schemes to be designed, built, financed and
operated by the private sector

• Improve efficiency of the [ministry] by:

¾ delivering a 20% efficiency gain; and

¾ paying 95% of bills within 30 days

Within these overall strategic objectives are particular objectives for each transport mode. The
specific objectives for roads are to:
 • assist economic growth, efficiency and competitiveness by providing an efficient
road network

• conserve and enhance the environment by striking a balance between any

environmental loss associated with the construction or improvement of roads and the
overall benefits

• enhance road safety by building safer roads, securing improvement in the safety of
vehicles and encouraging better behaviour both by drivers and other road users; and

• maintain and manage the road network in a cost effective manner, making the best
use of existing roads

Example 9

The [ministry’s] strategic objectives are reflected in the overall aim of the [road administration] which
is:

• to secure the delivery of an efficient, reliable, safe and environmentally acceptable

trunk road network in [country]

The [road administration’s] over-arching objective is to make the most efficient use of the motorway
and trunk road network. The key objectives which underpin this are to:

• provide the best possible service to road users and those affected by roads

• manage the new construction and maintenance programmes to secure the best value
of money within the Government’s overall strategy for trunk roads

• contribute to the Government’s target of reducing road casualties by one third by the
year 2000 (compared with the annual average from 1981 to 1985)

• give full weight to both the environmental and economic costs and benefits
associated with the use, construction and maintenance of trunk roads and to strike a
balance accordingly; and

• to improve the efficiency of the [road administration] year on year

The [minister] has also set the [road administration] the following key tasks in support of the strategic
objectives:

• deliver the programme of trunk road schemes to time and cost

• reduce the average time taken to deliver trunk road schemes

• maintain the trunk road network cost effectively by delivery year on year of a structural
maintenance programme; and

• improve the information supplied to road users through improved signing and better
information about road works
Example 10

The paramount objective of the transport sector is to ensure an efficient transport system of adequate
standard to all parts of the country and transit links to neighbouring countries, within acceptable limits
of safety, efficiency and convenience, in order to meet present and future demands of the economy, as
well as helping other economic sectors to reach their targets.

Ancillary to this main objective, other policy issues for the transport sector include the promotion of:
economic efficiency; economic growth; better utilisation of existing resources (particularly energy);
an equitable distribution of wealth; the efficient use of human resources; improved quality of
transport services; the protection of life and property; international trade and co-operation; national
security and disaster relief.