The U.S. Department of Transportation recently launched two National On-line Dialogues to facilitate the implementation of Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21^st Century (MAP-21), the recently passed two-year transportation reauthorization bill. The dialogues focus on the use of performance measures in MAP-21 and freight policy. Both allow stakeholders and the public to submit comments or suggestions on the implementation of MAP-21. The performance measures dialogue focuses on the condition of the nation's roads and bridges, safety, congestion reduction and air quality improvement, freight movement, and transit. The freight dialogue focuses on measuring the condition and performance of the freight system, state freight planning, and elements of a national freight strategic plan. Those wishing to provide comments or suggestions must first register with the host website. The submission period runs from September 13-23, 2012.

In June 2012, CMAP posted a two-part series of Policy Updates on measuring and mitigating traffic congestion (Part I and Part II), one of the topics covered in the performance measures dialogue. Also, CMAP posted Policy Updates reviewing MAP-21's language on performance measures, as well as national freight policy, in August 2012. View this Issue Brief for CMAP's overall analysis of MAP-21.