Step 5: Monitor & Evaluate

5.1 Evaluate Monitoring Plan Results

The timeline for the evaluation of monitoring plan results will depend on the objectives of the monitoring plan, which in turn depend upon the performance measures tied to the objectives identified in Step 1.3. At a minimum, an annual report is desirable because of the funding schedules of most DOT's and natural resource agencies.

It is likely that some objectives will be met and others will not. For those that are met, it is to the benefit of the public that these successes be documented and distributed in an appropriate manner. If the monitoring plan included a rigorous scientific study plan, including a before-after comparison, the results can be published in a peer-reviewed article. Presentations are desirable at such widely attended conferences such as the International Conference on Ecology and Transportation and the annual meeting of the Transportation Research Board. Involving the media such as television and newspapers can generate public support for future projects.

A well designed monitoring plan will also identify objectives that were not met. In this case, it is possible to re-evaluate earlier decisions and reconsider options. Further, as our information grows from multiple projects, innovative new approaches may be available after planning that were not available at the time mitigation measures were chosen.