4. Evaluation of specific initiatives and programs
Post-completion evaluation of individual initiatives may consist of reviews of:
- How successfully the initiative/program was managed
- Whether the initiative was well delivered (e.g. timeliness, within budget, within scope)
- How the initiative influenced key performance indicators
- How well were initiative-specific transport related objectives achieved
- Whether the initiative helped or hindered the process of pursuing agreed transport system objectives and targets
- Whether the identified problem has been resolved or reduced as a result of an initiative, and whether the selected initiative was an effective way to address the problem
- Whether the best option was selected
- How actual benefits compared to expected performance
- Whether there were any unintended outcomes and whether the outcomes achieved more or less than expected
- The extent to which forecasts in the CBA were realised (e.g. construction costs, operating costs, demand levels, accident rates, other benefits)
- How the decision to proceed with the initiative was made.
Post-completion evaluations can be undertaken at different stages following completion of an initiative. Depending on the time elapsed, the focus of the review will change and the findings and lessons learnt will differ. For example, early reviews (6 to 12 months) could focus on ensuring that operations are running smoothly and that no barriers exist for benefits achievement.
The post-completion evaluation may extend to a full ex-post CBA and may also extend to reviewing wider impact assessments, such as environmental, regional, family and other impacts.