Transportation Commissions as Accountability Structures

As of 2004, 36 of the 50 states had created, by statute, some type of external body (such as boards or commissions) to work with their departments of transportation (DOTs). The authors review the authorizing statutes that establish these boards and commissions to identify their statutorily defined responsibilities and attributes. From the literature on governance structures and accountability, three propositions are derived about their likely structure and roles. The authors propose that commissions are designed to (a) ensure broader stakeholder representation, (b) possess oversight roles and responsibilities relevant to resource allocation, and (c) encourage more open discussion and public involvement. The content analysis of the statutes and interviews with DOT officials and commission members provide support for the propositions.