DOT and Open Gov, let's talk transparency

The Obama Administration's Open Government Initiative emphasizes transparency, participation, and collaboration. We'll get to the latter two in coming weeks, but today I want to talk about how you can help DOT work toward better transparency.

The Memo from the President announcing his initiative states that:

"Transparency promotes accountability and provides information for citizens about what their Government is doing.  Information maintained by the Federal Government is a national asset. My Administration will take appropriate action, consistent with law and policy, to disclose information rapidly in forms that the public can readily find and use."

Now, as a former Congressman who worked in the House to keep agencies trim, I am absolutely on-board with the idea of better accountability. And I also appreciate the notion that information is a national asset, that it belongs to the American people.

So I am 100% ready to move DOT toward the "appropriate action" the President has called for.

And right now, as we formulate our Open Gov Strategic Plan in full public view, we are collecting ideas from the public about how to do just that.

The Open Government Directive connects transparency to the publication of "high-value" information. So if you have ideas about what information DOT should consider high-value, now is the time to share those ideas with us.

When the Directive talks about high-value, it refers to five criteria:

1. Information that can be used to increase agency accountability and responsiveness.
2. Information that improves public knowledge of the agency and its operations.
3. Information that furthers the core mission of the agency.
4. Information that create economic opportunity.
5. Information that responds to need and demand as identified by public consultation.

So, please, visit the page for our Open Gov strategic action plan, read that plan, and click on the "Share Your Idea!" link to let us know what information you think we should prioritize for publication.

DOT is pleased to serve many different constituents and stakeholders. From consumers and travelers, to state and local DOTs, to planners and researchers, to application developers and business owners, we're covering a lot of ground.

And each of you may be served by a different road to transparency. So, please, we need to hear from all of you. And soon.

Comments

[Michael E. Bailey]

Having government be more open is a great thing. It is also important that transportation involves many different constituencies and that what happens in one part of the transportation system will impact on what happens in the others. One of the things that would benefit the transportation system a great deal at state and local levels is to reintroduce the bill you introduced originally on April 15, 1999, as a Congressmember from Illinois--HR1452--the State and Local Government Economic Empowerment Act with transit and transit operations included. This would benefit the transit system and would not increase the debt because the Act would be paid for by U.S. Notes instead of issuing bonds. Best wishes, Michael E. Bailey.

[Suzettmoffitt1]

Ihave been certified by The Department of Transportation in the state of Indiana. I have not received any help. They promise that help will be available to us, but there isn't any. I am cetified as a DBE, MBE, WBE. Having all this behind me hasn't gotten me anything but sorrow, and pain. I pay out all the money I earn cleanng an office once a week. To keep my cell-phone on, internet, fax, netbook, P.O.Box, and office supplies in stock. Not counting the cleaning supplies I buy. I need help building my company. I know I have to sub, but the larger contractors keep all the money too them-selves. I feel INDOT should regulate who get's a project, and make sure the smaller businesses receive what they need to stay in business. This would be fair, but who going to keep them fair to smaller business, when you said you would help us, but where is the evidence?