U.S. Department of Transportation’s FY 2026 Capacity Assessment for Statistics, Evaluation, Research, and Analysis
Decisions that are based on evidence are critical to the efforts of the U.S. Department of Transportation (Department or DOT) to improve safety, increase efficiency, drive innovation, and reduce costs.
In accordance with the Foundations for Evidence-Based Policymaking Act of 2018, DOT published its FY 2026 Capacity Assessment for Statistics, Evaluations, Research, and Analysis in April 2026.
This assessment reveals important findings about how DOT can build upon its efforts to rigorously develop evidence to inform decision making.
Key Findings
- The Department is well positioned to accomplish its evidence-building commitments to a high standard.
- The Department uses evidence in day-to-day operations to support improvements to programs and inform decision making.
- Facilitating collaboration through formal and informal channels contributes to the effectiveness and efficiency of DOT’s evidence-building activities.
- Teams across different Operating Administrations continue to face some hurdles to building evidence.
These findings come from a survey and focus groups that included staff from across the Department’s Operating Administrations during calendar year 2025. DOT can use the findings gathered for the Capacity Assessment to inform actions that promote the use and availability of evidence for decision making and to provide a benchmark to support future assessments.
The Capacity Assessment will also support the Department’s implementation of its Strategic Plan for Fiscal Years 2026-2030, Annual Evidence Plan, Annual Agency Performance Plan and Report, and Open Data Plan by understanding DOT’s strengths and ways to continue improving its evidence-building practice.