And the Survey Says...

More than 2,000 Nova Scotians are being asked this month what they like or don't like about the roads and highways they drive on.

The department is conducting its fifth annual customer satisfaction survey. Last year, overall, Nova Scotians were generally satisfied with services they received.

"This survey is a cost-effective way to make sure we're meeting the needs of motorists throughout the province and to get suggestions for improvement," said Ron Russell, Minister of Transportation and Public Works.

"We're a service-oriented department," he said. "Last year, for example, we introduced winter performance standards to ensure that snow- and ice-clearing work is handled the same way from one end of the province to the other. These standards are consistent with the best practices used across North America."

Snow and ice removal is one of 18 highway services that are rated by survey respondents. Others include highway design, length of passing lanes, condition of road shoulders, filling of cracks and potholes, amount of four-lane highways and roadside brush clearing.

"This kind of feedback helps the department make informed, objective recommendations for road maintenance and capital projects," said Mr. Russell. "We look forward to hearing from Nova Scotians."

The in-depth telephone interviews will be conduced in November by the private-sector firm Marketing Research Centre. Results of the 2002 customer satisfaction survey will be made public in 2003 and will be available at on the department's Web site, at www.gov.ns.ca/tran.