Document Library

Transportation agencies nationwide must comply with provisions in the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). To assess ADA compliance, agencies need to develop a comprehensive inventory of pedestrian facilities, identify non-compliant locations, and develop a program for remedial repairs in order to bring facilities into compliance. The purpose of NCHRP Project 20- 07, Task 249, Asset Management Approaches to ADA Compliance, was to gather information and develop a synthesis of practices, including best practices, on the various approaches transportation agencies use to address ADA compliance issues. The synthesis covered three main topics: asset data inventory, asset condition assessment, and programming of asset improvements. To make the project manageable, the focus was on pedestrian infrastructure on the public right-of-way, including elements such as sidewalks, curb ramps, pedestrian crossings, and obstructions. The analysis did not include buildings, facilities, or transit infrastructure. The synthesis also included the compilation of an extensive listing of asset inventory and condition data elements. The listing is intended as a preliminary menu that agencies could use as a foundation for the development of inventory programs that meet individual agency needs.

This document contains guidelines for, and background notes on, network level measurement and reporting of deflection data, for road network management purposes in Australia and New Zealand. The guidelines discuss the frequency and scope of network deflection surveys, including issues such as selection of longitudinal sampling intervals or sampling proportions for deflection surveys. The guidelines are intended as a basis for a consistent approach in Australia and New Zealand. A glossary of terms used in network level assessment of pavement strength is also included.

This project defined end-of-life condition for pavement to be used in pavement performance modelling. The project evaluated several pavement performance models, taking maintenance costs and network condition into account to predict rehabilitation decisions.

ASCE's 2005 Report Card for America's Infrastructure assessed the condition and capacity of our nation's public works with an overall grade of D. ASCE estimates that $1.6 trillion is needed over a five-year period to bring the nation's infrastructure to good condition. While long term solutions are needed, in the short term, small steps can be taken by the 110th Congress (January 3, 2007 - January 3, 2009) to improve our nation's failing infrastructure.

The report was commissioned by FHWA to evaluate the state of the practice of Asset Management in local communities in the U.S. and to provide a strategic blueprint for future work in this field. Also included is a presentation describing the work and the findings.

State transportation agencies successfully use performance measurement to solve complex management challenges. This report illustrates the use of performance-based management approaches in the state departments of transportation (DOTs). It concentrates on three performance areas which exemplify the use of performance management systems, outcomes and measurement techniques based on a sample set of state DOTs that use a broad range of measures. The performance areas are: (1) asset management, (2) congestion and system performance, and (3) safety. The DOTs in Washington, Florida, Minnesota, Maryland, and Missouri were selected as case studies to show how state DOTs utilize performance measurement.

Over the past two decades, state transportation agencies have developed management systems as analytical tools to support investment decision-making in Statewide Transportation Improvement Programs (STIP) and long-range plans. The most common management systems dealing with physical highway assets are those for pavements, bridges, and maintenance. In addition, there are management systems handling highway system operations, namely, congestion and safety. However, most state transportation agencies have not developed adequate management systems for roadway safety hardware assets such as roadway signs; signals; lighting; support and structure for signs, signals, and lighting; guardrails, barriers, and crash cushions; pavement markings; and traffic detecting devices. Cost-effective maintenance, rehabilitation, and upgrade/replacement of roadway safety hardware elements are vital to the safe and efficient operation of highways. The study began with review of literature on roadway safety hardware management. Questionnaire surveys were conducted to synthesize the current state-of-practice for managing roadway safety hardware assets across the country. Subsequent to administering the questionnaire surveys, a structured outline of questions was prepared to help conduct case studies aimed to obtain in-depth information on safety hardware asset management programs in the 12 Midwest states defined by the U.S. Census Bureau, as well as the state of Tennessee. Based on the findings of literature review, questionnaire surveys, and case studies, a methodology was proposed for roadway safety hardware data integration, primarily focusing on inventory process, data collection, and database management; and for estimating the benefits and costs of highway safety hardware projects proposed for implementation for highway segments and intersections. Finally, a new analytical framework was proposed for long-term and short-term roadway safety hardware investment programming and project selection. The analytical framework can also be adopted by state transportation agencies for integrating roadway safety hardware and general safety management, as well as pavement, bridge, and maintenance management by simultaneously considering candidate projects associated with the corresponding types of highway assets in the optimization models for project selection.

Presentation on Florida DOT Asset Management & Performance Based Maintenance.

This report summarizes the use of pavement management tools to support agency decisions in UDOT and Mn/DOT, provides tips for procuring new pavement management software, and identifies institutional issues that must be addressed to make the most of a pavement management program. It closes with a summary of the key factors influencing the successful pavement management practices in UDOT and Mn/DOT, which include the following considerations: Consistency in the pavement management personnel operating the system; The use of quality data so the pavement management program provides reliable recommendations; A strong relationship with the software providers so any issues that arise can be addressed immediately; A commitment to pavement management concepts throughout the organization; The involvement of pavement management stakeholders in decisions regarding changes to the analysis models; The use of software tools that are flexible enough to adapt to the changing environment in which they must operate. The strong pavement management programs in each of the host agencies have resulted in improvements in the quality of information used to make investment decisions. Both Mn/DOT and UDOT have been able to use their pavement management information to effectively revise investment priorities during periods in which competition for available funding has increased. As a result, both agencies have established strategic plans that increase the emphasis on system preservation and align their project and treatment selection process in accordance with those plans.

Transport Scotland's 2007 Road Asset Management Plan (RAMP) beings with agency objectives and targets, based on customer expectations. The RAMP describes decision-making processes including lifecycle plans, decision support, and processes reviewing the RAMP. This document also contains a work plan and financial plan for the upcoming year.

The Massachusetts Executive Office of Transportation and Public Works developed this asset management plan in 2007, in order to address challenges to their investment decision-making process. The objectives of the plan include developing a work plan to guide the MassHighway Asset Management Steering Committee, and an asset management plan for the Interstate System.

This guide’s goal is to guide the reader on how to apply the principles of asset management to a diverse range of road systems and assets. This section, Performance Modeling, is part 7 of the guide. Other topics, such as performance of pavement and structures, are discussed in other sections.