| Abstract: |
Municipal officials need a system that enables them to assess the condition of a roadway network, weigh alternatives, and establish long-term programs and budgets. Electronic Pavement management systems provide a structured framework for maintaining this type of information. The information allows decision-makers to develop cost-effective strategies while following traditional pavement management theory - maintenance funds should first be spent on the good roads and any additional moneys spent on the remaining streets. In order to achieve this, the community should have an understanding of the following:
- How many miles of public, private and state roads do you have? How should roadways be prioritized (i.e. Condition, Functional Classification, Importance)? * Is it more cost-effective to repair/seal, overlay or completely reconstruct a roadway?
- What are your maintenance and rehabilitation requirements over the short and long-term?
- How can available funding be spent in the most cost-effective manner? How can we integrate sidewalks or other roadway related infrastructure into the system? At one time, asset management tools were considered to be extremely expensive and would probably go unused. However, communities throughout the region have recognized the value of being proactive when dealing with their infrastructure through initiating an automated approach through available tools such as GIS. The goal is to save money in both the short- and long-term by developing a road repair program that maximizes expenditures while meeting the overall road program goals set by community decision makers.
|