Development of a Pavement Maintenance and Rehabilitation Project Formation and Prioritization Methodology that Reflects Agency Priorities and Improves Network Condition

Methodical maintenance and renewal of infrastructure systems is critical due to the rapid deterioration of infrastructure assets under increasing loads and environmental effects and the scarcity of resources allocated for their preservation. A crucial step in pavement management is the formation and prioritization of maintenance and rehabilitation (M&R) projects that compete for limited funding for inclusion in the agency?s multiyear pavement management plan (PMPs). In general, many highway agencies perform this task subjectively, and thus a more rational and objective approach is desired to produce sound and justifiable PMPs. Specifically, such methodology should take into account the multiple factors that are considered by engineers in prioritizing M&R projects. This research addresses this need by developing a methodology for use by the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) in preparing their four-year PMPs.

Several key decision factors were considered and TxDOT decision makers were surveyed to weigh these factors as to their influence on prioritizing M&R projects. These were then used to develop a priority score for each candidate M&R project.

Since TxDOT collects and stores data for individual 0.5-mile pavement sections, these sections must be grouped in a logical scheme to form realistic candidate M&R projects. The incremental benefit-cost analysis was performed on the candidate M&R projects to identify a set of M&R projects that maximizes network?s priority score under budgetary constraint. Future pavement condition was projected using performance prediction models and the process is repeated throughout the planning horizon to produce a multi-year pavement management plan.

Data from Bryan district, which consists of 7,075 lane-miles of roadway, were used to develop and validate the PMP methodology. Comparison with the actual PMP (produced by TxDOT) shows some disagreements with the PMP generated by the methodology though the latter was shown to produce more cost-effective and defendable pavement management plans. Since the methodology is founded on TxDOT engineers? decision criteria and preferences, they can be assured that the PMPs produced by this methodology are in line with their goals and priorities.