Cost Savings Analysis of Performance-Based Contracts for Highway Maintenance Operations

Highway agencies around the world are undergoing major changes in their traditional maintenance practices, including the privatization of entire sections of highway routine maintenance activities. Performance-based contracts (PBC) are an option in such privatizing efforts. This paper presents a methodology to estimate the likelihood and amount of cost savings associated with the application of PBC for highway maintenance operations. Using data on maintenance contracts from around the world, the authors develop models that can be used to compare several contracting methods and include variables such as contract duration, activity type, and contract size. The authors find that large projects with strong competition, long duration and extension periods, long outsourced road sections that incorporate crack sealing, pothole repair, illumination repair/maintenance, and mowing activities, favor outsourcing under PBC. The authors' methodology can be useful to transportation agencies for making decisions about the use of PBC and other methods of maintenance outsourcing at the preplanning phase.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/10760342
• Authors:
  • Anastasopoulos, Panagiotis Ch
  • McCullouch, Bob G
  • Gkritza, Konstantina
  • Mannering, Fred
  • Sinha, Kumares C
• Publication Date: 2010-12

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Print
• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: pp 251-263
• Serial:
  • Journal of Infrastructure Systems
  • Volume: 16
  • Issue Number: 4
  • Publisher: American Society of Civil Engineers
  • ISSN: 1076-0342
  • EISSN: 1943-555X
  • Serial URL: http://ascelibrary.org/journal/jitse4

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Alternatives analysis; Competition; Contract administration; Contracting out; Contracts; Highway maintenance; Lighting; Methodology; Mowing; Planning; Potholes; Privatization; Project management
• Uncontrolled Terms: Cost savings; Crack sealing; Performance based maintenance contracting; Performance models
• Subject Areas: Administration and Management; Finance; Highways; Planning and Forecasting; I10: Economics and Administration;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01324003
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Dec 29 2010 11:34AM