DETERMINATION OF APPROPRIATE FUNDING FOR MAINTENANCE

Recent national studies of Department of Transportation (DOT) maintenance funding indicate that Louisiana funding levels have not kept pace with the national average, and the level of road servicing has declined as a result. The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (LA DOTD) has received criticism from the Legislature and state auditor regarding the low levels of funding for preventive maintenance and the need to increase these activities in the near future. This work focuses on 1) the evaluation of the current computerized maintenance management information system (CMMS) and recommendations for improvement, 2) the development of a long-term capital outlay budget planning structure for achieving a fully funded maintenance program, and 3) the evaluation of the current state of the maintenance program in the LA DOTD relative to programs in similar states. It was found that the current CMMS has significant deficiencies in terms of supporting critical maintenance management processes, data quality, and integration. The system is providing little more than accounting support at present. The maintenance budget planning process was also found to be defunct. Recommendations for improvement are detailed within this report. Analysis of current maintenance funding indicated that maintenance in Louisiana is seriously under funded. Our analysis indicates that routine maintenance activities (such as pothole filling and mowing) should be funded at levels of $30-40 million over current levels (exclusive of overhead). Based on the LA DOTD's historical maintenance data, major maintenance activities (e.g., overlays) should be funded at an ongoing level of $200 million annually.

• Record URL:
  • http://www.ltrc.lsu.edu/pdf/2008/fr_302.pdf
• 
• Corporate Authors:

  Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge

  Department of Industrial and Manufacturing Systems Engineering
  Baton Rouge, LA  United States  70803

  Louisiana Transportation Research Center

  4101 Gourrier Avenue
  Baton Rouge, LA  United States  70808
• Authors:
  • Mann Jr, L
  • Knapp, G
  • Avent, R
  • Metcalf, J
• Publication Date: 1997-1

Language

• English

Media Info

• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 86 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Budgeting; Financing; Highway maintenance; Improvements; Maintenance management; Preventive maintenance; Recommendations
• Geographic Terms: Louisiana
• Subject Areas: Finance; Highways; Maintenance and Preservation; Research; I10: Economics and Administration; I60: Maintenance;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00778824
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: Report No. 302,, Final Report
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Nov 2 1999 12:00AM