DEVELOPMENT OF A MODEL TO ASSESS COSTS OF OPENING A NEW OR CLOSING AN EXISTING OUTPOST OR COUNTY GARAGE

With the changes in urban development patterns and technological advancements, many times, it is necessary to open a new or close an existing outpost or a garage to maintain highway network in an optimum fiscal way. However, the decision to open or to eliminate facilities creates severe monetary and personnel implications and needs proper consideration of all cost elements. A questionnaire survey was conducted to obtain information regarding methodologies used by various state departments of transportation to assess the cost impact of relocating garages. Replies received did not show any particular methodology or model being utilized for location of maintenance garages. Most states indicated using heuristic approach to justify opening or closing an existing maintenance garage. Snow and ice removal is the first priority among snowbound states in the safe maintenance of highway network. It uses a large percentage of the highway maintenance budget and is a major criterion in the location of a garage or outpost. It becomes a necessary condition in evaluation of the cost effectiveness of the maintenance operation. An existing Snowmaster computer program to assist in planning of snow and ice control was evaluated for its effectiveness. A field test in terms of dry run was performed to check the accuracy of the Snowmaster generated routes. A computer program to assess cost impact of network reassignment to maintenance facilities by redistricting was developed. A mathematical model was formulated to determine the cost of maintenance for comparison between different options. The mathematical model provides an excellent tool for comparison between any two scenarios. It takes snow and ice control activity together with the infrastructure cost and cost of vehicles and environmental treatment to generate total cost. The model facilitates in estimation of the resource needed to cater to the total maintenance needs associated to a highway network.

• Record URL:
  http://digitalarchive.oclc.org/request?id%3Doclcnum%3A44475571
• Corporate Authors:

  University of Toledo

  Department of Civil Engineering, 2801 West Bancroft Street
  Toledo, OH  United States  43606-3390

  Ohio Department of Transportation

  1980 West Broad Street
  Columbus, OH  United States  43223

  Federal Highway Administration

  1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Authors:
  • Gupta, J D
• Publication Date: 1998-9

Language

• English

Media Info

• Features: Appendices; Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 178 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Computer programs; Cost estimating; Costs; Garages; Heuristic methods; Location; Maintenance facilities; Mathematical models; Relocation (Facilities); Routes and routing; Snow and ice control; State departments of transportation; Surveys; Winter maintenance
• Geographic Terms: Ohio
• Subject Areas: Finance; Highways; Maintenance and Preservation; Terminals and Facilities; I60: Maintenance;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00795228
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: FHWA/OH-99/003,, Final Report
• Contract Numbers: State Job No. 14637(0)
• Files: TRIS, ATRI, USDOT, STATEDOT
• Created Date: Jul 6 2000 12:00AM