AN ASSET TO THIS COUNTRY

Nearly 40 years of effort went into the building of the nation's interstate highway system. With the system now essentially complete, state and federal highway agencies are shifting their focus to preserving and operating this investment. The shift reflects a new concept, known as asset management, that emphasizes the preservation, upgrading, and timely replacement of highway assets through cost-effective resource allocation decisions. To assist states as they make these evaluations, the Federal Highway Administration and the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) are currently developing a guidebook that will offer advice on applying asset management principles and provide examples of best practices underway in some of the states. AASHTO also has set up an Asset Management Task Force to guide this effort. One asset management technique that is already helping states better evaluate their existing assets and calculate the return on investments in roadways is the use of a pavement management system. Another tool that states can use to plan for the future is bridge management system software. Another technique receiving considerable emphasis is that of pavement preservation. With today's transportation environment characterized by high user demand, aging highways, and less than fully adequate budgets, the techniques of asset management are an important key to not only maintaining a more efficient and cost-effective system, but to keeping customers happy.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/oclc/11660022
• Corporate Authors:

  Scranton Gillette Communications

  380 E Northwest Highway, Suite 200
  Des Planes, IL  United States  60016-2282
• Authors:
  • Bloom, M
• Publication Date: 2000-6

Language

• English

Media Info

• Pagination: p. 62
• Serial:
  • Roads & Bridges
  • Volume: 38
  • Issue Number: 6
  • Publisher: Scranton Gillette Communications
  • ISSN: 8750-9229
  • Serial URL: http://www.roadsbridges.com/rb/

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Assets; Best practices; Bridge management systems; Cost effectiveness; Decision making; Highway maintenance; Interstate highways; Management; Modernization; Pavement maintenance; Pavement management systems; Pavement performance; Preservation; Reconstruction; Resource allocation; Software; State highway departments
• Identifier Terms: American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials; U.S. Federal Highway Administration
• Subject Areas: Administration and Management; Bridges and other structures; Finance; Highways; Maintenance and Preservation; Pavements; I10: Economics and Administration; I23: Properties of Road Surfaces; I60: Maintenance;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00795723
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Jul 26 2000 12:00AM