ASSET MANAGEMENT AND CITY GOVERNMENT

This paper investigates how local government officials are progressing in the use of asset management to make better maintenance and investment decisions. A telephone survey was conducted with officials in 40 small- and medium-sized cities. Participants were asked about their practices in defining system performance goals; in planning and programming; in the collection, storage and use of data; in program implementation; and in program monitoring. Findings show that cities are using fairly advanced practices in the collection, storage and analysis of data. They also generally have very sound procedures for defining system performance objectives, using strategic planning and public involvement techniques. While cities use a range of contracting procedures to secure the services of the private sector, more than a quarter reported that the primary method of program delivery was through public employees or contractual arranges with other municipalities. Many respondents reported that their primary investment decision criteria was "worst-first," which suggests that the good efforts in the collection and analysis of data and the work in strategic thinking may not be fully utilized. Similarly, the softer issues on how the organization is brought together to use the information provided by data systems seems not to be emphasized in most cities. In general, results suggest the need for significant work to make asset management techniques a reality for local governments. Despite these findings, 90% of respondents characterized their asset management approach as at least somewhat efficient and many did not think that anyone in their organization would want asset management training.

• Record URL:
  http://www.ctre.iastate.edu/pubs/midcon2003/WittwerAsset.pdf
• 
• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/isbn/0965231062
• Corporate Authors:

  Iowa State University, Ames

  Center for Transportation Research and Education, 2711 South Loop Drive
  Ames, IA  United States  50011-8664
• Authors:
  • Wittwer, E
  • Bittner, J
  • Kasprzak, C
• Conference:
  • Mid-Continent Transportation Research Symposium
  • Location: Ames, Iowa
  • Date: 2003-8-21 to 2003-8-22
• Publication Date: 2003

Language

• English

Media Info

• Features: Figures;
• Pagination: 10p
• Monograph Title: MID-CONTINENT TRANSPORTATION RESEARCH SYMPOSIUM (AMES, IOWA, AUGUST 21-22, 2003). PROCEEDINGS

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Asset management; Business practices; Contracting; Decision making; Information processing; Investments; Local government; Maintenance management; Medium sized cities; Programming (Planning); Small cities; Strategic planning; Surveys
• Subject Areas: Administration and Management; Finance; Highways; Maintenance and Preservation; I10: Economics and Administration; I60: Maintenance;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00963343
• Record Type: Publication
• ISBN: 0965231062
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Sep 18 2003 12:00AM