摘要: |
Several agencies are applying asset management principles as a business tool and paradigm to help them define goals and prioritize agency resources in decision making. Previously, transportation asset management (TAM) has focused more on big ticket assets such as roadways and bridges, and less on lower-cost assets such as traffic signs and guardrails. This purpose of this study is to assess the state of the practice in managing ancillary transportation assets, and develop a benefit-cost-risk framework and supporting tool that can be used to evaluate and prioritize assets for systematic management. The project focuses on ten main ancillary assets: culverts, earth retaining structures, guardrails, mitigation features, pavement markings, sidewalks (and curbs), street lighting, traffic signals, traffic signs and utilities and manholes, and one information asset: data. A literature review and targeted survey were conducted to determine the state of the practice in ancillary TAM and collect data for the development of the evaluation framework. The results of the literature review indicate that a growing number of agencies are making notable efforts to systematically manage the assets under consideration. Based on the literature, methods and practices vary from agency to agency; however, very little was found on data collection costs. A survey conducted targeting 41 state and municipal agencies with reported activity in the literature (with 44% response rate), showed varied agency practices, with more agencies beginning to manage roadway safety assets. It was difficult to obtain specific estimates of data collection costs and cost savings from the TAM systems implementation. The study findings indicate that making a business case for formal asset management programs is more meaningful when approached as an ongoing activity rather than a snapshot action because asset management programs are evolving and at different levels of maturity. At present, the data available for several programs is not adequate enough to conduct a comprehensive benefit-cost analysis of such programs. |