Pavement Preservation: Performance Goal and Its Implications

Preserving the asset value of existing pavement infrastructure requires resources to perform maintenance and rehabilitation (M&R) work on the pavement network. The amount of resources required is contingent on the expected level of condition of the pavement network, or the performance goal. A lower performance goal helps reduce the needs for M it will also result in an increase in other costs, such as vehicle operating costs and deferred maintenance costs incurred from losing pavements that were eligible for less expensive treatment options, for example, preventive maintenance. Making an informed decision in setting an appropriate performance goal has always been a challenge to highway engineers and administrators because of the lack of a systematic procedure. A methodological framework is proposed as a rational tool for evaluating the effect of different performance goals on a highway agency's network needs and examining the goals’ implications for overall costs and benefits. This framework is based on a comprehensive consideration of the M&R needs, vehicle operation costs, and deferred maintenance costs incurred during the analysis period. With a comparison of the long-term effects of an agency's performance goals, the benefits of adopting a particular performance goal can be demonstrated. In a case study of the proposed methodological framework, three performance goals were examined for the highway network managed by the Texas Department of Transportation. Conclusions and recommendations drawn from this study are presented.