Applying Asset Management Strategies to Traffic Signal and Street Lighting Systems in Portland, Oregon, USA

This paper describes how, in highway transportation, asset management has typically been applied just to roadway pavements and bridges. Other elements such as traffic signals and street lights are not often mentioned, although these systems need and deserve the similar asset management attention as pavements and bridges. This paper examines the efforts of the City of Portland, Oregon to apply asset management principles to its traffic signal and street lighting systems. Since 1986 Portland has prepared annual Status and Condition reports, which have included sections on both traffic signals and street lights. City staff have primarily used age for determining future replacement needs, although more detailed field condition surveys are now being done as well. This paper describes how Portland uses its asset management plans for communicating needs to its decision-makers. With ever shrinking budgets, decision-makers need to understand the needed investment to sustain a safe and reliable signal and street lighting systems. Finally the paper discusses a new strategy being used by the City to stretch limited resources. Rather than doing complete traffic signals intersection hardware replacements, staff are evaluating each location and making only necessary changes to extend the life of the intersection. These partial remodels cost only a fraction of complete replacements yet add up to 20 more years to the intersection life.