Advancing Asset Management for Interstate Highway Systems in Delaware

Delaware Department of Transportation (DelDOT) uses many of the elements of asset management – particularly pavement management. However, linking and integrating these various activities is necessary to develop seamless, consistent and comprehensive management strategies. Specifically, filling the gaps in data and procedures, and exploring the integration of existing tools to decision making promises to be an effective strategy. This paper describes the application of the framework developed in NCHRP Project 20-74 “Developing an Asset Management Framework for the Interstate Highway System” to interstates I-95, I-495, I-295 and the tolled portions State Route 1 in Delaware. Upon review of the asset management framework, the application concepts, data needs, and detailed workplan linking the ongoing performance measure efforts with existing asset management activities in DelDOT are presented. Four asset types: pavement, bridge, traffic sign, and drainage structures are considered in the study. This involves: 1) defining measures of effectiveness and assessing current conditions and service levels, 2) setting performance thresholds and budget targets considering risk, 3) analyzing the relationship between funding and performance within each program area, and 4) updating the interstate capital and operating plan in a format that enables decision makers to conduct trade-offs. Tools, such as HERS-ST, Pontis, and AssetManager NT, are explored to develop management strategies and provide decision makers with the quantitative information they need to fully understand the consequences of their investment alternatives. This paper provides a small but manageable case study to illustrate concepts and strategies on how DelDOT can incorporate performance measures and targets into interstate highway asset management, and is applicable to many different highway divisions elsewhere.