2020 - 2024 Transportation Improvement Program
Chapter 2
THE TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM
Addressing Performance Targets
Pavement and Bridge Condition
Performance Targets
On January 18, 2017, FHWA published the Pavement and Bridge Condition Performance Measures Final Rule in the Federal Register. This second FHWA performance measure rule, which has an effective date of May 20, 2017 (originally February 17, 2017), established six performance measures to assess pavement conditions and bridge conditions for the National Highway Performance Program (NHPP).
The pavement condition measures represent the percentage of lane-miles on the Interstate and non-Interstate National Highway System (NHS) that are in good or poor condition. FHWA established five pavement condition metrics[1]: International Roughness Index (IRI); cracking percent; rutting; faulting; and Present Serviceability Rating (PSR). FHWA set a threshold for each metric to establish good, fair, or poor condition. A pavement section is classified as being in good condition if three or more metric ratings are good, and in poor condition if two or more metric ratings are poor. Pavement sections that are not good or poor are classified as fair.
The bridge condition measures represent the percentage of bridges, by deck area, on the NHS that are in good condition or poor condition[2]. The condition of each bridge is evaluated by assessing four bridge components: deck, superstructure, substructure, and culverts. The Final Rule created a metric rating threshold for each component to establish good, fair, or poor condition. If the lowest rating of the four metrics is greater than or equal to seven, the structure is classified as good. If the lowest rating is less than or equal to four, the structure is classified as poor. If the lowest rating is five or six, it is classified as fair.
GTC agreed to support the NYSDOT statewide targets for the following NHS pavement and bridge condition performance measures on September 6, 2018 via Resolution 18-55:
Table 7 - Pavement and Bridge Performance Targets
|
Performance Measure |
NY Statewide Target |
|
|
2-Year |
4-Year |
|
|
% of Interstate pavements in good condition |
46.4% |
47.3% |
|
% of Interstate pavements in poor condition |
3.1% |
4.0% |
|
% of non-Interstate NHS pavements in good condition |
14.6% |
14.7% |
|
% of non-Interstate NHS pavements in poor condition |
12.0% |
14.3% |
|
% of NHS bridges by deck area in good condition |
23.0% |
24.0% |
|
% of NHS bridges by deck area in poor condition |
11.6% |
11.7% |
Anticipated Effects
The measures align with the GTC LRTP 2040 Recommendation #1, “Conduct preventive and corrective maintenance treatments on highways and bridges to extend the useful life of infrastructure without requiring more costly rehabilitation and reconstruction before absolutely necessary”. The projects on the TIP are consistent with the need to address the management of pavement and bridge condition.
Pavement and bridge conditions are primary considerations in the selection of projects to be included in the TIP. As noted above, GTC works with NYSDOT to cooperatively develop and manage the TIP. Prior to each TIP/STIP cycle, GTC is provided Planning Targets for each Federal formula fund source. All projects submitted for consideration of funding from the Planning Targets are evaluated against multiple criteria. The extent to which the project improves the condition of the existing pavements and bridges is the second highest weighted criterion, only after safety.
Projects that are primarily intended to address the management or replacement of pavement and bridge assets are considered using a cost-effectiveness calculation using pavement and bridge condition data, treatment life, and vehicle-miles travelled. The evaluations and project prioritization processes are conducted for pavement and bridge preventive maintenance and rehabilitation/replacements, respectively.
The TIP also includes projects that are not primarily intended to address deficiencies in asset condition but do address such deficiencies as part of the larger project. The TIP includes projects programmed with NHPP funds and other fund sources that are expected to materially benefit the condition of pavement and bridge assets throughout the metropolitan planning area.
The Genesee Transportation Council TIP has been reviewed and the anticipated effect of the overall program is that it will contribute to progress made in addressing the pavement and bridge condition performance targets established by the State.
[1] Per FHWA, “To ensure consistent definitions, a distinction between ‘performance measure’ and ‘performance Metric’ was made in 23 CFR 490.101. A ‘metric’ is defined as a quantifiable indicator of performance or condition whereas a ‘measure’ is defined as an expression based on a metric that is used to establish targets and to assess progress toward meeting the established targets.” (FHWA Computation Procedure for the Pavement Condition Measures – FHWA-HIF-18-022, FHWA Office of Infrastructure and Office of Policy & Governmental Affairs, April 2018)
[2] The sum of total deck area of good or poor NHS bridges is divided by the total deck area of all bridges carrying the NHS to determine the percent of bridges in good or in poor condition. Deck area is calculated by multiplying the structure length by either the deck width or approach roadway width.