Browsing by Author "Landers, Shawn"

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    A Case for Breaking Down the Capital-Maintenance Barrier
    Robak, Anna; Landers, Shawn; Bush, Simon; Hunter, Ewan; Greaves, Royce (2015-06-04)
    In many states, capital and maintenance budgets are distinct and separate. It is well-known, however, that new (capital) assets must be maintained over the long term; capital investments directly impact maintenance requirements. In the current situation, transportation agencies are unable to use funds for much-needed maintenance. In many instances, available overall funds are enough to provide a sustainable transportation network yet budget restrictions stop these agencies from using funds in the most economic way. The condition of our roads will degrade as we continue to build more that we will not be able to afford in the future. In this context, pavement managers should be part of the discussion on whether it is more valuable to build a new asset or maintain an existing. This paper makes an economic case for breaking down the capital-maintenance barrier, and considering capital and maintenance projects as alternatives in the same decision framework. It demonstrates that capital and maintenance investments are simply alternatives along the continuum of an asset's life, rather than mutually exclusive investment alternatives. This perspective will help pavement owners to re-consider the way in which they structure their organizations and investment evaluation processes.
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    Development of a Sustainable Pavement Management Strategy for Resurfacing Low Volume Roads in New Brunswick
    Landers, Shawn; Mason, Don; MacNaughton, John (2015-06-04)
    The New Brunswick Department of Transportation and Infrastructure is responsible for the rehabilitation and maintenance of approximately 19,650 km of highways and roads. Nearly 85 percent of this network is paved, including 9680 km of low volume highways and roads. Maintaining this network at an acceptable standard requires a significant investment that has become increasingly challenging given current economic and fiscal constraints. Since available funding needs to be directed towards higher priority projects, the rehabilitation costs for low volume roads is escalating as they often require full or partial reconstruction by the time they are treated due to the extent of deterioration. In response, the Department undertook a study to develop a sustainable pavement management strategy to ensure that the most appropriate surface type is selected in the future for each road. The process, which will become part of the Department's Asset Management Program, was to be based on clearly defined and transparent level of service criteria that considered engineering suitability, least life-cycle cost, and functional / service characteristics. The study included a review of existing practices and policies from other jurisdictions, an assessment of key factors to be considered, and the development of a multi-staged, screening decision making framework. Implementing the strategy would result in the conversion of a significant portion of existing low volume asphalt surfaced roads to treated surfaces with an estimated reduction of $4.6 to $6.3 million annually in rehabilitation costs, and place the province in a much stronger position for achieving infrastructure sustainability.