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54 The basic premise behind the Interstate Asset Management Framework is that the IHS represents the most critical set of highway assets in the United States, and that asset management promises an approach to help IHS owners keep the system in operation in the most efficient manner. The IHS is a lifeline for the U.S. economy, providing mobility for highway passengers and freight traveling within and across the country, as well as to Canada and Mexico. Since the IHS was conceived, other countries have emulated the U.S. example, helping develop their economies through similar, national networks of high- standard highways. Keeping this national system in operation is a prerequisite for keeping the U.S. economy competitive internationally. And achieving this objective without unduly straining scarce resources for transportation will help further strengthen the U.S. economy. Though there is national consensus on the importance of preserving the IHS, past approaches to managing transporta- tion assets are unlikely to be effective for meeting this goal. As the system ages, there will continue to be increased needs for investing in asset preservation, and increased risks from any failure to preserve IHS assets in a state of good repair. IHS own- ers need to adopt flexible, performance-based approaches that target investments where they are most needed rather than where historic precedent or institutional arrangements dictate. Also, they need good data on their IHS assets, supplementing the data already available on roads and bridges with additional data on other structures, safety features, facilities, and risks to the system. Transportation asset management offers a set of tools and approaches for better managing transportation infrastructure. This report summarizes asset management concepts, develops an approach for applying these concepts to IHS assets, and recommends that IHS owners develop an Interstate Asset Management plan embodying the framework. The plan should detail the state of an agencyâs IHS assets, present a set of perfor- mance targets for those assets, and spell out what will be needed to meet those targets. Chapter 5 describes recommended core and comprehensive performance measures for inclusion in an Interstate Asset Management Plan, and Chapter 4 describes data and tools for supporting plan development. An area of particular importance in managing IHS assets is in managing risk. Chapter 3 describes a scenario-based approach IHS owners can implement to better manage risks of system failure, in addition to other approaches for managing programmatic risks (e.g., risks of cost overruns). There are numerous benefits as well as clear challenges involved in the implementation of asset management principles in general, and in applying them to the IHS in particular. Chap- ters 4 and 5 discuss the gaps in available systems, approaches and measures for IHS asset management, and Chapter 6 dis- cusses implementation challenges. An overriding challenge in managing the IHS is the tension between national consistency and local prerogatives. The IHS was built with a national set of standards and serves vital, national interests. As the emphasis in managing the system has shifted from design and construction to operations, it is now clear that there would be significant benefit for enhanc- ing IHS asset management to having national standards reporting of conditions and performance of IHS assets. How- ever, the state DOTs, toll authorities, and other agencies that operate and manage the system need to have flexibility in how they manage the IHS on a day-to-day basis. The IHS is of national importance, but management of the system must be based on consideration of challenges at the state, corridor, and local level. Each and every agency and entity responsible for the high- est order highway network, including key NHS routes, must reach its own conclusions for its own reasons on whether and how to undertake all or parts of the Interstate Asset Manage- ment Framework. Motivating factors will vary, as will areas of emphasis, specific approaches, sources of leadership and orga- nizational characteristics. What does not vary is the simple fact that the potential consequences of deterioration or disruption to the nationâs most important arteries will be severe in terms C H A P T E R 7 Conclusions
of impacts upon the economic well-being and quality of lives of our citizens. Coupled with the high expectations and low tolerance of failure to perform that confronts every trans- portation agency, the rationale for implementing a risk-based asset management framework for the Interstate Highway Sys- tem becomes increasingly apparent. By taking advantage of best practices in asset management and risk management, system owners and operators can most effectively combat the effects of deteriorating infrastructure, minimize costly system disruptions, and ensure that the national highway system continues to serve as an engine for helping drive our economy forward. 55
