The Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) coined the phrase “good roads cost less.” In essence, this is to emphasize the long-term financial savings that agencies gain when roads are kept in good condition through timely preservation and maintenance. As such, slowly but surely, we have come to realize there is a fundamental need, and subsequent benefit, to preserve our Nation’s transportation assets. Still, some may or do take transportation infrastructure for granted. According to a previous report from the House Committee on Transportation, only 2% of the Nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is dedicated to infrastructure. Meanwhile, transportation infrastructure-related goods and services contributed about 9% of the Nation’s total economy. It is the hope that the recent Infrastructure Investment & Jobs Act (IIJA), aka Bipartisan Infrastructure Law or BIL, will be the beginning of a paradigm shift.
For added perspective, the transportation infrastructure supports almost every aspect of our lives. As we all well know, transportation infrastructure is essential from an individual perspective to commute to work, obtain/deliver goods and services, visit with family and friends, travel both for leisure and work, etc. The transportation infrastructure is also critical to businesses and the Nation’s economy, defense, and mobility. The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Transportation Statistics Annual Report in 2020 reported that our Nation’s transportation system drives the economy; connecting 7.9 million businesses with customers, suppliers, and workers. Close to 274 million motor vehicles drove a total of more than 3.2 trillion miles in 2019. In addition, the transportation infrastructure, valued at $8.3 trillion in 2018, served 327 million residents and 80 million foreign visitors according to the same report. Consequently, considering its quintessential role in the Nation’s economy, defense, and mobility; preserving our investment to ensure a sound transportation infrastructure is intrinsically fundamental. Preservation is also critical to public agencies' essential mission to provide a safe, efficient, sustainable and durable transportation infrastructure. There is as well the added context that the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century (MAP-21) Act requires each state to develop a risk-based transportation asset management plan to improve or preserve the condition and the performance of their transportation assets. This type of accountability represents an incentive for agencies to adopt a pavement preservation program, as it is undeniably the most cost-effective approach to improve and maintain the state of good network condition.
Ultimately, however, preservation programs are about performance, economics, and the environment. There are several tangible and quantifiable economic benefits associated with preservation, including:
Significant reduction in construction and management costs,
Fewer traffic delays and negative impacts on the traveling public,
Time efficiency and cost effectiveness to optimize and achieve longer service life out of existing infrastructure,
Environment benefits. Preservation strategies typically use up to 80% less of natural non-renewable resources. Furthermore, and according to a recent Rutgers University study, extending pavement life through preventative strategies can significantly reduce greenhouse gases.
In such a context, the National Center for Pavement Preservation (NCPP) at Michigan State University has, since its inception, been at the forefront of the national discussion and implementation of transportation infrastructure preservation. Thus, it has become recognized as the leading national source and resource for information to support informed planning, policy and decision making, at national, state and local levels. The center has also become appreciated for its credibility and expertise in identifying, promoting and facilitating the implementation and dissemination of proven solutions, best practices and emerging technologies to cost-effectively preserve and maintain our Nation’s transportation infrastructure.
NCPP has been anchoring its efforts in inclusive synergistic strategic partnerships involving federal, state and local transportation agencies, academia, industry and other interested constituencies. For several years, the center has impactfully worked with the American Association of State and Highway and Transportation Officials’ Transportation System Preservation Technical Services Program’s Regional Preservation Partnerships and their member states to increase awareness, adoption and use of preservation programs. It emphasizes the adoption of a long-term strategy that includes integrated cost-effective sets of practices that extend pavement life, improve safety, protect the environment and meet road user expectations. This also embraces the pursuit of continuous learning and the need for investment in human capital development as they are critical for implementing well-considered know-how and preserving a premier transportation infrastructure system. Furthermore, innovation and technological advances have been emphasized as well as they have been the hallmark of our Nation since its founding, driven by an entrepreneurial spirit and openness to transformative changes. Related public investment has yielded and continues to generate many substantial benefits that have driven our knowledge and the state of the practice forward and has never been as vital as it is today.
Bouzid Choubane is currently the Director of the National Center of Pavement Preservation (NCPP) at Michigan State University. Prior to joining NCPP, he was with the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) for more than 25 years.
Written by Bouzid Choubane
Aug 21, 2023
