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What's NewMajor Priorities for LTPPThe focus of attention for the next few years will be: on-going performance monitoring (i.e. collect and/or process, resolve issues with data (FWD, Profile, Distress, traffic); process/resolve data issues with weather, materials, maintenance and rehabilitation); assist agencies and address any data issues; track down missing SPS construction, maintenance, rehabilitation and materials data; assist with the SPS Traffic Pooled Fund Study; implement the Traffic Data Collection Plan for problem sections; and Communications with the agency. These activities may involve the Regional offices assisting the agencies in accomplishing the tasks, conducting the work with other LTPP contractors, or on their own. Please contact our office for assistance, clarification, or more information on any of these items. More information was provided at the 2009 TRB LTPP State Coordinators’ meeting; copies of all presentations were sent to the LTPP coordinator for each agency or can be obtained by contacting the Regional Office (address below). Information is also available in the LTPP newsletter; a copy of which can be downloaded from http://www.tfhrc.gov/pavement/ltpp/ltpp.htm. Preserving and Maximizing the Utility of the Pavement Performance DatabaseTRB’s LTPP Committee advises FHWA on the planning and execution of the LTPP program. It has recently released a report that presents a recommendation for the safekeeping, management, and operation of the LTPP database for decades to come. The report is available for download at http://www.trb.org/news/blurb_detail.asp?id=9984 SPS Traffic Pooled Fund StudyA Phase I contractor for the SPS Traffic Pooled Fund Study was hired in 2003 and this initial phase of the study is focusing on assessment, calibration validation and performance evaluations of LTPP Weigh In Motion sites. These visits are well underway and over the next few years any repairs required at existing sites (e.g. grinding, equipment modifications) will be identified. A Phase II contractor was hired in late 2004 to supply, install and maintain the WIM for 5 years at sites without any equipment or sites that failed Phase I. WIM installations started in 2005 finishing the installs in 2008. All these efforts are geared towards improving the overall quality and quantity of traffic data in the LTPP program. Some 56% of the agencies are participating in the Pooled Fund Study which includes 35% of the LTPP SPS sites. The data is providing an excellent traffic data base for future analysis activities. More info on participation or status of the efforts can be obtained from the Pooled Fund Studies section at http://www.tfhrc.gov/pavement/ltpp/ltpp.htm. DataPave is OnlineDataPave is simple, user-friendly and contains all LTPP releasable data. This data includes inventory, materials testing, pavement performance monitoring, climatic, traffic, maintenance, rehabilitation, and seasonal testing data from more than 2,500 pavement test sections at 932 locations on in-service highways throughout North America. With uploads of data every June and December, remember to download on a regular basis. It is available online: http://www.datapave.com/ LTPP ProductsMany people don't realize that Congress mandated LTPP to "Prepare products to fulfill program objectives and meet future pavement technology needs". Numerous items have already been developed and a plan for future activities is also in place. More information is available at: http://www.tfhrc.gov/pavement/ltpp/product.htm Analysis ProgramThere are some 2,400 pavement test sections from which data is collected and converted into useable information. This requires a strategic plan to effectively address validating, studying, and investigating the data in order to use the information to provide insights, develop new products, and so on. Since 1999 the analysis efforts have been guided by the "Strategic Plan for Long Term Pavement Performance Data Analysis" which was developed by the TRB Expert Task Group (ETG) on LTPP Data Analysis; it was recommended by the TRB LTPP Committee and adopted by FHWA. This plan has received further definition, and an expanded version was updated by the TRB-ETG on LTPP Data Analysis. It shows ongoing and anticipated near-term LTPP projects as well as closely related NCHRP projects. The document is available electronically via the LTPP website or specifically at: Links to both the LTPP Projects and the NCHRP Projects can also be found on the LTPP website. LTPP–"Fulfilling the Promise of Better Roads"Are you aware of a recently released report by the TRB Long Term Pavement Performance Committee entitled "Fulfilling the Promise of Better Roads"? This is an excellent publication (15 pages of text with 50 pages of supporting appendices) that provides a review of the history of LTPP, assesses the program’s status, identifies crucial needs for 2004 through 2009, and recommends that FHWA take the following actions:
Positive Impact of LTPPFHWA is in the last throws of finalizing the findings of a study into the Benefits from LTPP. In the meantime some information on the positive impact of the LTPP program is already available in a brochure, "An Investment Benefiting America's Highways: The Long Term Pavement Performance Program." The brochure is available online at: http://www.tfhrc.gov/pavement/ltpp/brochure.htm |
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