Abstract
This issue of PWMP presents a mix of the theoretical and applied sides of infrastructure. In “What Factors Affect Management Quality? State Infrastructure Management and the Government Performance Project,” Jiminez and Pagano use results from the 2005 and 2008 Government Performance Project Applying pooled Tobit regression, they were able to confirm that infrastructure management quality is affected by a number of political factors in addition to purely technical aspects. Kenneth Buckeye’s contribution, “Innovations on Managed Lanes in Minnesota,” describes the many innovations implemented by the Minnesota Department of Transportation in the I-35W corridor to maximize existing freeway capacity. Owens, et al, present a 5-dimensional model that adds context and finance to the traditional parameters of cost, schedule, design in “Defining Complex Project Management of Large U.S. Transportation Projects: A Comparative Case Study Analysis.” The authors present results from case study research that could become a useful management tool for project managers. The final paper in this issue, “Finding and Measuring Horizontal Curves in a Large Highway Network: A GIS Approach” by Findley, et al continues a long relationship between PWMP and the applied highway research program conducted at North Carolina State University. This paper presents an automated approach that utilizes GIS to locate horizontal curves in the roadway network which will enable more efficient maintenance and improved safety.
For the upcoming issues of PWMP, we have several interesting papers that discuss the programming and funding of transportation infrastructure in the U.S. In light of pending re-authorization of a multi-year transportation bill, I’m sure our readers will find them both relevant and timely.