Implementation of Level-of-Service Component for Performance-Based Road Maintenance Contracts

In the performance-based road maintenance setting, the contractor is given the responsibility and flexibility to maintain the roadway system's assets using innovative approaches. Increased control of the contractor and innovative techniques implemented by the contractor should yield a product with a predefined quality. This can be ensured by implementing a systematic performance measurement system composed of performance criteria, performance targets, and protocols for taking the measurements necessary to determine whether the contractor meets such criteria and targets. This performance measurement system should produce appropriate and user-friendly reports that can effectively communicate the results to stakeholders, such as the transportation agency, the contractor, and the traveling public. The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) has been using a systematic and comprehensive framework to measure the performance of its performance-based road maintenance contractors and to communicate the results effectively to stakeholders. The steps for implementation of the level-of-service effectiveness component of such a framework are presented to illustrate to transportation agencies how the framework works. Although the framework was developed and implemented for VDOT, it can be adopted by any other transportation agency and adapted to meet that agency's own needs.