Back to results

Virginia Tech

Comparative Analysis of Current Performance-Based Maintenance Methods to Improve Virginia Highways

Abstract

dc:description.abstract

This research was completed in two phases; phase-one involved a mini-scan study of the highway maintenance industry to identify the current state-of-practice in performance-based maintenance contracting (PBMC). Phase one gathered information on domestic and foreign agencies currently using performance-based maintenance on highways. Phase two used the mini-scan study information to build, compare and analyze agency timelines (i.e., VDOT to others). Timelines included major milestones at each agency; milestones which enabled innovation in the field of performance-based contracting. The purpose of comparing VDOT to other agencies was to provide VDOT with industry best practices as well as recommendations for future contract evolutions. Timelines were constructed for Florida DOT, Main Roads of Western Australia, England\'s Highways Agency and New Zealand Transport Agency. Connection links were made between VDOT and the other four agencies based on similarities in procurement laws and maintenance milestones (i.e., 1st Design-Build project). The timeline linkages and collection of information on benefits associated with PBMC (compared to traditional method-based maintenance) were used to make five recommendations for VDOT\'s future maintenance program. VDOT recommendations were: Use performance-based contracting on secondary roads, use area-wide contracts to cover addition facilities, shift VDOT TAMS focus from lowest-cost to a best-value approach similar to England\'s Managing-Agent Contractor, devise a strategic network of highways to prioritize maintenance, use key performance indicators to align Maintenance Division objectives with overall VDOT organization. Recommendations also considered the current restrictions imposed by Virginia procurement laws.

Degree

thesis:*
Name thesis:degree_name
Master of Science
Level thesis:degree_level
masters
Discipline thesis:degree_discipline
Civil Engineering
Department dc:contributor.department
Civil and Environmental Engineering
Grantor dc:publisher
Virginia Tech
Year dc:date.issued
2013

Author and committee

dc:creator, dc:contributor.*
Author dc:creator
  • Arcella, Joseph Louis
Chair dc:contributor.committeechair
  • de la Garza, Jesus M.
Committee members dc:contributor.committeemember
  • Hall, Ralph P.
  • Garvin, Michael J.

Subjects

dc:subject × 5

Rights

dc:rights
Statement dc:rights
  • In Copyright

Identifiers

dc:identifier.*
Dc Identifier Other
vt_gsexam:495
OAI identifier oai:identifier
oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/19321

Chain of custody

source
Harvested from
Virginia Tech
Base URL
vtechworks.lib.vt.edu/oai/request
Last updated
2026-07-22
Source record
OAI-PMH GetRecord
citation

Arcella, Joseph Louis. Comparative Analysis of Current Performance-Based Maintenance Methods to Improve Virginia Highways. masters thesis, Virginia Tech, 2013. http://hdl.handle.net/10919/19321