Section 2: Level of Service
Anchor: #i1002771Purpose and Goal
The level of service for maintenance will serve as a guide for consistency in planning, performing and evaluating the various maintenance activities with the funds available.
The primary goal of the department's maintenance efforts is to provide the best level of service possible with the funds available for the entire highway system.
Anchor: #i1002786Why Guidelines are Needed
Maintenance levels of service are needed to:
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- effectively communicate maintenance planning and maintenance performance expectations Anchor: #SEOXOQND
- aid in the evaluation of maintenance performance.
Definitions
It is important to understand the following terms when considering level of service guidelines:
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- highway component—An identifiable or measurable aspect of the state highway system including (for the purposes of these guidelines) specific pavement conditions. Anchor: #JLCHXCJD
- level of service—The condition at which a component of the state highway system should be maintained under a given level of funding. Anchor: #KPRVFDIS
- level of funding—The level of legislative
appropriations required to substantially maintain the state highway
system at a specific level of service, as established through the
budgeting process. The three levels of funding are:
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- desirable (highest) Anchor: #IFTORIHC
- acceptable Anchor: #HHUJCQEB
- tolerable (lowest)
Anchor: #WMYRUCDU - substantially maintained level of service—The level of service met or exceeded by 75 percent of a given highway component.
Using the Guidelines
Each highway component should be substantially maintained at the level of service designated for the current level of funding.
Anchor: #i1002861Maintenance Priorities
Maintenance priorities are set based on a logical progression of importance. The maintenance priorities for all highway components are as follows:
|
Priority |
Description |
|---|---|
| 1 |
Safety—Provide for the safety of the traveling public. |
| 2 |
Protection of the investment—Protect the investment of public dollars in the state highway system, its right of way and all its facilities. |
| 3 |
User comfort—Provide for the comfort of the traveling public. |
| 4 |
Aesthetics—Provide for the beauty and the attractiveness of the roadway and facilities. |
The tables that follow list the levels of service for the major areas of maintenance.
Anchor: #i1002875Pavement Maintenance
The table below lists levels of service for pavement maintenance.
|
Condition |
Desirable Level |
Acceptable Level |
Tolerable Level |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Longitudinal Rutting |
Maintain as follows: |
Maintain as follows: |
Maintain as follows: |
|
0 - 500 ADT |
< ½ & 50% per WP |
< 1" & 50% per WP |
< 3" & 25% per WP |
|
501 - 10,000 ADT |
< ½ & 50% WP |
< 1" & 50% WP |
< 3" & 25% per WP |
|
10,001 & up ADT |
< ½ & 25% per WP |
< 1" & 25% per WP |
< 1" & 50% per WP |
|
Alligator Cracking for all ADTs |
Maintain with no visible cracks |
Maintain with visible cracks , £ 10% per WP |
Maintain with visible cracks £ 50% per WP. |
|
Ride Quality |
Maintain as follows: |
Maintain as follows: |
Maintain as follows: |
|
0 - 500 ADT |
> 2.5 SI |
> 2.0 SI |
> 1.5 SI |
|
501 - 10,000 ADT |
> 3.0 SI |
> 2.5 SI |
> 2.0 SI |
|
10,001 & up ADT |
> 3.5 SI |
> 3.0 SI |
> 2.5 SI |
|
Abbreviations: Wheel path (WP), serviceability index (SI), average daily traffic (ADT) |
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Anchor: #i1002884
Roadside Maintenance
The table below lists levels of service for roadside maintenance.
|
Component |
Desirable Level |
Acceptable Level |
Tolerable Level |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Vegetation |
Maintain in accordance with Vegetation Management Manual as follows: |
Maintain in accordance with Vegetation Management Manual as follows: |
Maintain in accordance with Vegetation Management Manual as follows: |
|
0 - 3,000 ADT |
Level 4 |
Level 4 |
Level 4 |
|
3001 – 10,000 ADT |
Level 3 |
Level 4 |
Level 4 |
|
10,001 & Up ADT |
Level 2 |
Level 2 |
Level 3 |
|
Developed Urban |
Level 1 |
Level 1 |
Level 1 |
|
Litter Control |
Maintain as follows: |
Maintain as follows: |
Maintain as follows: |
|
0 – 3000 ADT |
Spot pick-up |
spot pick-up |
Spot pick-up |
|
3001 – 10,000 ADT |
<5 CF/AC |
<6 CF/AC |
<8 CF/AC |
|
10,001 & Up ADT |
<4 CF/AC |
<5 CF/AC |
< 6 CF/AC |
|
Pavement edges |
Maintain < 2" drop off. |
Maintain < 3" drop off. |
Maintain <3" drop off. |
|
Drainage |
Maintain function with minimum blockage, ponding, or erosion. |
Maintain function with some blockage, ponding, or erosion with no damage to highway or private property. |
Same as Acceptable level. |
|
Rest Areas |
0-200 RA-ADT: 8 hrs/day 201-800 RA-ADT: 16 hrs/day 801 & up RA-ADT: 24 hrs/day |
0-400 RA-ADT: 8 hrs/day 401-1000 RA-ADT: 16 hrs/day 1001 & up RA-ADT: 24 hrs/day |
0-400 RA-ADT: 8 hrs/day 401-1000 RA-ADT: 16 hrs/day 1001 & up RA-ADT: 24 hrs/day |
|
Picnic Areas |
Provide for the safety, comfort, and convenience of the traveling public; clean, inviting appearance |
Provide for the safety, comfort, and convenience of the traveling public; Occasional litter, with trash receptacles near capacity; few noticeable appearance defects and minor graffiti. |
Provide for the safety, comfort, and convenience of the traveling public; Occasional litter, with trash receptacles near capacity; few noticeable appearance defects and minor graffiti. |
|
Abbreviations: Cubic feet per acre (CF/AC), rest areas (RA), average daily traffic (ADT), vehicles per day visiting rest area (RA-ADT) |
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Anchor: #i1002893
Operations
The table below lists levels of service for operations.
|
Component |
Desirable Level |
Acceptable Level |
Tolerable Level |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Safety Appurtenances Includes guardrail, crash attenuators, concrete median barriers, driveway culvert safety end treatment, etc. |
Maintain all safety appurtenances to original design standards; all hardware functional; no noticeable appearance defects. |
Maintain all safety appurtenances to original design standards; all hardware functional; few noticeable appearance defects. |
Maintain all safety appurtenances to original design standards; all hardware functional; readily noticeable appearance defects. |
|
Illumination |
90% of luminaries operating in each system; hardware functional and neat in appearance; no rust on poles or anchor bolts; no broken transformer bases; no covers missing. |
80% of luminaries operating in each system; hardware functional and neat in appearance with few noticeable defects; no rust on poles or anchor bolts; no broken transformer bases; no covers missing. |
70% of luminaries operating in each system; hardware functional and neat in appearance with readily noticeable defects; some rust on poles; no rust on anchor bolts; no broken transformer bases; no covers missing. |
|
Traffic Signals |
Maintain signal heads in proper alignment; no burned out bulbs; hardware functional and neat in appearance; no rust on poles; efficient timing; no unnecessary vehicle delay. |
Maintain signal heads in proper alignment; no burned out bulbs; hardware functional with few noticeable appearance defects; no rust on poles; minimal unnecessary vehicle delay. |
Maintain signal heads in proper alignment; no burned out bulbs; hardware functional with few noticeable appearance defects; no rust on poles; minimal unnecessary vehicle delay. |
|
Signs, Mailbox Supports and Delineators |
Maintain all signs to original color; excellent night visibility; none damaged or missing; posts straight and rust-free; all sign lights operational. Signs and mailboxes are on approved breakaway posts. |
Maintain all signs to original color, all visible at night; posts straight with few noticeable appearance defects; most sign lights operational. Signs and mailboxes are on approved breakaway posts. |
Maintain regulatory and warning signs to original color, all visible at night but from reduced distance; readily noticeable defects. |
|
Maintain all markings to be functional day and night with no noticeable defects, or change in reflective pavement marking patterns due to missing markers. |
Maintain all markings to be functional day and night; painted markings rarely show wear; no noticeable change in reflective pavement marking patterns due to missing markers. |
Maintain all markings to be functional day and night; painted markings readily show wear; reflective markers still functional with pattern still apparent. |
Anchor: #i1002902
Bridge Maintenance
The table below lists levels of service for bridge maintenance.
|
Component |
Desirable Level |
Acceptable |
Tolerable Level |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Bridges Item & Item Number: |
Maintain the following BRINSAP inspection record condition ratings: |
Maintain the following BRINSAP inspection record condition ratings: |
Maintain the following BRINSAP inspection record condition ratings: |
|
Channel, Culverts, Approaches |
³8 |
³7 |
³6 |
|
Deck, Superstructure, Substructure |
³8 |
³7 |
³5 |