Refinement of a Methodology for Siting Maintenance Area Headquarters

About the report:

Prior to this study, a methodology that generates travel time, or isochronal, contours around area headquarters or the housing bases of maintenance crews was developed. The methodology was then pilot tested for the Charlottesville Residency and was deemed to be a viable aid for use in making decisions on locations for area and subarea headquarters. However, refinement of the methodology to make it a practical and implementable procedure for use by the Virginia Department of Highways and Transportation was needed. The present study was undertaken for that purpose. The conclusions from this study are based solely on maximum travel times; no consideration was given other maintenance concerns such as future growth in the area, the number of maintenance workers or supervisors, maintenance equipment, miles of roadway, or areas of right-of-way. The resultant methodology is intended for use only as an aid in decisions concerning the location of area headquarters and subarea facilities. Implementation of the methodology statewide suggested that area headquarters be located at 43 of the 45 residencies (an increase of 22), that a subarea facility be located at one residency, and that a headquarters be removed from another residency. In addition, 1 new area headquarters and 5 new subarea facilities are needed in new locations. In other suggestions of the researcher, the number of area headquarters should be decreased from 236 to 119 and the subarea facilities from 29 to 25. After determining the future growth in each residency and its impact on the location of area headquarters and subarea facilities, the optimum number of maintenance facilities can be defined. The number of area headquarters and subarea facilities should be between the present number and the number suggested by the researcher.

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