Procedures for Prioritizing Road Improvements Under the Statewide Highway Plan: Final Report

Report No: 90-R7

Published in 1990

About the report:

The road improvement prioritizing system currently utilized by the Virginia Department of Transportation is similar to the method utilized by many states: it is a sufficiency rating system that evaluates proposed projects on the basis of points assigned for a number of variables. Although this type of system is commonly used, it has several limitations, including its lack of sensitivity to individual variables, the difficulty in assigning and interpreting a point total based on multiple heterogeneous variables, and the rigidity of the system after the point structure is established. In this report, an alternative method is introduced that consists of sorting projects in sequential ranking steps based on ranges of individual variables. The proposed method is simpler, more flexible, and requires less data manipulation than the present rating system. Individual variables have greater impact on the prioritizing process, and the resulting prioritizing ratings correlate well with results obtained from the previous rating method.

Disclaimer Statement:The contents of this report reflect the views of the author(s), who is responsible for the facts and the accuracy of the data presented herein. The contents do not necessarily reflect the official views or policies of the Virginia Department of Transportation, the Commonwealth Transportation Board, or the Federal Highway Administration. This report does not constitute a standard, specification, or regulation. Any inclusion of manufacturer names, trade names, or trademarks is for identification purposes only and is not to be considered an endorsement.

Authors

  • Daniel D. McGeehan, Lynn Samuel

Last updated: December 27, 2023

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