Section 2: Level of Service
Purpose 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.
Why Guidelines are Needed
Maintenance levels of service are needed to:
- effectively communicate maintenance planning and maintenance performance expectations
- aid in the evaluation of maintenance performance.
Definitions
It is important to understand the following terms when considering
level of service guidelines:
- highway component—An identifiable or measurable aspect of the state highway system including (for the purposes of these guidelines) specific pavement conditions.
- level of service—The condition at which a component of the state highway system should be maintained under a given level of funding.
- 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:
- desirable (highest)
- acceptable
- tolerable (lowest)
- 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.
Maintenance 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
, 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.
Pavement 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) | |||
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 |
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),
(ADT), vehicles per day visiting rest area (RA-ADT) | |||
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. |
, Mailbox Supports and
| 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. |
Bridge Maintenance
The table below lists levels of service for
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 |