NCHRP Project 08-36
Proposed Research Problem Statement
1. Title : Development of Transportation Asset Management Plan Templates
2. Background: The AASHTO Transportation Asset Management Guide – A Focus on
Implementation promotes the use of a Transportation Asset Management Plan (TAMP) as a
communication tool and an accountability mechanism for an agency. The TAMP serves as a
way to formalize and document the following types of key information into a single
document:
 The strategic objectives that the plan supports.
 The services that the agency currently provides and why they are important.
 The nature and condition of the assets that are required to deliver the service e.
 Planned improvements in response to future demand, risk, and other trends.
 Strategies for cost-effectively managing the assets.
 Long-term financial forecasts.
 Planned improvements and planned performance resulting from the implementation.
The Guide presents information on developing the TAMP, involving the appropriate
people in the development of the document, and linking the plan to existing business
processes. It also discusses the importance of tailoring the TAMP to agency resources
and matching the content of the TAMP to one of the following three levels of maturity:
 An initial plan, using existing data and strategies.
 A “core” plan, with demand forecasts and long-term financial projections.
 An “advanced” plan, with risk, targeted service levels, and stakeholder buy-in.
While the Guide helps to describe the content of a TAMP and to describe its many benefits,
there are a limited number of examples of Asset Management Plans that have been developed
by state highway agencies. Therefore, to initiate the development of a TAMP each state
highway agency must begin from scratch and utilize its own resources to find relevant
examples of existing documents. Under this study, electronic templates for developing an
initial and a core TAMP will be created to guide transportation agencies through the
development of these documents. The templates will be supported by a Guide that includes
an explanation of the typical sources for developing the TAMP content and examples from
US-based transportation agencies. At the completion of the project, the results will be
presented in a Webconference sponsored by AASHTO and FHWA.
3. Statement of Urgency: Transportation agencies are facing increasing pressure to make
performance-based asset management decisions that consider risk and long-term financial
consequences. AASHTO is supporting the use of performance-based decisions, as evidenced
by the recent publication and promotion of the Transportation Asset Management Guide – A
Focus on Implementation. In addition, there is a high likelihood that support for
performance-based decision making, and the use of Transportation Asset Management Plans,
will be incorporated into the next highway bill. As a result, there is tremendous interest
among state highway agencies to begin the development of their Asset Management Plans.
4. Project Objective(s): This project will result in the development of tools and templates to
assist state highway agencies with the development of their Transportation Asset
Management Plans. Specifically, the project will result in the development of electronic
templates for developing an initial and a core TAMP. In addition, a Guide will be developed
to support the use of the templates, describing the typical sources of information and
providing examples of different strategies for addressing each section. The products will be
used by state highway agency personnel in support of their performance-based asset
management processes.
5. Relationship to Existing Body of Knowledge: The products developed during this study
will complement the information presented in the AASHTO Transportation Asset
Management Guide – A Focus on Implementation. It is a natural extension of the
information contained in the Guide.
6. List of Anticipated Work Tasks: The project includes the following tasks:
1. Compile examples of TAMPs from international and US agencies. Compare and
contrast the documents to the outline included in the AASHTO Guide.
2. Develop criteria for meeting the basic requirements for an initial and a core TAMP.
3. Using the criteria as guidance, develop electronic templates for creating an initial
and/or a core TAMP.
4. Develop a Guide to support the use of the electronic templates, describing the typical
sources of information and providing examples of different strategies for addressing
each of the typical sections.
5. Conduct a Webconference to promote the tools.
7. Estimate of Funds Needed: $100,000
8. Estimate of Time Needed to Complete the Research: 12 months
9. Name, Affiliation and Contact Information of Submitter(s): Katie Zimmerman, Applied
Pavement Technology, kzimmerman@appliedpavement.com
10. Date of Submittal: March 30, 2012