sr503_Adopted_Senate_5.html
05 LC 34 0420S(SCS)
Senate Resolution 503
By: Senators Mullis of the 53rd, Williams of the 19th, Whitehead, Sr. of the 24th and Pearson of the 51st

ADOPTED SENATE

A RESOLUTION

Urging the Department of Transportation to proceed with the initiation in 2005 of a pilot performance based asset management project for highway maintenance or bundling of certain maintenance functions; and for other purposes.

WHEREAS, the State of Georgia, like many states throughout the country today, is facing
tough challenges with transportation infrastructure; and

WHEREAS, the Georgia Department of Transportation currently operates, maintains, and improves the existing 18,086 miles of roads and highways in Georgia; and

WHEREAS, vehicle miles traveled on our roadways in Georgia continue to increase by two percent annually, while budgetary constraints make it more and more difficult to keep up with the overwhelming needs of the traveling public; and

WHEREAS, the Federal Highway Administration has estimated that 12 percent of the bridges in Georgia are either structurally deficient; and

WHEREAS, no federal funding can be used for maintenance of bridges or roadways, requiring the state to use 100 percent state motor fuel tax; and

WHEREAS, the Governor, the General Assembly, and the Department of Transportation are attempting to meet these challenges and are deserving of support in fully exploring all avenues for innovation and improvement; and

WHEREAS, the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Economic Development governing the Department of Transportation budget held a hearing in 2005 to hear testimony on "best practices" in other states including piloting programs involving a "performance based asset management" approach to transportation maintenance; and

WHEREAS, particularly the State of Florida´s Department of Transportation has embarked upon an asset management program for maintenance that has generated proven cost savings of 17 percent without impacting the level of service; and

WHEREAS, other state Departments of Transportation, such as the Texas Department of Transportation, have found that management tools other than performance based asset management, like building of certain noncost effective maintenance functions or blending of public and private resources provides better utilization of resources; and

WHEREAS, the Senate is committed to investigating new and innovative means to save tax dollars while at the same time providing a high level of service to the citizens of our state; and

WHEREAS, the commissioner of the Department of Transportation has during the past year initiated a research study to determine the feasibility of applying asset management concepts and other management tools, such as bundling of maintenance functions or blended public_private resources to highway maintenance in Georgia.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE that the members of this body
recommend the Department of Transportation to consider the feasibility of a pilot performance based asset management project or other management tool such as bundling of maintenance functions or blending of public_private resources for highway maintenance in a location or district it deems most feasible for the benefit of the citizens of the State of Georgia.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Secretary of the Senate is authorized and directed to transmit an appropriate copy of this resolution to the commissioner of the Department of Transportation.