Abstract:
This paper reports on a simple but rational approach for setting road maintenance levels for all forest roads. The approach is based on knowledge of the land and its uses and the roads that serve it, and it recognizes limitations on resources such as maintenance funding. The report presents an orderly means of reducing maintenance levels while minimizing total negative impact. Maintenance level needs are evaluated by resource functions such as timber, recreation, fire control, watershed protection, and wildlife. The procedure requires that a single-paged form be completed for each road or group of roads. The process is completed in three steps: advance information, appraisal, and budget review. Advance information is existing data about the roads such as type, length, and width and traffic volume. Analysis is a form of land use planning in which inventory data, objectives, and available resources are assessed by an interdisciplinary team. The team develops the negative impact rating as suggested on the form. Each person subjectively weights the relative impact of the road maintenance levels on the various functions. The impacts are scaled from 0, no negative impact, to 6, intolerable condition. In the budget review step, maintenance levels are adjusted so that they are compatible with funding level. Even though the procedure is based on subjectivity, the process considers various viewpoints and is systematic.
Supplemental Notes:
Proceedings of a work shop held June 16-19, 1975, in Boise, Idaho by the Transportation Research Board.
