Abstract:
The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) original and innovative program that introduces local governments to new products and processes through the use of its liquid fuels funds is presented, and other departments of transportation are encouraged to adapt it. Liquid fuels funds may be used on locally owned and maintained roads with approved PennDOT products and processes. PennDOT’s Bureau of Municipal Services (BMS) initiated the program, the New Products Evaluation Program for Lower-Volume Local Roads, to give stakeholders a wider selection of quality products and processes to choose from. Pennsylvania maintains an interest in reducing costs for local governments by providing access to high-quality products that are eligible for liquid fuels funds expenditures. These products are designed for lower-volume roads rather than high-volume highways. PennDOT also initiated this streamlined program to allow manufacturers of innovative products and processes for lower-volume local roads to submit their applications to PennDOT for evaluation. The manufacturers contract with the testing facilities and are responsible for all costs incurred in the testing and evaluation process. The objectives of this program are to (a) increase the number of available high-quality new products and processes for low-volume local roads, (b) create strong communication channels among various stakeholders and BMS about new product offerings for low-volume local roads, (c) provide manufacturers with a more expedient process for testing their products locally, and (d) develop a products evaluation process that is more cost-effective for local governments and PennDOT.
