Asset Management and Environmental Risk
Successful asset management requires that State DOTs (and MPOs) understand and address risks to their transportation assets to maintain or improve performance at least cost. Asset management plans must identify and address risks, including current and future environmental conditions, that can affect NHS pavements and bridges and the performance of the NHS (23 CFR 515.7(c)(1) and 515.9(d)(6)). The term "current and future environmental conditions" includes risks associated with extreme weather events such as heat waves, floods resulting from rain events and storm surge; and, future risks made worse by sea level rise, longer or hotter heat waves and droughts, more intense precipitation events, etc. Expected deterioration rates will change as environmental conditions change.
FHWA is developing several resources to help States address resilience concerns in asset management.
Six State DOTs have partnered with FHWA to integrate resilience considerations into their asset management processes. Each of the pilot teams developed a final report:
Many States have conducted vulnerability assessments to identify roads and other assets vulnerable to extreme events now and in the future. FHWA has also developed resources and tools to assist States with these assessments and to identify resilience solutions. Please visit the FHWA Resilience site for more information.