Pavement Remaining Service Interval Implementation Guidelines

APPENDIX. GENERIC AGENCY ISSUES

This appendix addresses issues associated with implementing the RSI concept within an agency. While not part of the actual RSI process itself, the issues covered are critical to the success of an agency’s RSI implementation effort. These issues address the establishment of the agency’s RSI protocol, the identification of an RSI coordinator, and the dissemination of the RSI concept within the agency. These issues only need to be addressed once, with periodic monitoring and revising to ensure they are still appropriate; however, they are vital to the success of an agency’s RSI program.

ESTABLISHING AN RSI PROTOCOL

One issue is establishing an agency protocol for implementing the RSI concept. Adoption and acceptance of this protocol will help formalize the RSI implementation effort. This protocol should be communicated to individuals in the agency, and they should be encouraged to follow it. The protocol should include the following elements:

• Reasons for having the protocol.
• Agency’s implementation plan.
  • Approach to implementation steps.
  • Implementation schedule.
  • Allocation of resources.
• Roles and responsibilities.
• Training of agency personnel.

IDENTIFYING AND APPOINTING AN RSI COORDINATOR

To ensure the successful implementation of the RSI concept within an agency, it is important to select an individual to lead the RSI effort and define his/her responsibilities. This person, designated the agency’s RSI coordinator, is expected to be involved in all facets of the agency’s implementation effort (and possibly in establishing the protocol for the agency). This activity is not anticipated to require a full-time position.

Key responsibilities of the coordinator, who should have an appropriate level of decisionmaking authority, include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Acting as the central point of contact for all RSI issues within the agency.
• Implementing the RSI process within the agency.
• Training agency personnel and disseminating RSI information.
• Periodically performing RSI assessments and updates.

To properly perform these responsibilities, the agency’s coordinator is expected to have the following qualifications:

• Possess sufficient stature within the agency to make decisions on implementing the RSI concept and to delegate activities and responsibilities to others.
• Have sound understanding, background, and experience in pavement design and performance-related issues.
• Possess good project management skills, including sufficient leadership and communications skills, to organize the various activities associated with forensic investigations within the agency.

The agency’s coordinator should also be given the responsibility of recommending changes to the RSI concept and process based on the findings from the implementation effort and/or assessments and updates and be provided with the necessary technical and administrative support to properly and efficiently address RSI issues within the agency.

DISSEMINATION OF RSI CONCEPT WITHING AGENCY

The following list highlights dissemination options that an agency may consider in order to facilitate implementation of the RSI concept and improve the likelihood of success:

• RSI Web site: Most agencies maintain a Web site with links to various types of information relevant to the agency, including information about the pavements program. The addition of a RSI link within the agency’s pavement information area is a simple means for making the information available to a large group of potential users both within and outside the agency.
• Paper reports, flyers, brochures, etc.: In addition to the Web site, the agency may distribute relevant RSI information in paper format to individuals/offices most affected by the implementation of the RSI concept.
• Workshops, Webinars, and conferences: Presentations by the agency’s RSI coordinator or others at agency in-house pavement-related workshops, Webinars, and conferences are also an effective method of disseminating the RSI concept and its implementation process. Periodic Webinars are an appropriate and cost effective means of disseminating the RSI concept and process to key individuals within agencies.

It is also recommended that agencies develop a standard of practice regarding input assumptions used by agencies and contractors performing LCC analysis for the agency. While the amount of information available on how long future construction treatments will last varies drastically between SHAs, codifying a set of rules to be used for LCC analysis is the first step in the quality management improvement process. Once implemented, as more information is gained over time, the rules will evolve to match the actual agency experience.