Pavement Repair Marginal Costs: Accounting for Heterogeneity Using Random-Parameters Regression
Publication: Journal of Infrastructure Systems
Volume 23, Issue 4
Abstract
Highway agencies seek to establish road user cost responsibilities, in the form of marginal costs associated with the maintenance and rehabilitation (M&R) of their existing infrastructure, on the basis of lifecycle data on the infrastructure usage levels and repair costs. Due to the differences in physical characteristics and operational conditions across individual pavement segments, it can be hypothesized that the current practice, which imposes a uniform average user fee to cover repair damage of all pavements systemwide or within specific families, is not equitable. To address this issue, this paper assesses the marginal costs of pavement damage by accounting for segment-specific heterogeneity. To do this, the paper uses a random-parameters (RP) regression model. Through application of the developed model, the paper shows that the M&R marginal cost differs significantly across pavement segments. The results suggest that it is feasible for agencies to develop fee structures that charge different highway user fees for individual highway segments on the basis of the damage the users inflict to the pavement. This outcome can help agencies introduce more equitable charging for the use of their highways.
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Acknowledgments
The funding for the present study was provided by the NEXTRANS Center, Purdue University, under U.S. Department of Transportation, Research and Innovative Technology Administration (RITA), University Transportation Centers Program. One of the authors was funded by the Colombian Government’s Department of Science and Technology and the Universidad del Valle, under the Colciencias, Generación del Bicentenario Fellowship Program. The contents of this paper reflect the views of the authors, who are responsible for the facts and the accuracy of the information presented herein, and do not necessarily reflect the official views or policies of the FHWA and INDOT, nor do the contents constitute a standard, specification, or regulation.
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Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Infrastructure Systems
Volume 23 • Issue 4 • December 2017
Copyright
©2017 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Feb 12, 2016
Accepted: Jan 6, 2017
Published online: Mar 25, 2017
Discussion open until: Aug 25, 2017
Published in print: Dec 1, 2017
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