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Acknowledgments US Department of Transportation - BTS

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adherence to federal guidelines regarding pavement condition reporting. In 1998, the U.S. General Accounting Officefound that Pavement Condition Index information was available for about 35 percent <strong>of</strong> NPIAS airports (GAO/RCED-98-226).TABLE 1-26. Median Age <strong>of</strong> Automobiles and Trucks in Operation in the United StatesThe R.L. Polk Co. is a private enterprise that purchases state registration data to maintain a database <strong>of</strong> operationalvehicles. Its data represent a near census <strong>of</strong> registered vehicles in the United States, and the age estimate should beconsidered very reliable.TABLE 1-27. Condition <strong>of</strong> U.S. Roadways by Functional SystemU.S. <strong>Department</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Transportation</strong>, Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) collects pavement condition data fromeach state through the Highway Performance Monitoring System. The FHWA uses two rating schemes-the PresentServiceability Rating (PSR) and the International Roughness Indicator (IRI). IRI is used to measure the condition <strong>of</strong>Interstates, other principal arterials, rural minor arterials, and other National Highway System roadways. PSR is usedto measure the condition <strong>of</strong> rural major collectors and urban minor arterials and collectors. Rural minor collectors arenot measured. Where IRI data are not reported for sampled sections, the PSR data are collected. Using the PSR,values range from 0.1 to 5.0, where 5.0 denotes new pavement in excellent condition and 0.1 denotes pavement inextremely poor condition. On the IRI scale however, lower values indicate smoother roads (e.g., 170 for interstate pavement in poor condition).The IRI is an objective measure <strong>of</strong> pavement roughness developed by the World Bank. The PSR is a more subjectivemeasure <strong>of</strong> a broader range <strong>of</strong> pavement characteristics and therefore less comparable. Prior to 1993, all pavementconditions were evaluated using PSR values. Beginning with data published in Highway Statistics 1993, the FHWAbegan a transition to the IRI, which should eventually replace the PSR. The change from PSR to IRI makescomparisons between pre-1993 pavement condition data and 1993 and later pavement condition data difficult. Thus,trend comparisons should be made with care.FHWA indicates that the protocol <strong>of</strong> measuring pavement roughness is not followed by all states, and some did notreport for all required mileage. Totals only reflect those states reporting usable or partially usable data. Columnpercentages may not sum to 100 and may differ slightly from percentages in source tables, which were adjusted sothat they would add to 100.FHWA believes that the IRI data are <strong>of</strong> "reasonably good quality."TABLE 1-28. Condition <strong>of</strong> U.S. BridgesThese figures are from the U. S. <strong>Department</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Transportation</strong>, Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), NationalBridge Inventory Database. State highway agencies are required to maintain a bridge inspection program and inspectmost bridges on public roadways at a minimum <strong>of</strong> every two years. With FHWA approval, certain bridges may beinspected less frequently. A complete file <strong>of</strong> all bridges is collected and maintained, representing a very reliableassessment <strong>of</strong> bridge conditions. However, some inaccuracy may be attributable to variations in state inspector'sadherence to the National Bridge Inspection Standards.TABLE 1-29. Average Age <strong>of</strong> Urban Transit VehiclesTABLE 1-30. Condition <strong>of</strong> Urban Bus and Rail Transit Maintenance FacilitiesTABLE 1-31. Condition <strong>of</strong> Rail Transit InfrastructureThese figures are based on information in the U.S. <strong>Department</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Transportation</strong>, Federal Transit Administration(FTA), National Transit Database. The legislative requirement for the NTD is found in Title 49 U.S.C. 5335(a). Transitagencies receiving funds through the Urbanized Area Formula Program are generally required to report financial andoperating data, including vehicle inventories. Transit operators that do not report to FTA are those that do not receiveUrbanized Area Formula Funding, typically private, small, and rural operators. The data are generally consideredaccurate because FTA reviews and validates information submitted by individual transit agencies. Reliability may varybecause some transit agencies cannot obtain accurate information or may misinterpret certain data definitions.TABLE 1-32. Class I Railroad Locomotive Fleet by Year Built

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