Managing low-volume roads with Wisconsin information system for local roads

Managers of low-volume roads face numerous challenges, including budgeting, maintenance decision making, and developing best practices. States such as Wisconsin have recently taken a proactive approach in assisting local officials in their roadway asset management activities. Aspects of the Wisconsin Information System for Local Roads (WISLR) that benefit local road managers by enhancing their asset management capabilities are discussed. Also offered are suggestions for future work to enhance roadway management tools for low-volume roads. WISLR originated with a Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) effort to create a web-based geographic information system (GIS) that would provide both the state agency and the 1,922 local units of government with accurate tracking of roadway mileage and pavement conditions for the more than 100,000 mi of roads and streets under local government control. The sizes of local road systems vary widely by municipality, from less than 9 mi to more than 600 mi of roadway. Many of these roads fall into the low-volume category, particularly in the smaller jurisdictions. WisDOT hoped to provide municipalities with a powerful tool to track roadway mileage and conditions, as well as to aid in system management decisions. WISLR offers a unique opportunity for local governments to capitalize on the powerful tools made available by this application. WISLR combines GIS technology with database application tools based on the Pavement Surface Evaluation Rating system, allowing municipalities to perform long-range planning.