Efficiency measurement of the maintenance of paved lanes using data envelopment analysis

While the road maintenance performance measurement systems that are currently in use investigate maintenance level of service (i.e. effectiveness of the road maintenance), the fundamental relationship between the maintenance level of service and the budget requirements (i.e. the efficiency of road maintenance) has not received as much attention. Given that not knowing how 'efficient' transportation agencies are in being 'effective' can lead to excessive and unrealistic maintenance budget expectations, there is a need for a performance measurement system that can assess the overall efficiency of road maintenance operations. To address this need, a framework was developed and implemented to assess the relative cost efficiency of eight counties in Virginia, USA in maintaining the paved lanes of the Interstate roads. Such framework is developed using a methodology known as data envelopment analysis which is based on the production theory and principles of linear programming. The results indicate that the Rockbridge County is the most efficient and the Roanoke County is the least efficient in maintaining the paved lanes. The findings of this research are intended to be used as guides for benchmarking as well as managerial actions and policy making for decision making with respect to road maintenance.