Highway Performance Moditoring System (HPMS)
Another principal responsibility of ADOT's Data Section is administering a federal highway program known as the Highway Performance Monitoring System (HPMS). Required of each state and U.S. Territory by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), the HPMS is America's national database of highway information. Roadway extent, use, condition and performance data is collected by and for the states and submitted to the FHWA on an annual basis. From a national perspective, the FHWA's primary intent with this program is to provide Congress with a policy tool for major highway legislation and funding decisions.
HPMS Defined
The Highway Performance Monitoring System (HPMS) data is now a critical component in the allocation of Federal-aid highway funds to the States as a result of passage of the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (TEA-21). In addition to being an important source of information for indicators of performance on a national basis, Arizona's HPMS program is unique in that it considers local community transportation system condition and performance as critical knowledge for assisting in transportation planning decisions at the state and local government levels as well.
HPMS and GIS at ADOT
The Arizona Department of Transportation has promoted the use of geographic information systems (GIS) in collecting, reviewing, and disseminating HPMS data. The HPMS Tools extension (for ArcView) and the ATIS CD Reference Library (of transportation related databases) are the foundation of a statewide data sharing program designed to assist transportation planners and public works officials in making informed decisions regarding the use of public funds for the betterment of public roads. They are also the precursor to statewide sharing of the National Bridge Inventory (NBI), the Accident Location Identification Surveillance System (ALISS) crash database, and several other databases maintained by ADOT.
HPMS Reassessment
The HPMS program, administered by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), underwent a reassessment process completed in December 1998. A report of the accepted changes to HPMS is available at http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/ohim/fin_rpt.pdf. Changes will not be effective until the 2000 submittal of 1999 data. The short story is that 14 data items will be deleted from the federal requirements. These are:
- Item 29 - AADT Derivation
- Item 31 - Urban Location
- Item 37 - Reserved
- Item 38 - Record Type
- Item 46 - Type of Base
- Item 47 - Type of Subgrade
- Item 50 - Type of Improvement
- Item 55 - Right-of-way Width
- Item 64 - Weighted Design Speed
- Item 76 - Drainage Adequacy
- Item 77 - Type of Development
- Item 78 - Number of Grade Separated Interchanges
- Item 80 - Number of At-Grade Railroad Crossings
- Areawide Summary 5 - Fatal and Injury Motor Vehicle Crashes
Sixteen items will be changed and one item will be added (Number of Peak Direction Lanes). ADOT and Lee Engineering will be preparing the existing software and data to accommodate the changes by the late-Winter of 2000 in order to prepare the local agency data collection process. More information will be available as progress is made.
HPMS Training
Between February 1998 and February 1999, ADOT sponsored 13 training sessions across Arizona. The sessions were attended by 136 civil service employees from 62 government agencies across Arizona. A limited number of ADOT consultants and staff also participated in the earliest training.
Additional training dates will be established for the benefit of ADOT employees and contractors who need to access the HPMS database. Stay tuned for further information. A mass emailing will broadcast these training sessions once they are scheduled.
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