In the late fifties and during the early sixties the nation's highway infrastructure was built. Since that time and up until recently, the primary focus has been on new construction and major rehabilitation without giving much attention to infrastructure preservation and asset management. Pavement distress has been addressed in a reactive mode. With the aging of the infrastructure and the growing economic constraints, pavement preservation has become the key to overcome the challenges of the rapid deterioration of roads by proactively preserving the system to prolong its life. The Western Pavement Preservation Partnership (WPPP) will pool the efforts of the participating agencies to provide a focused look at pavement preservation, and will partner with other regional and national pavement preservation efforts. Pavement preservation issues include pavement policy, specifications, field investigations, applied research, materials and training. Some of the key issues that may be considered include the following: - Develop performance standards for pavement preservation strategies - Develop proper timing for pavement preservation treatments - Enhance the understanding of optimal timing of pavement preservation treatments - Integrate pavement preservation with pavement management systems - Create marketing strategies to promote pavement preservation concepts - Determine the extended life benefits of pavement preservation strategies - Evaluate and track cost-effectiveness of pavement preservation strategies - Determine threshold limits for pavement preservation action - Ensure definite and objective warranty criteria - Utilize the noise abatement benefits of certain pavement preservation strategies - Improve pavement preservation performance - Track performance of warranty projects - Develop performance measures for each pavement preservation strategy - Improve pavement preservation performance prediction - Promote the need for dedicated funding for pavement preservation - Improve cost allocation techniques - Understand performance variability of strategies - Improve consistency of pavement preservation treatments - Communicate cost-effectiveness of various strategies - Implement innovation and encourage technology transfer - Eliminate pavement preservation failures

The purpose of the Western Pavement Preservation Partnership (WPPP) is to provide a partnering forum for promoting effective pavement preservation strategies through the following objectives: - Provide funds for a multi-day annual workshop for discussion and exchange of information and knowledge about each state's pavement preservation program. - Provide a means to define, support and share technology of mutual interest. - Provide funds for formal training presentations during the annual workshop. - Provide funds for management support of WPPP. - Provide funds for special studies, investigations, research and training. Benefits There is an increasing demand for advice and consultation to develop and improve pavement preservation programs. The WPPP pooled fund will be able to provide pavement preservation advancements by offering: - Shared pavement preservation expertise and exposure to national and international knowledge. - Fast-track technology transfer, training and deployment of pavement preservation innovations. - Timely solutions to pavement preservation issues. - Solutions to overcome agency challenges and business practices. - Solid working relationships and partnerships with Industry, academia and other public agencies. - Minimum duplication of efforts as a result of working on common objectives. - Cost reduction as a result working on common issues. - Identification of common research needs, funding mechanisms and priorities.

While some of the WPPP states have developed pavement preservation programs as a key step in preserving their pavement investment and extending their serviceability with cost effective preservation treatments, other states could benefit from sharing the knowledge gained from this experience. Such a partnership would develop sound preservation practices by sharing of information on pavement policy, specifications, design, construction practices, field investigations, applied research, materials, training and research. The minimum funding contribution is needed to: - Provide funds for a multi-day annual workshop for discussion and exchange of information and knowledge about each state's pavement preservation programs. - Provide funds for formal training presentations during the annual workshop. - Provide a forum to define, support and share technology of mutual interest. - Implement task orders, as designated by the WPPP members. - Provide funds to manage the WPPP's operations and to maintain a web site that would display meeting reports, state guidelines and specifications.

This will be a three year project with likely renewal. Additional meetings, besides the annual workshop and task groups, are possible. The proposed budget will cover the cost of meeting arrangements, state travel, and a meeting report. Each state will provide funding of a minimum of $10,000 each year for a 3-year renewable period. The three year commitment/obligation of funds can be split over the three years or the full amount can be committed/obligated in the first year of the program. Four states have expressed interest in the program (CA, HI, NV and OR). Proceedings from the annual workshop and task group meetings will be documented by a report.