Currently, system maintenance is a function of a transportation agency’s operating budget.  In this era of limited resources and increased costs, agency leaders are often forced to decide between funding programs and personnel or routine maintenance.  Programs and personnel are much higher in the eye of the public and elected officials, deferring maintenance offers much less resistance.  This practice is further encouraged by the fact that if maintenance is deferred to the point that an asset requires a complete overhaul (the Longfellow Bridge for example) or fails its rehabilitation is funded through capital funds.  These emergency capital funds are under the control of DCAM or the Commonwealth, and would not affect the agency operating budget.  In effect Agencies are disincentives to maintain their assets.

A system of incentives should be developed to reward agencies and managers that prioritize needed maintenance and reduce long term costs.  The newly deployed asset management systems should be used to implement this reward system.

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