Annual Pavement Survey to Gather Data on North Arlington Street Conditions
By Nina Sherer, Arlington Public Works and Transportation
Posted on August 19, 2019, August 19, 2019

Pavement Survey Vehicle 

There’s little doubt about the impact technology has on our daily lives. We see it everywhere we look — our computers, phones, cars, refrigerators, and road maintenance. Yes, even the upkeep of the roads you drive is affected by technology.

In September, Arlington’s Public Works and Transportation Department will continue its annual pavement survey program, which uses technology to inventory the condition of all streets within the city limits. All City streets generally bounded on the south by Park Row Drive to the north city limits will be surveyed. Data collection is anticipated to be completed by the end of the year.

Surveys of central and south Arlington were conducted in 2017 and 2018, respectively.

This project consists of contracting with a third-party vendor who operates a fleet of sophisticated data collection vehicles equipped with an array of precision instrumentation and data collection equipment. Each year the vendor collects data on one-third of the City’s streets.

“This pavement management program provides a condition inventory of every street segment in the city and tracks its maintenance history, which helps staff identify deficiencies, prioritize roadway projects, and monitor pavement performance,” said Mindy Carmichael, Public Works and Transportation director. “By continuing to invest in technology, we have afforded ourselves the ability to make informed decisions that allow staff to optimize available resources and protect the resident’s investment in the most cost-effective manner.”

The vehicles will travel the selected roads to collect information on:

  • The type, extent, and severity of pavement surface distress (i.e. cracks and ruts); and
  • The smoothness and ride comfort of the road.

Click here to view of the 2019 Pavement Survey Map.

The data collected is entered into an asset management system and combined with other factors to determine the road’s score, or Overall Condition Index (OCI), of 0-100. The OCI assigned to individual road segments assists city officials in identifying the proper level of maintenance needed to keep the road viable for as long as possible or if a complete rebuild is needed.

Click here to view a map of current street conditions.

This technology gathering allows the City to develop a comprehensive and proactive approach to roadway management that ensures road maintenance budgets are spent wisely. Using this approach, the Public Works and Transportation department improved the condition of over 330 lane miles during fiscal year 2018.

The pavement survey aligns with two Arlington City Council priorities, Enhance Regional Mobility and Put Technology to Work.

Residents with questions or needing additional information regarding the program or process are encouraged to contact the City of Arlington at 817-459-6561. To stay up-to-date on street improvements across The American Dream City, visit the City of Arlington’s Street Tracker website.

Enhance Regional Mobility, Put Technology to Work
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