IMPROVEMENTS IN ON-SYSTEM BRIDGE PROJECT PRIORITIZATION. INTERIM REPORT

This report presents information on possible improvements to the Texas State Department of Highways and Public Transportation's 1985-86 method of on-system bridge project prioritization. Within this project the method has been computerized, giving speed, consistency, and efficiency to the selection process. The program's output divides projects into three groups of bridges, termed Qualifying bridges, Marginal bridges, and Non-Qualifying bridges. Funding recommendations involving Qualifying and Non-Qualifying bridges are relatively straightforward and can be presented via computer. Marginal bridges require additional information and analyses before funding recommendations are made; the computer program produces a list of Marginal bridges and summarizes decision-making information for each. A variety of program inputs can be used and the results from several input files can be compared, offering new information to the decision maker.