Statewide transportation asset management
Learn how the state plans for and takes action to manage its transportation assets.
Asset management is a strategic, risk-based approach to cost-effectively and efficiently manage Washington's transportation system assets. We maintain the state’s transportation system on a systematic basis. Experience shows that preserving and maintaining existing assets saves money in the future, while maximizing the condition and performance across the transportation network.
WSDOT and asset management practices
Asset management at WSDOT began in the 1980’s with pavement management. However, limited funds present ongoing challenges to perform routine maintenance and preservation activities on our aging and deteriorating assets. Directly supporting WSDOT’s Strategic Plan Goals, WSDOT extends asset management to all modes.
Recognizing funding is a finite resource, asset management is a critical practice to ensure WSDOT’s investments return the highest amount of benefit at the least amount of cost. Asset management is a fundamental component of the agency’s Strategic Plan – Resilience framework, which balances investments to achieve and sustain a State of Good Repair for our existing transportation. This is communicated in asset management plans, a key management tool for WSDOT to make decisions about where and when to invest state and federal funds in the transportation system.
An asset management plan will often include asset inventory and condition, lifecycle planning, performance measures and targets, financial plan, risk considerations, and investment strategies.
Statewide Transportation Asset Management Program
The Statewide Transportation Asset Management Program breaks down into four major asset categories and asset classes within those categories.
Highways
The highways major asset category includes assets that make up the state highway system. The pavement and bridge asset classes are included in WSDOT’s federally certified Transportation Asset Management Plan (TAMP) (PDF 15.7MB).
Ferries
The ferries major asset category includes assets that are a part of the Washington State Ferries (WSF) System. WSDOT has developed a Transit Asset Management (TAM) Plan (PDF 4MB) compliant with the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) requirements.
Intra-agency
The intra-agency major asset category includes assets that provide support for WSDOT operations.
Multimodal
The Multimodal major asset category includes assets that are a part of the state modal systems.
Resources, rules and regulations
The following links provide the framework and guidance to develop and implement asset management practices at WSDOT. More details on the current rules and regulations are also found below.
- Secretary’s Executive Order (SEO 1098) (PDF 67KB)
- Federal Highway Administration (FHWA)
- Federal Transit Administration (FTA)
- American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO)
- Incorporating Risk Management into Transportation Asset Management Plans (PDF 534KB)
- Revised Code of Washington (RCW) 47.04.280
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