Since 2003 the TAMC has required road agencies to collect and submit roadway condition information based on PASER. That information has been used to generate annual reports, populated interactive maps and generate a wide range of performance measures presented in dashboards. In addition to use by the TAMC many agencies use PASER data to help manage their road systems and convey information to the public.
Michigan's Annual PASER Condition Assessment - A Team Effort
Every year since 2004 TAMC contracts with each of Michigan's twenty-one RPOs and MPOs to coordinate the annual PASER condition assessment for the paved federal-aid road system. A team of three raters composed of a representative from the MDOT, RPO/MPO, and a local agency (county, city/village) embark on an effort to rate at least 50 percent of the paved federal-aid road system each year. Over 100 teams of trained raters assess the condition of 86,000 lane miles of paved federal-aid eligible roads once every two years. Individuals must attend PASER training each year before being allowed to rate the roads.
Quality Assurance and Quality Control (QA/QC)
With over 100 teams of trained raters assessing the condition of roads statewide annually, data quality is of utmost importance to TAMC. Accurate PASER ratings depend on the judgment of the raters. Every year raters are required to attend PASER training and review the rating criteria. Various types of pavement distress are shown and there is a discussion on how various types of distress contribute to the appropriate rating for each road segment. The goal is uniform quality: all rating teams should assign the same rating when observing a given segment of road. In order to ensure this uniformity, a qualified transportation technician observes and independently rates over 2,000 road segments scattered throughout the state. These rating, known as the QC rating, are later compared to the ratings reported by the teams. The analysis shows that over 75 percent of the team ratings are either identical or within one rating point of the QC rating.
PASER Data Collection Regulations
According to Act 51 (P.A. 499 2002, P.A. 199 2007) each local road agency shall annually report the mileage and condition of the road and bridge system under their jurisdiction to the TAMC. To fulfill the requirement of this Act each year TAMC sets requirements for road condition data collection and submission by road-owning agencies in Michigan. Road condition rating is eligible for reimbursement from TAMC if the required training is attend and proper documentation is submitted at the end of the collection process.
