Highway Report Card

Long
Range
Goal

C+

Actual
for
2017

C+

Description of Measure

CDOT gives a letter grade to overall roadway condition. It is a combination of the percent of highway pavement with high or moderate Drivability Life and the level of service (LOS) delivered by CDOT’s maintenance program. Drivability Life is an indication in years of how long a highway segment will have acceptable driving conditions based on an assessment of pavement smoothness, surface cracking, rutting and safety. The Department in 2013 changed its way of evaluating pavement. Grades from previous years are not directly comparable.

Actions

Investments in both maintenance and pavement programs help to preserve Colorado's single most important transportation asset: the state highway system. However, declining revenues are making it difficult to sustain current conditions. Long-term funding is unable to keep pace with the pavement needs of Colorado's highway system. Although underfunded, CDOT engineers and contractors are exploring ways to minimize pavement treatment costs on portions of the state highway system while still maintaining safe, drivable roads. Maintenance crews continue to spend time and money on smaller repair work such as filling potholes.

Trend: Steady

Year	2013	2014	2015	2016	2017
Long Range Goal	C+	C+	C+	C+	C+
Actual	C+	C+	C+	B-	C+
Budget	$357 M	$488 M	$487 M	$490 M	$525 M

Pavement Report Card

Long
Range
Goal

80%

Actual
for
2018

80%

Description of Measure

Pavement condition is measured in terms of Drivability Life. Drivability Life is an indication in years of how long a highway segment will have acceptable driving conditions based on an assessment of pavement smoothness, surface cracking, rutting and safety.

Pavement with High Drivability Life is expected to have acceptable driving conditions for more than 10 years. Pavement with Moderate Drivability Life is expected to have four to 10 years of acceptable driving conditions. Pavement with Low Drivability Life is expected to have fewer than four years of acceptable driving conditions. Having “unacceptable” driving conditions doesn’t mean that a highway is impassable. However, drivers may need to endure rough rides, reduce speeds to navigate around potholes and other types of pavement damage, or otherwise compensate for deteriorating conditions.

Actions

CDOT is exploring enhanced road-management methods including new preservation strategies to maintain the highest roadway surface grades possible, despite declining revenues.

More Information

See this map for ratings of pavement conditions along individual stretches of Colorado’s highways.

Year	2013	2014	2015	2016	2017	2018
Budget	$261 M	$239 M	$235 M	$236 M	$252 M	$232 M

Maintenance Report Card

Long
Range
Goal

B-

Actual
for
2017

C+

Description of Measure

CDOT measures the overall performance of its maintenance program by assigning letter grades to nine program areas, such as Snow and Ice Removal, Roadway Striping, Sign and Signal Maintenance, and Rest Area Maintenance. The overall grade for maintenance reflects the performance of all nine areas.

Actions

Colorado’s pavement condition continues to decline, while the cost to maintain it is increasing. More than half of the pavement on the State Highway System is in poor condition and the equipment needed to support CDOT’s maintenance of it continues to age. Revenue sources are not keeping pace with inflation and the true costs of maintenance. To ensure safe roadways are continuously available, CDOT must allocate a disproportionate proportion of funds toward maintaining older roads, leaving less for other maintenance activities.

Trend: Declining

Year	2013	2014	2015	2016	2017
Long Range Goal	B-	B-	B-	B-	B-
Actual	B	B-	B-	C+	C+
Budget	$242 M	$249 M	$251 M	$254 M	$273 M

Snow & Ice Report Card

Long
Range
Goal

Actual
for
2017

B-

Description of Measure

CDOT’s maintenance program establishes a target letter grade it expects to achieve for snow and ice control each year. During the winter, CDOT maintenance workers complete surveys to grade their performance using established criteria based on the year’s budget. Higher grades are typically achieved during lower-cost, milder winters.

Actions

The volume of snow and ice removal depends on the frequency and strength of winter storms across the state. Being able to do the job well depends on funding. CDOT’s maintenance policy was revised in 2008 with new criteria to make the most of what money is available. Highway segments with daily traffic counts of fewer than 1,000 vehicles are no longer plowed between 7 p.m. and 5 a.m.

More Information

Trend: Declining

Year	2013	2014	2015	2016	2017
Long Range Goal	B	B	B	B	B
Actual	B	B	B	B	B-
Budget	$61 M	$60 M	$75 M	$73 M	$76 M

Traffic Services Report Card

Long
Range
Goal

C+

Actual
for
2017

C+

Description of Measure

A letter grade is used to rate traffic services. This maintenance program ensures that stripes on traffic lanes are clearly marked, highway signs are visible, traffic signals are functioning properly and guardrails are intact and functioning.

Actions

CDOT fell short of its long-term goal of B-. However, the Department in 2014 met its short-term, fiscally constrained goal for traffic services of a C+.

Trend: Declining

Year	2013	2014	2015	2016	2017
Long Range Goal	C+	C+	C+	C+	C+
Actual	B-	C+	C+	C+	C+
Budget	$60 M	$69 M	$61 M	$61 M	$71 M