Cross-Asset Resource Allocation / North Carolina DOT
Since 2009, North Carolina DOT has used a structured approach to help prioritize capital investments across modes and asset classes. The initial version of the approach (Version 1.0) focused on prioritizing mobility and highway modernization projects supported by data on congestion, crashes and pavement condition. Over time the process evolved to include additional investment types and data. North Carolina’s Strategic Transportation Investments Law adopted in 2013 helped formalize the process, requiring that NCDOT allocate 40% of its available funds for mobility to Statewide Mobility projects that address congestion and bottlenecks, 30% of funds to projects with Regional Impact that improve connectivity within Regions, and 30% of funds to projects that address local needs. Different approaches are used for prioritizing investments in each mode (highways, aviation, bicycle-pedestrian, public transportation, ferry and rail) within each of these three groups. In Version 5.0 of the process, implemented in 2018, 24 different types of improvements are considered for highways. Candidate projects are scored in 10 areas, including pavement condition, considering a mix of existing conditions and predicted conditions as a result of the proposed project, as illustrated in the figure.
Highway Scoring - Eligible Criteria with P5.0 Measures
| Criteria | Measure | Existing Conditions | Project Benefits (Future Conditions) |
| Congestion | Volume/Capacity + Volume | ||
| Benefit/Cost | (Travel Time Savings + Safety Benefits)/Cost to NCDOT | ||
| Safety/Score | Critical Crash Rate, Density, Severity, Safety Benefits | ||
| Economic Competitiveness | % Change in Jobs + % Change in County Economy | ||
| Accessibility/Connectivity | County Economic Indicator, Improve Mobility | ||
| Freight | Truck Volume, Truck %, Future Interstate Completion | ||
| Multimodal | Multimodal Benefits | ||
| Lane Width | Existing Width vs. Standard Width | ||
| Shoulder Width | Existing Width vs. Standard Width | ||
| Pavement Score | Pavement Condition Rating |
Source: NCDOT. 2019. https://connect.ncdot.gov/projects/planning/MPORPODocuments/P5.0%20Master%20Presentation%20-%20July%202018.pdf
Read more in the chapter: 5.2.3 Use of Multi-Objective Decision Analysis for Resource Allocation