Questions:

1. What is the Highway Performance Monitoring System (HPMS)?

 

2. When did the HPMS program start?

 

3. What is the purpose of HPMS?

 

4. What type of data is collected?

 

5. How is HPMS data used?

 

 

 

Answers:

 

1.      The Highway Performance Monitoring System (HPMS) is a national level system that includes data on the extent, condition, performance, use and operating characteristics of the Nation’s highways. In general, HPMS contains administrative and extent of system information on all public roads, while information on other characteristics is represented in HPMS as a mix of universe and sample data.  

 

2.      HPMS was originally developed in 1978 as a continuing database to replace special biennial condition studies that had been conducted by the States since 1965.

3.      The major purpose of HPMS is to support a data driven decision process within the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), the U.S. Department of Transportation, and the Congress. The HPMS data are used extensively in the analysis of highway system condition, performance and investment needs that make up the biennial Condition and Performance Reports to Congress.

 

4.      Universe data is a limited set of data items reported for the entire public road system. Universe data includes length, lane number and traffic data.

Sample data consists of data items added to the universe data that are reported for a portion of the total highway system. Sample data contains the universe data plus additional data items related to physical characteristics, condition, performance, use and operation of the sampled sections of the highway.

5.      Length, lane-mile and travel data are used for apportionment of Federal-aid highway funds under the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU). HPMS data are also used for assessing and reporting highway system performance under FHWA’s strategic planning process. HPMS data form the basis of the analyses that support the Condition and Performance Reports to Congress and are the source for a substantial portion of the information published in FHWA’s Highway Statistics and in other FHWA publications and media.

 

In Pennsylvania, the HPMS data are the source for a substantial portion of the Pennsylvania Highway Statistics that is published each year by the Bureau of Planning and Research. On line copies of this report can be found at the PennDOT Internet Site