In the 1980's the Rocky Mountain Maintenance Tour established a highly effective forum for the exchange of information, techniques, policies and strategies for the maintenance of the Highway System. Since that time the role of Maintenance as a critical element in the overall management of the State Highway infrastructure has increased. Most Maintenance managers have been completely replaced since the discontinuance of the Rocky Mountain Maintenance Tour. The primary focus has also shifted from new construction and major rehabilitation to more attention to infrastructure preservation and asset management via cost effective maintenance. Reactive maintenance alone is not adequate to overcome the challenges of rapid deterioration of roads, considering aging of the infrastructure and growing economic constraints. The Western Maintenance Partnership (WMP) will pool the efforts of the participating agencies to provide a focused look at Maintenance, and will partner with WASHTO states to share experiences, innovations, expertise and solutions to the complex management of highway assets. Maintenance issues include policies, practices, specifications, field investigations, applied research, materials, and training. It is expected that a roundtable and sharing of field experience via hands on demonstration of features will be key elements of the annual meetings.

The purpose of the Western Maintenance Partnership (WMP) is to provide a partnering forum for promoting effective maintenance strategies through the following objectives: - Provide funds for a multi-day annual workshop for discussion and exchange of information and knowledge about each state's maintenance program. - Provide a means to define, support and share technology of mutual interest. - Provide funds for formal training presentations during the annual workshop. - Provide funds for management support of WMP. - Provide funds for special studies, investigations, research and training.

While some of the WMP states have developed pavement preservation programs as a key step in preserving their pavement investment and extending their serviceability with cost effective preservation treatments, other states could benefit from sharing the knowledge gained from this experience. Such a partnership would develop sound preservation practices by sharing of information on maintenance policy, specifications, design, construction practices, field investigations, applied research, materials, training and research. The minimum funding contribution is needed to: - Provide funds for a multi-day annual workshop for discussion and exchange of information and knowledge about each state maintenance program. - Provide funds for formal training presentations during the annual workshop. - Provide a forum to define, support and share technology of mutual interest. - Implement task orders, as designated by the WMP members. - Provide funds to manage the WMP's operations and to maintain a web site that would display meeting reports, state guidelines and specifications.

This will be a 3-year project with likely renewal. Additional meetings, besides the annual workshop and task groups, are possible. The proposed budget will cover the cost of meeting arrangements, state travel, and a meeting report. Each state will provide funding of a minimum of $5,000 to $10,000 each year for a 3-year renewable period. The 3-year commitment/obligation of funds can be split over the 3 years or the full amount can be committed/obligated in the first year of the program. Most of the WASHTO states (18) have expressed interest in the program. Proceedings from the annual workshop and task group meetings will be documented by a report.