What is the main purpose of performance measures in a Pavement Management System?

The main purpose of performance measures in a Pavement Management System (PMS) is to evaluate the effectiveness of the PMS and track progress towards achieving its objectives. Performance measures provide a quantitative way to assess how well the PMS is performing in terms of maintaining and improving pavement condition, ride quality, safety, and other key goals. These measures allow agencies to monitor the impact of their pavement management decisions and make adjustments as needed to ensure that the PMS is meeting its intended objectives. Examples of performance measures include the percentage of pavements in good condition, the average International Roughness Index (IRI) of the network, and the number of pavement-related crashes. Performance measures can be used to track trends over time, compare performance across different regions or districts, and benchmark performance against other agencies. The selection of appropriate performance measures is crucial for the success of a PMS. The measures should be relevant to the agency's objectives, measurable, and easy to understand. By tracking performance measures, agencies can demonstrate accountability to stakeholders, justify funding requests, and continuously improve their pavement management practices.