Specifications include, but are not limited to: This project will upgrade the functionality and capacity of the existing Excel-based spreadsheet tool and produce a customizable web-based tool or mobile application that guides users to enter the data necessary to complete the calculations. Investigators will begin with a review of the decision support tool and the final report from the original project to examine the list of capital projects included in the original tool and consider potential new projects. In addition, they will survey Clear Roads member states to identify specific types of capital improvements that have the most impact on winter operations expenses. Of specific value to this update are new roadway configurations, but improvements could also include roadside projects, pedestrian improvements, traffic calming measures, new capacity projects or roadway capacity increases that impact winter maintenance. Investigators will identify the risks associated with the improvements as they impact assets and infrastructure needed for winter operations, such as hiring needs, impact on plows and blades, additional equipment requirements, changes to operations, including locations and other impacts on the life cycle of assets.
