In the 1980s, the Rocky Mountain Maintenance Tour established an effective forum for exchanging information, techniques, policies, and strategies related to highway system maintenance. Since then, the role of maintenance has become increasingly critical in managing state highway infrastructure. Most maintenance managers have changed since the conclusion of the Rocky Mountain Maintenance Tour, and the focus has shifted from new construction and major rehabilitation to infrastructure preservation and asset management through cost-effective maintenance practices.

Reactive maintenance alone is insufficient to address the challenges posed by rapid road deterioration, aging infrastructure, and growing economic constraints. The Western Maintenance Partnership (WMP) has operated under several pooled fund phases:

• 2006–2014: TPF-5(145)

• 2015–2019: TPF-5(312)

• 2019–2026: TPF-5(394)

The current pooled fund phase (TPF-5(394)) will conclude in 2026/2027, and a new phase will be established. This five-year continuation of the WMP will unite participating agencies to focus on maintenance and collaborate with WASHTO states to share experiences, innovations, expertise, and solutions for managing highway assets. Key maintenance topics include policies, practices, specifications, field investigations, applied research, materials, and training. Annual meetings will feature roundtable discussions and hands-on demonstrations of best practices.

The primary objective of the WMP continuation is to provide a collaborative forum for promoting effective maintenance strategies among WASHTO Maintenance Committee members.

Pooled fund contributions may be used for the following activities:

• Annual Meetings and Workshops: Cover registration and travel reimbursement for the WASHTO Maintenance Committee annual meeting and/or multi-day workshops or scan tours to facilitate discussion and knowledge exchange about state maintenance programs. The meeting host state may request reimbursement through the pooled fund for eligible hosting expenses.

All reimbursement requests must be submitted and approved by the Maintenance Committee Chair or Vice Chair prior to travel. This may include travel by state DOTs who are and who are not participating in the pooled fund. Refer to this pooled fund’s travel guide for details.

• Training: Support formal training presentations, to promote and expand the use of new technologies, during annual meetings or workshops.

• Technology Sharing: Provide a forum to define, support, and share technologies of mutual interest.

• Documentation and Knowledge Sharing through a TPF Website: Fund WMP communications and maintain a pooled fund website to display meeting reports, state guidelines, and specifications.

• Consultant Support: Provide funds for consultant assistance, if needed.

• Special Studies and Research: Support investigations, research, and training initiatives.

This will be a five-year project, with potential renewal, running approximately from January 2027 to December 2031. Additional meetings beyond annual conferences and workshops may occur. Each participating state is expected to contribute a total of$25,000. This should be transferred or paid annually at $5,000 per year for 2027-2031. Alternatively, contributions can be transferred or paid in full during the first year. Many WASHTO states have expressed interest in continuing this pooled fund effort.

Please indicate in your commitment comments if you plan to use non-SP&R funding.