To integrate the accelerated pavement test technologies of Texas, Louisiana, New York and other Study Partners with selected modeling capabilities developed under the Truck Pavement Interaction (TPI) research program at FHWA. This study will be highly focused and deal primarily with the calibration and implementation of the latest versions of the TPI computer software of pavement and economic models to address specific Truck Size and Weight (TS&W) policy issues that related to economic impacts of heavy vehicle overloading in LA, MNY, and TX, especially along the NAFTA corridor.

Ongoing. Discussions are ongoing regarding the next direction of the study. Semiannual meeting will take place in El Paso, TX in May 2002. Initial kick off meeting held on March 22-23, 2000 to establish detailed research tasks. Work has been generated and approved by the technical panel. The first phase of the study is highly focused and involves integrating selected modeling capabilities with the accelerated pavement test technologies of Texas and Louisiana. The second phase seeks to evolve procedures that can be used to evaluate long term benefits that exist in the form of future applications of the modeling tools to improve upon current pavement design and rehabilitation techniques. FHWA is currently using in-house staff (on-site contractor staff) to accomplish much of the obligated work tasks while TX DOT has contracted with the University of Texas-El Paso (UTEP) and Texas A&M University (TAM) to accomplish much of their obligated work tasks. The first pooled fund study annual meeting was held on April 24-25, 2001. At the meeting, contractors presented task performance; technical panel evaluated the results and determined future work. The first pooled fund study annual report will be available by the end of June 2001. (updated 6/22/01)