Asset Management for Municipal Public Works

September 6, 2023

Ask the Expert: City of Raleigh, NC

How a local government modernized its strategy—and keeps innovating.

In this Ask the Expert video, Chris McGee, PE, former Assistant Transportation Director at the City of Raleigh, North Carolina, explains how a preservation-based approach to asset management saves millions of dollars a year on maintenance costs while increasing the lifespan of local infrastructure assets. And this city’s innovation journey is only beginning.

Success stories from City of Raleigh | Kercher | Ask the Expert

Some of the Questions Asked

Raleigh’s Early Asset Management Challenges

What main problems was the City trying to solve?
Why was it important for Raleigh to modernize its practices?

Educating Local Leaders

How did you educate city leaders on the need to invest in an asset management system?
What data did you bring to the City Council to justify your proposed innovations?

Asset Management System Implementation

What was the implementation process and strategy?
What goals did you set for the new asset management system?
What challenges did you face during the implementation process?

Pavement, Bridge, and Sidewalk Management

What is your pavement management strategy & key metrics?
What is your bridge management strategy?
What is your sidewalk and ramp management strategy?
What benefits have you seen from your asset management system?

Recommendations

What advice would you give to other local governments?

Chris McGee Headshot "A 3-point decline in the condition of Raleigh’s pavement network represents about a $25M loss. If we can reduce the decline from 2.5 points a year to 1.5 points a year, that one point represents about $8M-$9M in cost savings. Using advanced analytics, Raleigh is able to make better decisions for how to spend the available funds."