[vc_row][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_column_text]Factoring in the lifetime cost of new construction is considered good practice in the transportation industry, but surprisingly few government agencies do it.
When it came time to replace a runway that is nearly three miles long at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York City a few years ago, the agency that runs the airport decided to take a close look at what options would make the most sense for its budget in the long run.
The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey considered the long-term costs of paving the runway with either concrete or asphalt. Concrete was more expensive initially, but it was projected to last four times as long as asphalt. Officials selected concrete, because they predicted it would save $500 million over the life of the runway and reduce maintenance costs as well.
To read the full article, please go to: http://www.governing.com/topics/transportation-infrastructure/gov-transportation-report-long-term.html[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]