Overview of StreetSaver and Its Role in Pavement Management

The StreetSaver pavement management software, developed by the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC), is a trusted tool used by more than 500 cities and counties nationwide to evaluate and maintain road conditions. Moreover, MTC not only provides StreetSaver to local agencies but also uses it to assess street and road conditions for 109 jurisdictions in the San Francisco Bay Area. Since 2008, StreetSaver has served exclusively in the California statewide assessment of local street and road needs. This assessment informs the Governor and Legislature about critical funding shortfalls and the impact of delaying transportation funds.

MTC’s Commitment to Pavement Data Quality

To ensure reliable data from Pavement Management Technical Assistance Program (P-TAP) consultants, MTC created strict guidelines for managing pavement data collection quality.

MTC’s Data Quality Management Plan includes three components:

  • Vendor Certification Program (VCP)
  • Quality Control Plan (QCP)
  • Data acceptance

The VCP plays a key role in consultant selection and the overall data quality process. Meanwhile, the Rater Certification Program ensures that raters provide accurate pavement condition ratings. Some StreetSaver users, within or outside the Bay Area, may require firms or their raters to be certified by MTC.

Component I: Vendor Certification Program (VCP)

Vendor certification is the first step in the pavement distress data quality process. It ensures that contractors selected for P-TAP can collect distress data with accuracy close to that of expert raters.

Visit Vendor Certification Program for more information.

Component II: Quality Control Plan (QCP)

Vendor-certified firms must deliver high-quality data to project sponsors and MTC. To achieve this, the QCP requires each firm to detail the qualifications, training, and experience of raters collecting pavement distress data. For new raters, contractors must explain training and supervision procedures during the internship period. MTC must approve new rater qualifications before they conduct unsupervised ratings.

Furthermore, firms must ensure data compatibility with StreetSaver to support accurate PCI calculations and regional consistency.

Standards for Data Accuracy, Resolution, and Precision

Each must describe how they will verify accuracy, resolution, and precision:

  • Accuracy: Correct identification of distress types.
  • Resolution: Accurate identification of severity levels.
  • Precision: Consistent rating results across repeated surveys.

Required verification methods include:

  • Re-surveying control sections at least biweekly.
  • Re-surveying at least 5% of rated sections within a month.
  • Supervisor-led re-surveys of at least 5% of rated sections.
  • Comparison of current and prior PCI values, with investigations for differences exceeding 15 PCI points.

Additionally, the QCP must define acceptable results, outline remedial actions for non-compliant data, and explain how and when findings and corrections are reported to MTC. Firms must also specify when survey results will be entered into StreetSaver, PCI values calculated, and data made available to MTC. A Quality Management Report must be submitted for sponsor approval.

Rater Certification Program (RCP) for Accurate Assessments

Accurate ratings are critical for supporting infrastructure assessments through the StreetSaver pavement management software. Accordingly, under P-TAP, even vendor-certified firms must have MTC-certified raters. Certification involves passing both a field distress survey and an online written exam. These steps evaluate rater skills based on MTC’s seven-distress protocol.

In practice, raters must score up to 24 test sites with acceptable accuracy. Certification is available to raters from non-P-TAP firms and local agencies. Exams occur at least once a year. Certificates are valid for two years and can be renewed for another two after completing an online refresher. Re-certification every four years includes both exams.

Visit Rater Certification Program for more information.

Component III: Quality Acceptance Plan 

MTC communicates with contractors about issues like mismatched PCI values to decide on corrective actions. If contractors fail to meet QCP standards or prequalification criteria, MTC may issue a stop work order and mandate re-certification or re-surveying. Repeated violations can lead to contract termination. To enforce this, MTC or its designee, California State University at Chico (CSUC), oversees the Quality Acceptance Plan.

Administering the Rater Certification Program

Vendor certification alone does not guarantee rater accuracy. All raters must pass the Rater Certification Program. For this purpose, CSUC manages registration, exams, certification, and data tracking. They also facilitate survey tests up to twice a year and establish ground truths when needed.

Auditing Contractor Quality Control Plans

CSUC audits QCPs to ensure compliance before sponsors accept survey results. In addition, they perform site audits and review results to verify adherence.

Requirements include:

  • Biweekly re-surveys of control sections.
  • Re-surveys of 5% of previously rated sections within one month.
  • Supervisor re-surveys of 5% of sections.
  • PCI checks against historical data.

CSUC may conduct spot checks or full audits as directed by MTC.

Verifying Collected Pavement Data

CSUC performs verification by:

  • Comparing current and prior PCI values.
  • Re-surveying sections already evaluated by contractors.

Get Started with StreetSaver

To implement StreetSaver in your agency or become a certified vendor or rater, contact MTC. For more details on the MTC Data Quality Management Plan, please contact us.