[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 23, Volume 1]
[Revised as of April 1, 2004]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 23CFR971.204]

[Page 426-427]
 
                           TITLE 23--HIGHWAYS
 
 CHAPTER I--FEDERAL HIGHWAY ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
 
PART 971_FOREST SERVICE MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS--Table of Contents
 
           Subpart B_Forest Highway Program Management Systems
 
Sec. 971.204  Management systems requirements.

    (a) The tri-party partnership shall develop, establish, and 
implement the management systems as described in this subpart. If the 
State has established a management system for FH that fulfills the 
requirements in 23 U.S.C. 303, that management system, to the extent 
applicable, can be used to meet the requirements of this subpart 
consistent with 23 CFR 660.105(b). The management systems may be 
tailored to meet the FH program goals, policies, and needs using 
professional engineering and planning judgment to determine the nature 
and extent of systems coverage consistent with the intent and 
requirements of this rule.
    (b) The tri-party partnership shall develop and implement procedures 
for the acceptance of the existing, or the development, establishment, 
implementation, and operation of new management systems. The procedures 
shall include:
    (1) A process for ensuring the output of the management systems is 
considered in the development of the FH program transportation plans and 
transportation improvement programs, and in making project selection 
decisions under 23 U.S.C. 204;
    (2) A process for the analyses and coordination of all management 
systems outputs to systematically operate,

[[Page 427]]

maintain, and upgrade existing transportation assets cost-effectively;
    (3) A description of each management system;
    (4) A process to operate and maintain the management systems and 
their associated databases; and
    (5) A process for data collection, processing, analysis, and 
updating for each management system.
    (c) All management systems will use databases with a common or 
coordinated reference system, that can be used to geolocate all database 
information, to ensure that data across management systems are 
comparable.
    (d) Existing data sources may be used by the tri-party partnership 
to meet the management system requirements.
    (e) The tri-party partnership shall develop an appropriate means to 
evaluate the effectiveness of the management systems in enhancing 
transportation investment decision-making and improving the overall 
efficiency of the affected transportation systems and facilities. This 
evaluation is to be conducted periodically, preferably as part of the FS 
planning process.
    (f) The management systems shall be operated so investment decisions 
based on management system outputs can be accomplished at the State 
level.