5/26/1992 - Laserfiche WebLink

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The Machine has been operating well and has allowed the Traffic Engineering Division to greatly improve the pavement markings provided to motorists, especially at intersections. (The use of thermoplastic is approximately twice the cost of paint but has a useful field life of about five times that of paint. The more thermoplastic we use, the longer we can manage -without a second pavement marking crew and still -protect the county's liability exposure.) Although the Apollo II has served the County well, it is not without its shortcomings. Only one color of thermoplastic can be placed at a time while almost every project requires both white and yellow markings. To switch from one color to the other takes at least one hour of time and we lose some material. Depending upon the project location, we often have to return to the shop before changing colors which causes an even greater time delay. The present machine has also shown the need for increased main- tenance costs. ALTERNATIVES AND ANALYSIS The obvious solution would be to purchase a machine with two pre-melters which would allow placement of two colors from one machine. This type of machine does not exist in the manually operated market. Only large machines, with greater costs than even a new Apollo II ($8000) have this feature. We have no need for a self-propelled machine. In dealing with the manufacturer, we have had our eyes open for a used Apollo II which would give us the same flexibility. We have recently located a 1988 Apollo II machine which is an exact duplicate of our machine, with a superior "bead distribution system." Except for this one feature, it is identical to our existing machine. Rather than return the machine to Atlanta for sale, the Pavemark Corporation left the machine with us to try it out and satisfy ourselves that it is in excellent working order. We have done so and believe that the cost of $2400, including a trailer worth approximately $1500, is an excellent buy and the most cost beneficial method of securing the flexibility of laying out two colors of pavement markings at the same time with only one crew. The reason for this low post is that the machine has been used on a long term lease and' the "Pavemark Corporation" has really already ammortized this machine. They also want to continue promoting Extruded Thermoplastic use. Alternative No. 1 The Board of County Commissioners purchase the 1988 Apollo II Thermoplastic Pavement Marking machine and increase the efficiency of the existing pavement marking crews. Having two machines, one for each color, would also increase the service life of each machine. Alternative No. 2 Not purchase this used machine and continue to accomplish thermoplastic pavement markings by the present methods. This will result in increased maintenance costs each year and reduce crew efficiency by approximately 200 crew -hours each year. 33 MAY Jl �ayiv