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AASHTOWare Project Estimator
What AASHTOWare Project Estimator is
AASHTOWare Project Estimator is a paid, Windows-based standalone system for preparing detailed cost estimates for highway and other transportation construction projects. It supports both cost-based and bid-based estimate generation, with primary funding assigned at group and estimate levels. Estimate information can remain on individual workstations or be stored in shared network locations. The data may include wages, production rates, historical item prices, equipment costs, and material costs. Reports show detailed costs and unit prices while identifying whether each price came from a bid-based, cost-based, reference-based, or collection-based method. The software transfers data with AASHTOWare Project Preconstruction and AASHTOWare Project BAMS/DSS. It also supports XML exchange with Preconstruction and imports project data from external design systems through aecXML Infrastructure Project. AASHTO developed it for transportation agencies and their design consultants.
Who it suits
It suits transportation agencies and design consultants preparing highway construction estimates. Consultants and local agencies handling non-federal projects need their own license.
What it does well
- Cost-based and bid-based estimate generation
- Stores wages and historical item prices
- Detailed reports identify price derivation
- Integrates with AASHTOWare systems
- Supports XML project data exchange
What to know first
- Windows only
- No free plan
- Paid licensing required
- License agreements include use limitations
Plans
| Plan | Billed and limits | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Annual License — 16–20 copies | annual fee · 16–20 workstations · support and maintenance included | $38,500 a year |
| Annual License — 1–15 copies | annual fee per copy · 1–15 workstations · support and maintenance included · additional workstation fees prorated July 1–June 30 | $4,000 a year |
| Annual License — 21–30 copies | annual fee · 21–30 workstations · support and maintenance included | $51,500 a year |
| Annual License — 31–40 copies | annual fee · 31–40 workstations · support and maintenance included | $63,500 a year |
| Annual License — 41–50 copies | annual fee · 41–50 workstations · support and maintenance included | $70,500 a year |
| Annual License — 51–60 copies | annual fee · 51–60 workstations · support and maintenance included | $78,000 a year |
| Site License | annual fee · site-wide use · may extend to local governments for federally funded projects under agency oversight · consultants and non-federal local projects need their own license | $86,000 a year |
| Annual License — Option 6 | 51-60 Copies | On request |
The first 8 of 13 plans, as aashtoware.org lists them, read 15 Oct 2026. The maker's own page has the final word. Every plan
Getting started
- Visit the AASHTOWare Project Estimator website.
- Use a Windows environment.
- Arrange an organizational or agency license under the applicable AASHTO license agreement.
- Consultants and local agencies doing non-federal projects can obtain their own license through Infotech.
Verdict
AASHTOWare Project Estimator focuses on transportation cost estimation, historical data, funding, reporting, and system integration. Its Windows-only platform and paid organizational licensing are key considerations.
Questions
Is there a free plan?
No. AASHTOWare Project Estimator is paid, and no free plan is listed.
Which platform does it support?
Windows.
What estimate methods does it support?
It supports cost-based and bid-based estimate generation, with primary funding capabilities at group and estimate levels.
What products can it exchange data with?
It integrates with AASHTOWare Project Preconstruction and AASHTOWare Project BAMS/DSS. It also supports XML project-data exchange with Preconstruction and imports data from external design systems via aecXML Infrastructure Project.
Who needs to purchase a separate license?
Consultants and local agencies doing non-federal projects must purchase their own license through Infotech at a special reduced license fee.
How is it licensed?
AASHTO licenses the software to organizations or agencies under Master and Supplemental License Agreements.
Facts from AASHTOWare Project Estimator's own pages
- Additional data exchange
- The product supports XML project data exchange with AASHTOWare Project Preconstruction and import of project data from external design systems via aecXML Infrastructure Project. · aashtoware.org, 7 Oct 2026
- Ad hoc pricing
- New York's documentation says users can reference a price lookup table or enter ad hoc data when historical data is unavailable. · dot.ny.gov, 15 Oct 2026
- API availability
- AASHTOWare OpenAPI provides documented endpoints, interactive testing, subscription keys, and SDK downloads, with authentication required for live calls. · developer.aashtoware.org, 15 Oct 2026
- API deployment model
- The OpenAPI gateway routes requests to implementations deployed on agency AASHTOWare assets and does not host application implementations or data. · developer.aashtoware.org, 15 Oct 2026
- API security
- The OpenAPI platform is Azure-based, uses benchmark audits including SOX, CIS, and FedRAMP rulesets, and isolates multitenant data by agency and environment. · developer.aashtoware.org, 15 Oct 2026
- API self-hosting
- Agencies can use a bring-your-own-enterprise hybrid-cloud arrangement and retain control of persisted storage and encryption keys. · developer.aashtoware.org, 15 Oct 2026
- Bid-history source
- New York's transportation department says historical pricing is supplied from its BAMS/DSS system. · dot.ny.gov, 15 Oct 2026
- Catalog update scope
- WisDOT's catalog contains three years of item bid-history information for pricing. · wisconsindot.gov, 15 Oct 2026
- Catalog viewing limit
- WisDOT states its estimator catalog can only be viewed through Estimator and is not intended for contractors. · wisconsindot.gov, 15 Oct 2026
- Company founded
- AASHTO's predecessor AASHO was formally established on December 12, 1914, and changed its name to AASHTO in 1973. · aashtojournal.transportation.org, 15 Oct 2026
- Company headquarters
- LinkedIn lists headquarters at 555 12th Street NW, Suite 1000, Washington, D.C. 20004. · linkedin.com, 15 Oct 2026
- Company identity
- AASHTO's LinkedIn page describes it as a nonprofit civil-engineering organization representing all 50 states, Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico. · linkedin.com, 15 Oct 2026
- Company size
- LinkedIn lists AASHTO's company size as 51–200 employees. · linkedin.com, 15 Oct 2026
- Custom interfaces
- Accessible XML formats and in-application web-services links allow agency-specific interfaces and external price sources. · aashtoware.org, 15 Oct 2026
- Data catalogs
- Estimate data can include standard construction items, wages, production rates, historical prices, equipment costs, and material costs. · aashtoware.org, 15 Oct 2026
- Data management
- Catalog data can be stored on workstations or shared locations for access to construction items, wage rates, production rates, historical prices, equipment, and materials. · aashtoware.org, 15 Oct 2026
- Documentation depth
- New York publishes user, installation, configuration, interaction, system-manager, FAQ, and change-summary documents for Estimator. · dot.ny.gov, 15 Oct 2026
- Estimate methods
- It supports cost-based and bid-based estimating and primary funding at group and estimate levels. · aashtoware.org, 15 Oct 2026
- Estimate verification
- Estimate verification helps identify incompatible or incomplete data before finalization. · aashtoware.org, 15 Oct 2026
- Headquarters
- Washington, DC, United States · aashtoware.org, 28 Sept 2026
- Integrations
- The product integrates with AASHTOWare Project Preconstruction and AASHTOWare Project BAMS/DSS for data transfer. · aashtoware.org, 7 Oct 2026
- Intended users
- AASHTO says the software was developed for transportation agencies and their design consultants. · aashtoware.org, 7 Oct 2026
- Licence scope
- AASHTO licenses its software to organizations or agencies under master and supplemental licence agreements rather than to individuals. · aashtoware.org, 15 Oct 2026
- License restriction
- Consultants and local agencies doing non-federal projects must purchase their own license at the special reduced license fee available through Infotech. · aashtoware.org, 7 Oct 2026
Where AASHTOWare Project Estimator stands on Freedom251
- Project Estimation Software#12 of 27