Bay Area Pavement Quality Only Fair
OAKLAND, CA — Pavement conditions on the Bay Area’s local streets and roads earn only a “fair” grade, according to a new report released today by the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC), with the typical stretch of asphalt being seriously worn and likely to require rehabilitation soon. Pavement conditions on the region’s more than 40,000 lane miles of local streets and roads have been largely stable for the past several years, with the average pavement condition index (PCI) score over the 2004–2006 period rising a single point to a score of 64 out of a maximum possible 100 points from a three-year moving average of 63 points in 2003–2005.
“It’s encouraging to see we’re at least holding the line against the wear and tear caused by traffic, weather and time,” said Napa County Supervisor and MTC Chair Bill Dodd. “But there’s a lot of work still to be done. For quite a while now, the average PCI score has been hovering close to 60, which is the point when pavement begins going downhill fast. We have to invest in preventive maintenance to make sure our good roads stay that way, and in rehabilitation to bring the rest of our pavement up to snuff.”
Dodd noted that the three-year moving average represents a departure for MTC, which previously reported year-to-year changes in pavement quality statistics. “The three-year average gives us a clearer picture, since not all jurisdictions submit their data at the same time, and a single project can cause a huge jump in the annual PCI score for a small city with just a few miles of streets.”
MTC also has revised several of the categories it uses to describe pavement conditions. PCI scores of 90 or higher continue to be deemed “excellent.” These are newly built or resurfaced streets that show little or no distress. Pavement that shows only slight or moderate distress, and requires mostly preventive maintenance, is now characterized as “very good” if it has a PCI score in the 80 to 89 range or “good” if the PCI ranges from 70 to 79. The “very good” category previously included cities and counties with PCI scores of 75 to 89, while the “good” classification ranged from 60 to 74.
Streets with PCI scores in the “fair” (60-69) range are becoming worn to the point where rehabilitation may be needed to prevent rapid deterioration. Because major repairs cost five to 10 times more than routine maintenance, these streets are at an especially critical stage. Roadways with PCI scores of 50 to 59 are now considered “at-risk,” while those with PCI scores of 25 to 49 are deemed “poor.” These roads require major rehabilitation or reconstruction. Pavement with a PCI score below 25 is considered “failed.” These roads are difficult to drive on and need reconstruction.
MTC previously categorized as “fair” those streets and roads with PCI scores of 45 to 59. Pavement with PCI scores of 25 to 44 was considered “poor” and those below 25 were described as “very poor.”
“Not surprisingly,” commented Dodd, “the highest PCI scores tend to be found in suburban communities with lots of new streets. But outside the new suburbs, there are thousands of miles of streets and roads with PCI scores that have fallen below 60, especially in older communities and rural areas.”
No Bay Area city or county scored in the excellent range for 2004–2006. The top-ranked jurisdiction is the Contra Costa County city of Brentwood, where the three-year average PCI on local streets averaged 85, up two points from 2003–2005. The lowest-ranked pavement was found in unincorporated Sonoma County, which recorded a three-year average PCI score of 44. The San Mateo County city of Colma logged the biggest improvement in 2006, with its three-year average PCI score jumping nine points to 67. The largest decline came in the Contra Costa County city of Orinda, where the three year-average PCI score fell to 46 last year from 56 points in 2003–2005.
“This shows just how urgent the need for additional funding really is,” explained Orinda City Councilmember and MTC Commissioner Amy Worth. “The state gasoline tax traditionally has been the biggest source of funds for local street and road maintenance. But that tax has been the same 18 cents per gallon since 1994, and its purchasing power erodes each year. I don’t have to go very far to see how devastating this decline in funding has been to local governments all around the state.”
“Local agencies have had to do more with less,” remarked Sui Tan of MTC’s Regional Streets and Roads Program, noting that regionwide PCI scores have stabilized despite shrinking revenues. “Cities and counties are choosing to invest in preventive maintenance and other pavement preservation programs. But local governments can’t stretch the same dollar forever. So PCI scores are likely to begin dropping if there’s no change in the funding picture.”
MTC’s Regional Streets and Roads Program last month presented its Most Improved Award to the San Mateo County town of Hillsborough, which recorded the biggest year-to-year jump in PCI scores from 2005 to 2006 and boosted its three-year average PCI score to 64 from 57 in the 2003–2005 period. MTC’s Best All-Around Pavement Management Program Award went to the City of Santa Clara, which consistently registers PCI scores in the mid-80s range.
MTC is the transportation planning, funding and coordinating agency for the nine-county San Francisco Bay Area.
Contact:
John Goodwin: (415) 778-5262
Randy Rentschler: (415) 778-6780