HomeMy WebLinkAboutCC AG PKT 2010-01-25 #GDATE: January 25, 2010
TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council
THRU: David Carmany, City Manager
FROM: Terrance Belanger, Interim Director of Public Works
SUBJECT: CALIFORNIA STATEWIDE LOCAL STREET AND
ROADS NEEDS ASSESSMENT
SUMMARY OF REQUEST:
The City Council is asked to receive and file the California Statewide Local Street
and Roads Assessment Report distributed by the League of California Cities.
BACKGROUND:
The League of California Cities distributed a report titles the California Statewide
Local Street and Roads Needs Assessment prepared by a Nichols Consulting
Engineers dated October 2009. The report is similar to the City's Pavement
Management System which rates and assess current pavement road conditions.
The study surveyed all of California's 58 counties and 478 cities in 2007 -08. The
response was outstanding. Information collected resulted in capturing data from
more than 93% of the state's local streets and roads. The report identifies
statewide the overall condition rating of local streets with the following findings:
On a scale of zero (failed) to 100 (excellent), the statewide average pavement
condition index (PCI) is 68 ( "at risk category"). If current funding remains the
same, the statewide condition is projected to deteriorate to a PCI of 58 in 10
years, and further to 48 ( "poor" category) by 2033. Even more critical, the
unfunded backlog will more than double from $37 billion to $79 billion by 2033.
Based on the results of this study, approximately $51.7 billion of additional
funding is needed to bring just the pavement condition of the state's local streets
to a level where the taxpayer's money can be spent cost effectively.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
There is no financial impact to the City. The report only outlines the State's
shortfall of transportation funds.
Agenda Item G
Page 2
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended the City Council receive and file the California Statewide
Local Street and Roads Assessment Report distributed by the League of
California Cities.
SUBMITTED BY:
Terrance Belanger
Interim Director of Publ Works
NOTED AND APPROVED:
5!� ,
David Carman , City Manager
Prepared by: Michael Ho, City Engineer
Attachments:
A. Executive Summary - California Statewide Local Street and Roads Needs Assessment
October 2009 - Final Report - full report is available in the City Engineer's Office
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Final Report
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Needs Assessment
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Nichols Consulting Engineers, Chtd.
Engineering & Environmental Services
501 Cwial Blvd, Suite I, PL Richmond, CA 94804
9 (510) 215-3620 Phone / (510) 215-2898 Fax
Final Report: October 20, 2009
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Executiv Summary
California's local street and road system is reaching a point of crisis. City streets and county
roads are where every trip begins and ends. Whether traveling by bike, bus, rail, truck or
family automobile, Californians need the local system.
As the first comprehensive statewide study of California's local street and road system, this
report provides critical analysis and information on the local transportation network's
condition and funding needs.
The study's objective was to fully assess the condition of the local system and complete the
overall transportation- funding picture for California's transportation network. We wanted
answers to the following: What are the pavement conditions of local streets and roads? What
will it cost to bring pavements to a Best Management Practices (BMP) or most cost - effective
condition? How much will it cost to maintain them once we achieve the BMP or optimal
pavement condition? What are the needs for the essential components to a functioning
system? Is there a funding shortfall? If so, what is it? What are the solutions? This study
collected existing road condition information to determine the future funding needs necessary
to maintain the system in good condition.
As owners and operators of 81 percent of the state's
roads (Figure 1), cities and counties found that this study
was of critical importance for several reasons. While
federal and state governments' regularly assess their
system needs, no such data existed for the local
component of the state's transportation network.
Historically, statewide transportation funding investment
Cities (43 %) decisions have not been based on local pavement
condition data, or adequate recognition for the local
system. Further, recent actions to remove city and
county discretion over federal and state funding have
diminished resources available to the local system.
Other (2%
Federal (8 %)
State highways
( % -)
Counties (38 %)
The goal is to use the findings of this study to educate
policymakers at all levels of government about the
Figure 1. Breakdown of Maintained Centerline Miles infrastructure investments needed to provide California
with a seamless transportation system. The findings of
this study will provide credible and defensible analysis to support a dedicated, stable funding
source for maintaining the local system at an optimum level. It will also provide for the most
effective and efficient investment of public funds.
The study surveyed all of California's 58 counties and 478 cities in 2007 -08. The response
was outstanding. Information collected resulted in capturing data from more than 93% of the
state's local streets and roads. Furthermore, since the majority of the data submitted came
from recognized pavement management systems, the accuracy of the data is very high.
Where no data existed, models were developed, tested, and used to estimate the pavement
condition and funding needs.
The results show that California's local streets and roads are on the edge of a cliff. On a
scale of zero (failed) to 100 (excellent), the statewide average pavement condition index
(PC[) is 68 ( "at risk category"). If current funding remains the same, the statewide condition
Nichols Consulting Engineers, Chtd.
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Final Report: October 20, 2009
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is projected to deteriorate to a PCI of 58 in 10 years, and further to 48 ( "poor" category) by
2033 (see Figure 2). Even more critical, the unfunded backlog will more than double from
$37 billion to $79 billion by 2033.
Based on the results of this study, approximately $51.7
Figure 2. Pavement in poor billion of additional funding is needed to bring just the
condition (PCI = 40) pavement condition of the state's local streets and roads
to a level where the taxpayer's money can be spent cost-
_„ effectively.
To spend the taxpayer's money cost - effectively, it makes more
sense to preserve and maintain our roads in good condition
than to let them deteriorate, which will only make it more costly
in the future. Consistent with that approach, the costs
developed in this study are based on achieving a roadway
pavement condition of what the industry calls Best
Management Practices (BMPs). This condition represents
improving the roadway condition to a level where roads need
preventative maintenance treatments (i.e., slurry seals, chip
seals, thin overlays). These treatments have the least impact
on the public's mobility and commerce. Further, these treatment types are more
environmentally friendly than the next level of construction that would be required (i.e.
rehabilitation and reconstruction).
The importance of this approach is significant. As roadway pavement conditions deteriorate,
the cost to repair them increases exponentially. For example, it costs twelve times less
to maintain a BMP pavement compared to a pavement that is at the end of its service life.
Even a modest resurfacing is four times costlier than a pavement in the BMP condition. With
counties and cities on fixed budgets, employing maintenance practices consistent with BMP
results in treating four to twelve times more road area. By bringing the roads to BMP
conditions, cities and counties will be able to maintain streets and roads at the most cost -
effective level. It is a goal that is not only optimal, but also necessary.
Although no similar statewide bridge needs assessment were available for inclusion in this
study, a brief review indicates that approximately $2.6 billion of bridge projects have been
identified and approved for funding. Of this, local agencies must provide 11.47%
(approximately $300 million) as the local match.
This study helps answer the following key questions:
What are the pavement conditions of local streets and roads?
California's local streets and roads are on the edge. Currently at a PCI of 68, the pavement
condition will decline to 48 (poor condition) by 2033 based on existing funding levels available
to cities and counties.
What will it cost to bring pavements to a BMP or most cost -effective condition?
It will cost $67.6 billion to reach BMP in 10 years.
How much will it cost to maintain them once we achieve the BMP or optimal pavement
condition?
Once the BMP condition is reached, it will cost approximately $1.8 billion a year to maintain
them at that condition.
Nichols Consulting Engineers, Chtd.
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Final Report: October 20. 2009
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What are the needs for the essential comp onents to a functioning system?
The transportation network includes essential safety and traffic components such as curb
ramps, sidewalks, storm drains, streetlights and signals. These components require $32.1
billion over the next 10 years.
Is there a funding shortfall? If so. what is it?
Yes. The table below shows the pavement and essential component shortfall of $71.4 billion
over the next 10 years.
of 10 Year Needs and Shortfall (2008 $Bill!
Pavements $ 67.6 $ 15.9 $ 51.7
Essential Components $ 32.1 $ 12.4 $ 19.7
What are the Solutions?
To bring the state's local street and road system to a best management practice level where
the taxpayer's money can be spent cost effectively, we will need up to approximately $51.7
billion of additional funding for pavement alone and more than $71 billion, including the
essential components, for a functioning system over the next 10 years. The sooner this is
accomplished, the less funding will be required in the future.
The conclusions from this study are inescapable. Given existing funding levels available to
cities and counties for maintaining the local system, California's local streets and roads will
deteriorate rapidly within the next 25 years to a poor condition. Unless this condition is
addressed, costs to maintain the local system will only continue to grow, while the quality of
California's local transportation network deteriorates.
To bring the local system back into a cost - effective condition, thereby preserving the public's
$271 billion pavement investment and stopping further costly deterioration, at least $7 billion
annually in new money is needed to stop the further decline and deterioration of local streets
and roads. This is equivalent to about a 38 -cent gas tax increase. Or to put it another way,
the average driver will pay an additional 50 cents a day for gas. It is imperative that cities and
counties receive a stable and dedicated revenue stream for cost effective maintenance of the
local system to avoid this crisis.
Nichols Consulting Engineers, Chtd.
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