California Local Streets and Roads Update Released!

On March 5, 2013, the League, California State Association of Counties, and Metropolitan Transportation Commission released the 2012 California Statewide Local Streets and Roads Needs Assessment (www.savecaliforniastreets.org). The report, published every two years, shows that there has been a steady downward trend in the pavement condition since 2008. It will take $8.22 billion annually over the next 10 years to bring the pavement condition and essential components such as storm drains, gutters, sidewalks and curbs of local streets and roads to the most cost effective maintenance level.

Cities and counties own and maintain 81 percent of California’s roads, and these byways are the underpinning of California’s statewide transportation network. From the moment we open our front door in the morning to drive to work, bike to school, walk to the bus station, or buy groceries, we depend on our local streets and roads. Emergency responders and law enforcement rely on the network to save lives and keep us safe. It’s hard to think of a single aspect of daily life that doesn’t involve a local road. 

The study surveyed all 58 counties and 482 cities and covers an exceptional 98 percent of the local streets and roads system. For the first time, the report includes a first time in-depth study of bridge needs. The report shows that pavement conditions are deteriorating across California, and that while the costs are high for even the most basic repair and maintenance, the price tag for waiting is far higher, from both an economic and a public safety standpoint. Simply put, pay now, or pay much more, later.

Cities are encouraged to review the results of the study and the condition of the transportation system in their own cities. The League has prepared the followi toolkit to assist cities in their presentations.  If you have any questions, please contact Jennifer Whiting at jwhiting@cacities.org or (916) 658-8249.  

A note on funding: As in the past, this project is being funded through contributions from stakeholders. Regional Transportation Planning Agencies have been asked to sponsor fifty percent of the cost of the 2012 assessment and the update in 2014, with cities and counties sharing equally in the remaining cost. It is essential that each agency contribute toward this project in order to demonstrate how critical this issue is to sustaining our state’s transportation infrastructure. If you have not yet submitted your contribution, please do so as soon as you can. If you need a copy of your invoice or more information, please contact Jennifer Whiting, Legislative Representative with the League of California Cities at (916) 658-8249 or jwhiting@cacities.org.

Thank you for your support of this very important project!

2012 Toolkit Materials:

• Sample Local Press Release

• Sample Tweets and Letters to the Editor

• Sample PowerPoint Presentation

• Suggested Talking Points

• Sample Resolution

Department Releases Informational Brochure

Do you want to know more about what the Department does?  Are you wondering who is running the Department these days?  Well, you're in luck!  The Public Works Department recently released a new Informational Brochure on department activities.  You can download a copy of the brochure here.