New Study Finds California’s Local Streets and Roads In Perpetual Disrepair

As published earlier this week on PublicCEO, the biennial California Statewide Local Streets and Roads Needs Assessment survey confirmed that, "pavement conditions are declining and... existing funding levels are insufficient to properly fix and/or maintain streets, roads, bridges, sidewalks, storm drains and traffic signs. Deferring this crucial work, the report predicts, will likely double the cost of repairs in the future, and impedes efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and other air pollutants."

The report has been produced every year since 2008, and the 2014 report covered 58 counties and 482 cities throughout California, capturing data from more than 99 percent of the state's local streets and roads.

In its findings on funding, the survey reported how "existing funding for California’s local streets and roads is just $1.7 billion annually but $3.3 billion is needed just to maintain the current statewide average rating of 66. However it would take $7.3 billion annually to bring the state’s local streets and roads into a safe and reliable condition. These figures do not take into account the $31 billion needed in the next decade for curb ramps, sidewalks, storm drains, street lights and signals. Further, there is a funding shortfall of $1.3 billion to maintain the safety and integrity of California’s 11,863 local bridges."