Council reviews truck-route lifecycle plan estimating $98.9 million in repairs over 26 years

PORT HUENEME, Calif. — City staff told the City Council on Monday that the pavement on major truck routes that serve the Port of Hueneme needs reconstruction and a sustained maintenance program and that the estimated cost to maintain the five truck routes over a 26‑year life cycle is $98.9 million, or roughly $3.8 million per year.

The analysis, presented by City Engineer Charles Cable, focused on heavily used arterials — Port Hueneme Road, Ventura Road, Channel Islands Boulevard, portions of Victoria and Pleasant Valley — and applied lifecycle and pavement condition data collected this year. Cable said preliminary design for Port Hueneme Road calls for an 8‑inch structural section with an asphalt rubber surface and estimated reconstruction cost of about $8.2 million for the first major rehabilitation. “This isn’t set in stone because there’s different technologies that come out,” Cable said when describing the assumptions behind the schedule and cost estimates.

Why it matters: heavy truck traffic multiplies pavement damage compared with passenger cars; a fully loaded 80,000‑pound semi produces pavement stress equivalent to thousands of cars under axle‑load formulas used by pavement engineers. Council members said they want the city to reduce future reconstruction costs by increasing preventative maintenance now.

Key facts and immediate steps - Staff estimated the 26‑year lifecycle cost for all designated truck routes at $98.9 million (about $3.8 million per year); Port Hueneme Road’s first reconstruction was estimated at about $8.2 million. These corrected figures were read into the record by the presenter and noted as updates to the printed staff report. - The Public Works department plans a phased schedule of preventive work (crack sealing, slurry, rejuvenation) and full reconstruction at trigger points shown in the report; staff said these schedules are subject to change as new materials and grant funding options emerge. - The city has applied for a federal Surface Transportation Block Grant; staff said the city requested $3.5 million for the project and expects award announcements by the end of the year. - Council unanimously voted to receive and file the report and directed staff to pursue grant funding, collect additional pavement condition index data, and coordinate with regional partners (including the Port and military bases) on funding and design letters of support.

What council debated Council members pressed staff on how much of the pavement deterioration is attributable to port truck traffic and on alternatives such as concrete surfacing; staff said concrete has higher initial cost, noise and utility‑cutting issues, and that truck routes were designed to a higher structural standard that makes them more expensive to rebuild. Councilmembers asked for data on daily truck trips at the port; staff cited the Ventura County freight corridor study (2021) figure of about 1,600 daily truck trips at the main gate as the best available data, and said they will provide updated truck‑count and permit information to the council. Council also discussed using existing port revenue‑sharing funds to offset costs and pursuing port and federal grants.

Context and next steps The presentation referenced a recent Ventura County civil grand jury report urging more frequent preventative maintenance to avoid higher reconstruction costs later. Staff will collect additional PCI data using Safe Streets for All grant funding, monitor federal grant timelines, coordinate letters of support with regional agencies, and return with updates. The council received and filed the staff analysis by unanimous vote.