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Council hears case for $30 million annual paving program, $120 million bond proposal to arrest falling pavement condition
Summary
Public works staff and the bond committee recommended a multi‑year pavement package—$30 million per year or $120 million in bond proceeds—highlighting a drop in the city's pavement condition index and arguing that delayed repairs worsen costs.
City public‑works staff told council members on Jan. 30 that Laredo’s average pavement condition index (PCI) has fallen since a 2019 assessment and that earlier preventive maintenance is substantially cheaper than late‑stage reconstruction.
Assistant City Manager Ramon Chavez said the city’s street network was measured in a 2019 study at an average PCI of about 73.2; current staff estimates put the 2024 PCI near 61.8 given recent budgets and deferred maintenance. Staff described a recommended bond scenario that would fund an accelerated pavement maintenance and preservation program.
Why it matters: Public‑works staff said lower PCI scores mean parts of the street network are moving from “satisfactory” into “fair” and “poor,” which raises the per‑mile cost to rehabilitate or reconstruct corridors. Staff stressed that preservation treatments applied earlier (crack sealing, slurry, microsurfacing) are far less expensive than milling/overlay or full reconstruction.
Proposal and costs: Staff described a practical funding option of roughly $30 million in bond funding per year (a $120 million package spread across multiple years), paired with an ongoing annual pavement program closer to the current $4–5 million budget baseline. In staff examples, preservation of a mile of residential pavement was estimated at roughly $68,000 per mile, whereas major reconstruction could reach $1.4 million to $4.2 million per mile depending on cross‑section.
Scope and exclusions: Chavez noted the program covers city‑maintained streets only; TxDOT roads were not included in the city PCI maps or the project lists. Staff said the council would be provided a street‑by‑street list if council wants a ballot proposition that includes specific projects, and recommended breaking down the proposed program by council district for accountability.
Subcommittee and charter recommendation: The public infrastructure subcommittee recommended that council also consider a charter amendment to dedicate 5% of property‑tax collections toward street paving; the subcommittee recommended $30 million be added to this year's bond request as a starting point. Staff and committee members discussed staging, supply‑chain and material availability, and the need to coordinate street overlays with utility replacements to avoid tearing newly paved streets.
Next steps: Staff committed to provide council with a street‑by‑street project list and district allocation estimates before the Feb. 10 follow‑up meeting so members can decide whether, and at what level, to include pavement work in a bond referendum.
