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Public works presents pavement‑condition data; estimates $8.5–10M needed yearly to stop decline
Summary
Public Works Director Michael Webb gave a detailed pavement condition index (PCI) briefing, showed street examples and said current capital spending (~$5M/year) will let the network decline; he estimated $8.5–$10M annually would halt deterioration and return network to a good PCI level.
Public Works Director Michael Webb told the council the city’s roadway network stands at a mid‑40s average on the pavement condition index (PCI) and that current capital spending — roughly $5 million per year on average — is insufficient to prevent continued decline.
Webb displayed photo examples of streets ranging from PCI in the 90s (recently reconstructed arterials) to PCI in the 20s and 30s for residential and collector streets showing severe cracking, potholes and failed pavement. He said Redding manages roughly 450 center‑lane miles (about 940 lane miles) and that two‑thirds of the network consists of local streets that can fall into poor condition more quickly if funding focuses on arterials alone.
Webb and staff explained that multi‑year capital projects and timing of contractor bids (paving season) create routine carryovers from one fiscal year to the next; he reported an estimated $10.1 million in street‑project carryovers currently expected to move into the next fiscal year and noted an uncommitted streets balance (after transfers and carryovers) of about $2.2 million.
Using the city’s road‑condition modeling (RoadAI / StreetSaver), Webb presented two forecast lines: if the city continues current funding it will slide further down the PCI curve and approach the “rehabilitation cliff” where many streets will require full reconstruction; increasing capital to about $8.5–$10 million annually would, in Webb’s analysis, bring the network up near the lower end of “good” PCI and allow the city to maintain infrastructure primarily with preventative maintenance thereafter.
Council asked whether road work could be accelerated by shifting O&M dollars to capital; Webb said O&M includes essential maintenance (pothole repair, crack sealing and striping) and shifting those funds would risk higher long‑term costs. Webb recommended continued pursuit of federal, state and regional grants and noted that bid escalation and inflation would increase costs over time.
No vote was required; council thanked Webb and engaged in follow‑up questions about priorities, sidewalk needs and options to increase dedicated funding for streets.
