Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Infrastructure Streets topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Public Works outlines pavement program, cites $1.2 billion needed to restore Fresno roads
Summary
Public Works presented the city's pavement-management program, described condition ratings and treatments, and said about $1.2 billion would be required to bring all streets to good condition. Staff noted current funding, the new $100 million 'Pay More' bond and reliance on grants and gas-tax revenues.
Jairo Mata, Public Works manager for traffic and land planning, told the Fresno City Planning Commission the city uses a pavement management program to monitor road conditions, prioritize treatments and allocate limited funding to maximize pavement life while minimizing cost.
"All it is is the monitoring and evaluating and maintaining roadways for the purpose of maximizing the life of payment while minimizing cost," Mata said during the presentation, describing the program's assessments, prioritization and treatment toolbox, which ranges from slurry seal to full reconstruction.
Mata said the city's network pavement condition index (PCI) is about 60 overall; arterials were reported at about 62 and collectors about 64. He said about 2.3% of the network is in "very poor" condition and that the city has roughly $1.2 billion in deferred maintenance to bring all streets to a "good" condition. "Right now, we have 1,200,000,000 in deferred maintenance," Mata said.
The presentation listed typical treatments and their expected benefits (slurry seals extend pavement life roughly five to seven years; overlays and full reconstructions address more severe deterioration) and gave a 2025 project list of slurry and capital paving projects, including complete repaving or partial overlays on specified corridors. Mata described current funding sources: approximately $2 million in recurring annual funds, SB 1 gas-tax revenues, Measure C receipts and competitive grants; he also noted the city's recently approved $100 million multi-year bond program identified as "Pay More" to accelerate repairs.
Commissioners and members of the public pressed staff on prioritization. Commissioners asked why small but very poor segments (shown in red on a condition map) were not repaired first; Mata said staff weighs the citywide benefit and coordinates with expected utility work and developer projects to avoid paving areas that soon would be disturbed. "We look at the city as a whole. Where can we get the most bang for our buck?" Mata said.
Commissioners and residents voiced frustration about specific corridors, including Shaw and sections where jurisdiction crosses city and county boundaries. Mata explained that some stretches are in county jurisdiction and that coordination is necessary; the department has limited annual funds and relies on grants and the bond to expand work.
Commissioners asked about accountability when utilities cut new trenches into recently paved streets. Mata said the city typically enforces a moratorium and repayment requirements: when a utility trenches in a street repaved within the prior five years, the utility must repave lanes to city standards rather than only the trench.
Several commissioners praised recent projects (Veterans Boulevard, Jensen repaving north of State Route 99) and asked staff to return with an action plan outlining options—including potential ballot measures or measures to prioritize funding—so commissioners and the public can consider next steps.
Mata closed by saying the pavement program aims to use available funds to achieve the greatest network benefit and that the bond and grant-seeking are intended to reduce the deferred-maintenance backlog over time.
