Public Works outlines $5–6M pavement project, $2M sidewalk program and design needs for Veranda, Abbott and Williams roads

The Salinas Finance Committee heard a Public Works briefing on May 6 outlining planned transportation projects, funding sources and options for using available fund balances to accelerate work on sidewalks, pavement, ADA ramps and several major road projects.

Public Works staff described a sidewalk project proposed for May 13 that would install roughly 18,000 square feet of sidewalk, 2,000 lineal feet of curb and gutter, 3,000 square feet of driveway approaches and 74 ADA ramps, financed in large part with Measure G sidewalk money (about $2.0 million allocated). The department also has a pavement project being bid that includes roughly 250,000 square feet of asphalt and 26,000 square feet of dig-outs; staff said they expect bids in the $5–6 million range and currently have $5,000,000 budgeted.

Public Works described annual transportation funding streams available for projects: SB 1 funds (about $4,200,000 annually), Measure X (about $5,600,000 annually, of which $2,300,000 repays an existing bond) and gas tax (about $4,300,000). The department said it generally budgets roughly $10,000,000 a year for transportation projects by combining those accounts and occasional general fund augmentations.

Staff reported a transportation fund balance that initially appeared to be about $13,000,000 but, after adjustments, looked closer to $8,000,000 remaining and proposed several options to allocate that money. Priorities discussed included adding $1,000,000 to the upcoming sidewalk package, $1,000,000 to pavement to cover expected higher bids and $1,000,000 for additional ADA ramps citywide. Public Works also said it aims to maintain a $2,300,000 reserve in the transportation funds to cover bid variability.

Larger projects identified as potential uses for remaining funds included: continuing Veranda Road into phase 2 and 2B (staff estimated about $4,000,000 needed to start design work), full-depth rehabilitation on Abbott Street (staff estimated a $10–$15 million total cost for design and construction) and Williams Road undergrounding (staff estimated the remaining need at about $6,500,000 to augment $3.5 million in PG&E Rule 28 funds already available).

Committee members pressed staff on delivery methods and in-house capacity. Public Works said it maintains internal crews (asphalt crew ~15 people; two concrete crews for sidewalks) that handle smaller residential and repair work but that large arterial or multi-block projects typically require outside contractors because of traffic control and scale. Staff provided per-unit cost guidance: maintenance crews typically run about $6–$8 per square foot for concrete sidewalks while contractors can range $12–$20 per square foot; ADA ramps were estimated in the discussion at roughly $3,500–$4,500 per location depending on complexity. Asphalt material cost guidance cited $150–$180 per ton.

Public Works acknowledged long-standing limits on roadway maintenance funding: the department said the pavement-management system shows a required annual investment of roughly $34–40 million to maintain a “good” pavement condition; the city currently budgets roughly $10 million a year across transportation programs, producing a pavement condition index in the mid-50s (where 80+ is “good”). Staff said crack sealing and targeted slurry/chip sealing provide short-term value, while full-depth repairs and mill-and-fill approaches are much more expensive.

Council members requested options for scaling work (for example, what doubling maintenance crews or funding would require). Public Works said doubling output would require hiring additional crews, vehicles and maintenance support and offered to return with alternatives and costs if the council prioritized specific outcomes.

The committee received the Public Works transportation update by motion and unanimous vote.