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Public works proposes new scoring formula to prioritize road projects; committee to review
Summary
Ben Bagley, public works director, presented a proposed scoring formula that adds factors such as work orders, visual inspection grade, commercial/industrial presence and projected growth to help prioritize road paving; committee discussion raised concerns about ensuring no roads are indefinitely excluded.
Ben Bagley, public works director, presented a proposed update to the county’s road selection formula designed to help prioritize paving and resurfacing projects. Bagley said the current ordinance ‘‘prohibits funds from being used on private property’’ and described the county’s existing point-based formula for grading roads. The proposed formula keeps condition as the highest-weighted factor and adds or modifies factors to include work orders, staff visual inspection grade, school-bus routes, commercial/industrial presence, projected growth areas, whether a road is a through road, density of development and pavement history.
Bagley demonstrated the proposed system using two District 3 example roads: Snellgrove Road (0.6 miles, seven work orders, grade F, eight residences, assumed school-bus route, score shown as 235) and Lakeshore Drive (0.66 miles, four work orders, 28 residences, assumed bus route, density 42.42, score shown as 219.42). He said the formula gives staff and the committee more data to compare roads and that the scoring should still allow council/CTC members to recommend roads outside the ranking.
Committee members flagged concerns about leaving any road out ‘‘for an indefinite amount of time’’ and emphasized that the formula should not prevent councilors from directing work on roads by district. Bagley and staff said the proposed ordinance language would preserve the council’s ability to submit individual recommendations and that the scoring tool is intended as a decision-aid rather than an absolute rule. No vote was taken; staff said they may call a special meeting in summer to finalize the ordinance after member input.
Why it matters: The scoring system will shape which roads receive county resurfacing funds and could change priorities by weighting condition, growth projections and other factors. Committee members asked staff to ensure the formula does not permanently exclude roads in poor condition.
