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Public Works budgets large capital slate: Yankee Jim’s bridge, Placer Parkway prep and concerns about road funding and fleet replacements
Summary
Public Works outlined roughly $107 million in road capital projects next year, noted a decreasing pavement condition index (PCI currently ~58), and requested supplemental funding options to avoid deferring annual resurfacing if grants for a major culvert repair are not awarded.
Derek Gadey, Public Works director, told the board the department’s FY 2025–26 budget supports a large capital program including Yankee Jim’s bridge replacement, Placer Parkway procurement work, North Auburn wastewater sewer construction and the Fannie Bridge project in Tahoe. The department said it plans to start construction at Yankee Jim’s this spring and expects multi‑year delivery for several bridge and roadway projects.
Public Works said it will spend roughly $13 million on the North Auburn wastewater phase 1 (partly ARPA funded), is coordinating with Federal Highway Administration and Caltrans on Tahoe bridge replacements and has replaced critical equipment (20 pieces of fleet replaced this year for $3.2 million). The department flagged a critical culvert failure on Garden Bar Road: design is underway, a grant application is pending, and if grant funding is not awarded the county would need to use gas tax dollars — which could require deferring the annual resurfacing program for the year.
Gadey said the county’s pavement condition index (PCI) is about 58 after recent overlays; the department is updating the PCI survey across the network and said deferred maintenance will increase lifecycle costs. Public Works also identified a continuing challenge recruiting transit drivers for TART and Placer transit — at the time of the hearing driver vacancies were high (roughly 46% vacancy cited for transit positions) and the department is working with HR on incentives.
On fleet, Public Works requested supplemental funding to replace a motor grader and snowblower (estimates shown in the presentation) to reduce operational risk during winter response and to build up an equipment‑replacement reserve; the department reported a backlog in vehicle replacement and said it has begun budgeting more regularly for replacement but still carries a multi‑million backlog.
Supervisors praised recent project delivery and urged continued grant pursuit; they asked staff to work with the CEO on long‑term funding strategies for roads and fleet replacement to reduce the risk of deferring routine resurfacing and capital replacements.
