Council hears Streetsaver briefing; members press for targeted spending to address deferred road maintenance

Nichols Consulting Engineers presented the StreetSaver pavement-management system to the Carmel-by-the-Sea City Council on Dec. 1, explaining how the software converts observable pavement distresses into a 0–100 Pavement Condition Index (PCI), forecasts deterioration, and models the long-term cost implications of different maintenance targets.

Margo Yap, president of Nichols Consulting Engineers, described the system as a decision‑making tool that answers which streets need work next year, over five years or ten years, and what the financial impacts will be. "Good roads cost a lot less to repair," Yap said, adding that preventive treatments such as micro‑surfacing and slurry seals (about $5.50 per square yard) extend pavement life and reduce the need for far more expensive reconstruction, which she estimated in the $64–$76 per square yard range for paving-only work.

Yap said StreetSave…