Liberty Lake's pavement plan warns of $20M backlog that could triple without new funding
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Summary
City staff told council the city's pavement condition index is about 77 now but could fall to the mid-50s over 15 years if current funding continues; maintaining a target PCI of ~70 would require roughly $3.0 million annually, leaving a multi-year shortfall under current revenue assumptions.
Liberty Lake 's pavement master plan maps out a large maintenance challenge and a shortfall in annual funding that could force costly reconstructions if not addressed. Public works staff told the City Council on Feb. 3 that the city's current pavement condition index (PCI) is about 77.3, which the presenter described as "good," but that deferred maintenance could reduce that score to about 57 over 15 years and expand the current $20 million repair backlog to roughly $64 million.
Ben (city public-works staff) summarized findings from the CityLogic analysis and a LIDAR survey, saying the city owns just under 55 miles of public streets and that arterials and collectors are deteriorating faster than local streets. "If we were to repair everything today . . . we would need to spend roughly $20,000,000. That's our backlog today," Ben said during the presentation. He also noted that the red (worst-condition) stretches are concentrated in places such as Sprague and sections near the golf course.
Ben presented funding scenarios the plan modeled: maintaining an average PCI near 70 would require approximately $2.9 million to $3.0 million per year. Using current conservative revenue assumptions (REIT receipts of roughly $615,000 and an assumed $1,000,000 in grants), the analysis produces a shortfall of about $1.43 million per year to sustain a 70 PCI. Without additional funding, many preventative-maintenance projects would be deferred, converting future work from less-expensive overlays and sealants to far costlier full reconstructions.
The presentation spelled out treatment thresholds (for example, PCI below about 45 generally requires reconstruction) and stressed the cost savings of preventative work such as crack sealing, thin overlays and targeted patches. Ben said the city has new in-house capabilities to perform crack sealing and smaller repairs and has budgeted funds to plant trees this year, but that large projects such as Sprague are currently scheduled in the capital facilities plan for 2029-30 unless additional funding accelerates them.
Council members asked about funding choices and the timing to include pavement priorities in the 6-year capital improvement program. Ben recommended council confirm target PCI levels and funding approaches and said the final plan and a proposed adoption will be brought back to council with a 20-year CFP (capital facilities plan) that incorporates prioritized projects, phasing and funding scenarios.
Next steps noted by staff include council direction on target PCI and incorporation of the plan into the city's 20-year CFP that will guide future budget cycles.