City reports pavement condition index of 75; officials urge preservation over 'worst-first' fixes

HAGERSTOWN — City public-works staff updated the council on the 2025 pavement-condition survey and recommended a pavement-preservation strategy to extend the life of streets and reduce longer-term reconstruction costs.

The specialized survey van collected pavement defect data citywide and produced a pavement-condition index (PCI). Staff reported an overall city PCI of 75, which falls in the "satisfactory" range (55–85) and is above some peer municipalities. Public-works staff explained common preservation techniques — mill-and-overlay (typical two inches off and two inches on), crack filling and slurry seals — and said a focus on timely preservation across the system yields more value than a strict 'worst-first' approach.

Staff flagged the South End (Chestnut Street, Rosehill Avenue and nearby blocks) as an area needing focused overlays. They also warned that sustained cuts to highway-user revenue, the city's primary pavement-preservation funding source, could lower the PCI substantially over a decade: if funding were cut in half for multiple years, models predict the city's PCI could fall below 70.

Officials said they will return to council in March with a three-year overlay list based on the survey results and recommended priority areas. The council discussed potential county or state funding partnerships but noted that counties also rely on highway-user revenue and have larger road networks to maintain.

No formal vote was taken; the survey serves as a planning tool for upcoming budget and pavement lists.