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Merced council hears update on citywide pavement condition inventory; MCAG study due in coming months
Summary
Councilors pressed staff for clearer public information on street conditions and heard that an MCAG‑sponsored pavement condition inventory (PCI) covering all city streets is underway, with a city‑specific report expected within 6–12 months; council discussed prioritization of arterials vs. residential streets and options for citizen input.
Councilors spent a substantial portion of Jan. 5 discussing road conditions, a forthcoming pavement condition inventory (PCI) and how the city should prioritize repairs.
Council member Harris urged creation of a public, master list of streets with condition, recommended remedy, and estimated cost, saying residents want clarity on priorities beyond the capital improvement program. "I would like to put that on the agenda for a discussion on a comprehensive roadway project assessment and schedule," Harris said.
City Engineer Daryl Jordan reported that MCAG is sponsoring a countywide PCI that includes every city street, with a city report expected within roughly 6–12 months. "That report will define every street in the city, what level of repair is recommended, and what the cost would be," Jordan said. Councilors noted an older PCI (about 2018) exists but is dated.
Council members debated whether to rely solely on engineering assessments or include structured community input. DuPont and others warned of the limits of public polling for technical decisions but supported a public‑facing presentation of PCI results and suggested targeted community involvement to identify areas for further inspection. Staff suggested using the PCI and strategic planning session later in January to set priorities and discuss funding options, including potential ballot measures or grants.
Why it matters: Merced faces a large backlog of street repairs. A citywide PCI with remedy recommendations and cost estimates will guide budgeting and may inform decisions about bonds, measures, or grant strategies. Council directed staff to bring existing PCI data to the strategic planning session and to use forthcoming MCAG results to inform next steps.
