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Pasco outlines 2026 pavement preservation plan; PCI at 77, staff stresses preventive funding
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Summary
Deputy Public Works Director Mary Heather Ames presented the 2026 pavement preservation plan, reporting a citywide Pavement Condition Index of 77 (fair). Staff recommended targeted crack‑seal and chip‑seal work on identified streets and warned that maintaining current PCI levels would require roughly $8 million per year—well above current spending.
Deputy Public Works Director Mary Heather Ames told the council the city’s latest pavement survey showed an overall Pavement Condition Index (PCI) of 77 (a fair condition) with arterials and collectors scoring lower around 70. Ames described pavement preservation techniques—crack seal and chip seal—used to slow water intrusion and extend pavement life, noting typical chip‑seal benefit of roughly seven years depending on condition.
"There's an orange line at the top that stays level—that represents about $8,000,000 per year of investment," Ames said, explaining the difference between a sustained maintenance program and lower, episodic spending that allows a backlog to grow.
For 2026, staff proposed crack‑seal and chip‑seal priority areas including residential neighborhoods north of Lewis (bounded by 17th and 20th), and longer stretches such as Court Street, First Avenue, Harris Road, Railroad Avenue and Sylvester. Ames said staff had grouped projects to maximize benefit from limited funds.
Council members asked for clarification about PCI methodology, vendor timing and backlog estimates. Ames explained Pasco used remote scanning vendors (TransMap and a prior vendor) to produce consistent PCI data and that a full sustainable program would require multi‑million‑dollar annual investment; the city is currently below that level. Councilors asked staff to prepare scenarios for multi‑year recovery toward a sustainable investment level.
Ames and staff said chip seal/crack seal work would be staged to allow crack sealing to precede chip seal where appropriate and that some chip‑seal work would be performed by outside crews for higher volume arterials. No funding decision was made at the workshop; staff will provide budget scenario options for council consideration.
