Plano public-works director details asset-management plan, street and water priorities

Abby Owens, Plano’s director of Public Works, told the City Council that the department is relying on an asset-management approach to extend the life of streets and other infrastructure and to better prioritize repairs.

“We utilize a software called OpenGov. It actually tracks assets from water to drainage to everything,” Owens said, noting the inventory includes nearly 700,000 assets. She said that detailed records let staff know the age and condition of water lines, valves, sewer manholes, streets and sidewalks so the city can plan maintenance before full replacement is required.

The presentation outlined three repair pathways: in-house crews for smaller, quick repairs; intermediate contractors for larger residential or neighborhood projects; and full reconstruction when subgrade failure or age requires it. Owens cited an approximate figure of $125,000 per mile for routine arterial maintenance overlays and said concrete panel replacement and full reconstructions are orders of magnitude more expensive, with full reconstruction described as “close” to the higher millions-per-mile figure discussed in the presentation.

Owens described the department’s overlay technique for concrete streets — a thin, coarse overlay designed to keep water out of the concrete subgrade — and emphasized preventative maintenance, joint sealing, and selective panel replacement as ways to delay more costly reconstruction.

On the water side, staff summarized system components (ground storage tanks, four pump stations, elevated towers and distribution valves) and the meter-replacement work that addressed recent automatic-reading device failures. Assistant Director Drew (self-identified in the presentation) noted the utility’s return to automated monthly reads after vendor fixes earlier in the year.

Owens also described routine sewer inspections, main-break response, aerial crossing maintenance to remove debris, and traffic operations responsibilities such as signal timing and regulatory signage maintenance. She invited council members to site tours of the fleet, Ridgeview pump station and other facilities to see operations firsthand.

Council members thanked the presenters and raised cybersecurity and meter-technology questions; staff said it would follow up offline with technical details. The presentation concluded with staff offering to return an action item for council consideration if members express interest in expanded programs or committee appointments.

The council did not take a formal policy vote on the presentation itself; the briefing was presented as informational and staff committed to follow-up on technical questions.