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City study finds Port Angeles pavement in decline; closing gap would cost millions per year
Summary
A recently completed pavement management analysis shows the citywide Pavement Condition Index has fallen to about 45 and that preserving or improving the network would require $3–11.6 million per year depending on targets; staff recommended protecting local revenues, expanding preventative maintenance and pursuing loans/grants.
City engineers presented the results of an automated pavement condition survey and modeling exercise that convert field data into a Pavement Condition Index (PCI). The survey shows the citywide PCI is about 45 — a decline from earlier measurements — with a majority of residential streets in 'poor' or 'very poor' condition.
Engineers walked council through the preservation window: small, timely treatments such as crack sealing and surface treatments cost far less and delay the need for expensive reconstruction. Staff emphasized that "every dollar spent on timely preservation avoids six to 14 dollars in future reconstruction." The study estimated that holding the current PCI steady would require roughly $8.5 million per year in pavement preservation and reconstruction; increasing the PCI by five points over a 10‑year horizon would need approximately $11.6 million per year. By contrast, existing annual pavement preservation spending was estimated at about $1 million, a level that would let the PCI fall toward a projected 29 over a decade.
Staff outlined pragmatic options to close that funding gap: protect the existing transportation benefit district (TBD) revenue (the 2% TBD sales tax is set to expire in 2028 unless reauthorized), pursue state funding and TIB eligibility (the city’s rising valuation affects eligibility), expand crack seal operations, partner with the county on chip seals and consider low‑cost loans such as the Public Works Trust Fund where appropriate.
Council response: Council voted unanimously to direct staff to incorporate pavement management findings into the upcoming budget process and the capital facilities plan and to return with prioritized projects and funding alternatives.
Bottom line: The technical study provides a numeric roadmap — preservation is far cheaper than reconstruction, but implementing a citywide preservation strategy will require significantly more annual funding than currently budgeted or securing additional grant/loan resources.
