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Board adopts $2.87M RMRA work plan; transportation director warns aging fleet limits work without heavy-equipment replacements
Summary
Trinity County adopted its FY2026-27 Road Maintenance and Rehabilitation Account (RMRA) project list (approx. $2.87 million). Transportation staff cautioned that several water and dump trucks are end-of-life; the board approved the RMRA plan and declined a motion to buy only one of two pieces of heavy equipment, after staff explained missing water trucks would constrain field grading work.
The Trinity County Board adopted the FY2026-27 RMRA (Road Maintenance and Rehabilitation Account) list and authorized staff to forward the plan to the California Transportation Commission for approval of an approximate $2.87 million allocation.
Panos, Director of Transportation, explained the RMRA funds cannot be used for routine maintenance (brush clearing, snow plowing) and identified two classes of eligible projects: disaster/federal match needs and discrete rehabilitation (chip seal, overlays). He reviewed planned chip-seal roads funded from prior RMRA allocations and listed proposed projects for the current allocation.
A question from the board focused on a $750,000 line item for two pieces of heavy equipment (water/dump trucks). Supervisors asked whether purchasing only one vehicle and reallocating part of the money to ordinary grading and road maintenance would increase delivered work. Staff explained that grading without available water trucks and supportive dump capacity would significantly reduce productivity: water trucks supply moisture for compaction and are not readily rentable during construction season, and many county trucks are worn beyond reliable repair. The board debated the tradeoff, a motion to buy only one of the units and shift funds to maintenance failed for lack of a second, and the board approved the RMRA work plan as presented.
Transportation staff flagged that some fleet parts are obsolete and that statewide emissions and replacement rules complicate procurement planning, underscoring that ongoing fleet replacement will be necessary to sustain road work over time.
