Palo Alto's Street Maintenance Program improves and maintains 473 lane-miles of city streets. Approximately 30 percent of these streets were originally constructed with portland cement concrete (PCC) in the 1930s. The remaining streets are asphalt concrete, which is the standard material for modern street construction. PCC streets are longer-lived than asphalt streets, but are significantly more expensive to repair and maintain. In Palo Alto, many PCC streets have been overlaid with asphalt, creating additional problems and cost when the asphalt surfaces need repairs. In past years, funding for the Street Maintenance Program was not sufficient to keep up with maintenance needs and the overall condition of Palo Alto's streets deteriorated. Beginning in fiscal year 2011, the City Council more than doubled the annual Street Maintenance Program budget in order to improve the quality of Palo Alto's streets. The Pavement Condition Index (PCI) is a measure of a street's condition on a scale of 1 to 100, and is based on inspections that quantify the flaws in the pavement surface. The average PCI for Palo Alto's streets has improved from 72 to 77 since the Program's budget was increased, and a plan is being implemented to achieve an average PCI of 85 ("excellent" street condition) by 2021.
Increased funding:
Annual funding increase from $1.8 million to $3.8 million
$2.5 million in grants received in 2010-2012
Goals:
Ensure no street is in "poor" condition by 2021 (no streets with PCI below 60)
Achieve "excellent" street conditions by 2021 (citywide average PCI of 85 or greater)
What have we accomplished in 2012 with increased funding?
22 lane miles resurfaced (5% of City streets)
Expected PCI score of 77
Click here for the map of current and planned projects.
Click here for the current street maintenance projects.
For further information regarding the Streets Maintenance Program, you may contact us via email at pwecips@cityofpaloalto.org.
Palo Alto's Street Maintenance Program improves and maintains 473 lane-miles of city streets. Approximately 30 percent of these streets were originally constructed with portland cement concrete (PCC) in the 1930s. The remaining streets are asphalt concrete, which is the standard material for modern street construction. PCC streets are longer-lived than asphalt streets, but are significantly more expensive to repair and maintain. In Palo Alto, many PCC streets have been overlaid with asphalt, creating additional problems and cost when the asphalt surfaces need repairs. In past years, funding for the Street Maintenance Program was not sufficient to keep up with maintenance needs and the overall condition of Palo Alto's streets deteriorated. Beginning in fiscal year 2011, the City Council more than doubled the annual Street Maintenance Program budget in order to improve the quality of Palo Alto's streets. The Pavement Condition Index (PCI) is a measure of a street's condition on a scale of 1 to 100, and is based on inspections that quantify the flaws in the pavement surface. The average PCI for Palo Alto's streets has improved from 72 to 77 since the Program's budget was increased, and a plan is being implemented to achieve an average PCI of 85 ("excellent" street condition) by 2021.
