| ITEM #: 1. DATE: 09/08/2025 AI #:2486 |
 |
CITY COUNCIL ACTION REPORT
| SUBJECT: | FY2026 PAVEMENT MANAGEMENT PROJECTS AND PAVEMENT MANAGEMENT PROGRAM UPDATE |
| STAFF PRESENTER(S): | Sumeet Mohan, Public Works Director; Brian Harvel, Streets Superintendent |
Summary
Council will receive information on the Public Works Department's proposed Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 pavement management projects using the approved $4.3 million FY2026 pavement management program budget. Additionally, Council will receive an update on the city's Pavement Management Program, and may provide guidance to staff. (Sumeet Mohan, Public Works Director; Brian Harvel, Streets Superintendent)
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no fiscal impact related to this item. The approved FY2026 Pavement Management Program budget is $4.3 Million, which is funded using a combination of Arizona Highway User Revenue Funds (HURF) and city General Funds.
BACKGROUND AND PREVIOUS ACTIONS
Managed by the Public Works Department, the city's Pavement Management Program (Program) focuses on maintaining the structural integrity of one of our city's most important and visible assets: our streets. The Program seeks to counter deterioration of city streets that occurs naturally over time, with age, traffic use, and exposure to heat and weather conditions. If street pavement is not maintained regularly or appropriately, it can deteriorate more rapidly leading to more costly preservation treatments or eventually reconstruction. A successful and comprehensive Program includes a variety of pavement treatment types, utilizing the right pavement treatment for the right streets and the right pavement condition.
The city's Program uses an industry-standard objective assessment referred to as the Pavement Condition Index (PCI), to evaluate the condition of city streets. PCI is an aggregate measure of the quality and condition of the city's roadways, on a scale of 1 to 100. While city staff are able to calculate PCI annually, a comprehensive measurement of actual road conditions is scheduled every three to four years. Staff use a high-tech Road Surface Tester vehicle to capture continuous, high-resolution data on pavement cracking, rutting, and roughness. Data collection is then overseen by a technician trained in the use of downward-pointing lasers, high-definition cameras, global positioning systems, profilers, and other equipment necessary to obtain accurate information about the condition of the city’s roadway network. The resulting PCI values for our roadways are based on the observed surface distresses and provide an indication of the functional and structural performance of a pavement. The range is commonly divided into categories using descriptive terms: Failed (0-25), Very Poor (25-40), Poor (40-50), Marginal (50-60), Fair (60-70), Good (70-82), and Excellent (82-100).
In FY2014, the city's average PCI was 64.4. Since then, the city has invested significant resources to improve the condition of its roadways, which has resulted in the city's most recent average PCI being 75.4 in FY2025. City staff seeks to maintain our average PCI between 76 and 78. Our Program is focused on this performance metric, which is also shared with our residents through the city’s public dashboard. Ongoing pavement management is accomplished in combination and in coordination with the city's capital improvement program, private development and utility projects, and the continued development of unimproved roads in the city.
During the September 23, 2024, Council meeting, when staff presented the FY2025 Pavement Maintenance Projects, several Councilmembers inquired whether current Program funding levels were sufficient to keep the average PCI of the city's roadway network in the desired range (PCI 76 - 78). In response, staff requested and Council approved a $500,000 increase in annual Program funding with the adoption of the city's FY2026 budget. Additionally, staff has conducted further analysis regarding Program funding and its potential future impact on the condition of the city's roadways.
The city's Program uses an industry-standard objective assessment referred to as the Pavement Condition Index (PCI), to evaluate the condition of city streets. PCI is an aggregate measure of the quality and condition of the city's roadways, on a scale of 1 to 100. While city staff are able to calculate PCI annually, a comprehensive measurement of actual road conditions is scheduled every three to four years. Staff use a high-tech Road Surface Tester vehicle to capture continuous, high-resolution data on pavement cracking, rutting, and roughness. Data collection is then overseen by a technician trained in the use of downward-pointing lasers, high-definition cameras, global positioning systems, profilers, and other equipment necessary to obtain accurate information about the condition of the city’s roadway network. The resulting PCI values for our roadways are based on the observed surface distresses and provide an indication of the functional and structural performance of a pavement. The range is commonly divided into categories using descriptive terms: Failed (0-25), Very Poor (25-40), Poor (40-50), Marginal (50-60), Fair (60-70), Good (70-82), and Excellent (82-100).
In FY2014, the city's average PCI was 64.4. Since then, the city has invested significant resources to improve the condition of its roadways, which has resulted in the city's most recent average PCI being 75.4 in FY2025. City staff seeks to maintain our average PCI between 76 and 78. Our Program is focused on this performance metric, which is also shared with our residents through the city’s public dashboard. Ongoing pavement management is accomplished in combination and in coordination with the city's capital improvement program, private development and utility projects, and the continued development of unimproved roads in the city.
During the September 23, 2024, Council meeting, when staff presented the FY2025 Pavement Maintenance Projects, several Councilmembers inquired whether current Program funding levels were sufficient to keep the average PCI of the city's roadway network in the desired range (PCI 76 - 78). In response, staff requested and Council approved a $500,000 increase in annual Program funding with the adoption of the city's FY2026 budget. Additionally, staff has conducted further analysis regarding Program funding and its potential future impact on the condition of the city's roadways.
STAFF ANALYSIS
Using the PCI evaluation and analysis for city streets, staff have prepared the city's proposed FY2026 pavement management projects, which will treat approximately 55 lane-miles using the approved $4.3 million budget. The projects will use a variety of treatments, including liquid road, micro seal, and mill and overlay. Within the approved FY2026 budget, staff will also conduct a citywide roadway network assessment later this fall to survey the actual PCI condition of the city's roadways.
The city is responsible for maintenance of a significant amount of roadway infrastructure, including 360,000 linear feet of sidewalk, curb and gutter; 12,000 ramps; 27 bridges; and 72 lane-miles of unpaved roadways. However, the primary roadway infrastructure component is the city's 550 miles of streets, which includes approximately 1,156 lane-miles of paved roadways. As noted earlier, the FY2026 pavement management projects will treat a total of 55 lane-miles, which is only 4.75% of our total lane-miles.
Over the past six years, the costs of pavement maintenance materials have increased significantly, ranging from a 50% increase for mill and overlay treatments to a 275% increase for crack seal treatments. During the same time period, the Program's approved budgets were at a fixed level of $3.7 million from FY2022 to FY2025, with an increase to $4.3 million in FY2026. With Program funding staying fairly consistent over the past six years, the number of lane-miles treated have decreased steadily. While future costs cannot be predicted with certainty, it can be assumed that without additional Program funding, the number of lane-miles treated annually will continue to decrease, which will have a negative impact on the overall condition of the city's streets and a corresponding decrease in the average PCI for the city's roadway network.
However, it should be noted that city staff with the support of Council have taken action outside of the Program to help protect the city's streets. In December 2024, Council approved Goodyear’s new Pavement Cut Ordinance No. 2024-1624, which took effect in January 2025. Street pavement cuts are typically made by utilities, developers, and city departments. The new policy was focused on ensuring that cuts into our roadway pavement are repaired to as good or better condition than prior to the cuts being made, and preliminary results have already started showing a positive impact on our roadways.
Based on the results of the evaluation and analysis conducted by staff on the Program's funding levels and its potential impact on the average PCI for the city's roadway network, staff intends to work through the FY2027 budget process to identify increased funding options.
The city is responsible for maintenance of a significant amount of roadway infrastructure, including 360,000 linear feet of sidewalk, curb and gutter; 12,000 ramps; 27 bridges; and 72 lane-miles of unpaved roadways. However, the primary roadway infrastructure component is the city's 550 miles of streets, which includes approximately 1,156 lane-miles of paved roadways. As noted earlier, the FY2026 pavement management projects will treat a total of 55 lane-miles, which is only 4.75% of our total lane-miles.
Over the past six years, the costs of pavement maintenance materials have increased significantly, ranging from a 50% increase for mill and overlay treatments to a 275% increase for crack seal treatments. During the same time period, the Program's approved budgets were at a fixed level of $3.7 million from FY2022 to FY2025, with an increase to $4.3 million in FY2026. With Program funding staying fairly consistent over the past six years, the number of lane-miles treated have decreased steadily. While future costs cannot be predicted with certainty, it can be assumed that without additional Program funding, the number of lane-miles treated annually will continue to decrease, which will have a negative impact on the overall condition of the city's streets and a corresponding decrease in the average PCI for the city's roadway network.
However, it should be noted that city staff with the support of Council have taken action outside of the Program to help protect the city's streets. In December 2024, Council approved Goodyear’s new Pavement Cut Ordinance No. 2024-1624, which took effect in January 2025. Street pavement cuts are typically made by utilities, developers, and city departments. The new policy was focused on ensuring that cuts into our roadway pavement are repaired to as good or better condition than prior to the cuts being made, and preliminary results have already started showing a positive impact on our roadways.
Based on the results of the evaluation and analysis conducted by staff on the Program's funding levels and its potential impact on the average PCI for the city's roadway network, staff intends to work through the FY2027 budget process to identify increased funding options.