showing that strategic investments in paving pay off for drivers , cyclists and public transit users .
We reported a citywide average Pavement Condition Index score of 69 for 2016 , up from a score of 68 in 2015 . The information is tracked by the Metropolitan Transportation Commission , which monitors the condition of Bay Area roads .
The City ’ s Pavement Condition Index score has increased each year for the last five years , thanks in large part to San Francisco voters ’ approval of the $ 248 million Road Repaving and Street Safety Bond in 2011 , with additional funding for paving projects added by the mayor and Board of Supervisors during the annual budget process .
The Pavement Condition Index assigns City blocks a score from a low of zero for a badly deteriorated road to a high of 100 for a freshly paved block . Public Works evaluates the impacts of wear , erosion and aging of each street , and assesses street deterioration with a rating for each of the City ’ s 12,800- plus blocks .
A Pavement Condition Index score of 85-100 is rated as “ excellent ,” 70-84 “ good ,” 50- 69 “ at risk ,” and 0-49 “ poor .” Currently , nearly two-thirds of San Francisco blocks are rated at good or excellent ; less than 15 percent are rated in the poor category .
The assessment is based on visual surveys performed by specially trained and certified staff . Each segment is evaluated based on ride quality , cracking and signs that the roadway may be breaking up in places .
The infusion of additional funding allowed for hundreds more blocks to be paved annually .
In 2016 , Public Works crews and contractors resurfaced 722 blocks . Over the past five years , 3,834 blocks were treated .
“ The continued improvements are a real achievement and show that voter-supported investments in our City ’ s infrastructure pay off ,” Public Works Director Mohammed Nuru said . “ With the dedication and the determination of the Public Works paving team , we turned the corner from where we were a decade ago and are moving in the right direction , benefiting San Francisco residents , workers and visitors .”
The average score for San Francisco roads peaked at 77 in the late 1980s and gradually down to the low point of 64 , where the average score hovered for a decade . If current funding levels are maintained , the citywide average Pavement Condition Index can improve to 70 in fewer than 10 years .
Public Works ’ pavement strategy preserves streets in good condition instead of letting them deteriorate . Extending the life of a block in San Francisco that is in good condition currently only costs approximately $ 35,000 . The complete reconstruction of an average sized block in poor or very poor condition , including repairs to the concrete base and the top layer of asphalt , can be as high as $ 500,000 .
The City is responsible for maintaining approximately 940 miles of streets . You can find more information about the Road Repaving & Street Safety Bond here .
January 2017 - San Francisco Public Works Newsletter