Memorandum
City of
Department of Public Works
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TO: |
David Corliss,
Interim City Manager; Debbie Van Saun |
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FROM: |
Chuck Soules |
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CC: |
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Date: |
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RE: |
2007 Street Maintenance Program |
In April (2006) the Public Works staff presented a proposed 2207 budget for contracted street repair of $6,000,000.00. The plan focused on “keeping the good pavements in good condition”.
The goals outlined were:
- Slow the deterioration rates of our city streets.
- Extend our life cycles of our city streets.
The objectives included:
- The timely application of preventative maintenance techniques can effectively postpone pavement deterioration/failure.
- It is more economical to preserve the streets than to delay the proper repairs and end up with the need for minor/major rehabilitation of the streets.
Public Works has taken the approach to address the deterioration of the streets in good condition by implementing a more aggressive crack sealing program and by proposing the future use of a substantial amount of microsurfacing (thin asphaltic surface seal) maintenance work. This, in effect, will slow the deterioration rate of our “good” streets. We are also addressing streets that are near the critical point, where preventative maintenance would no longer be effective, by performing milling and overlay and other significant rehabilitation maintenance work. As the program progresses, a greater number of city streets will be considered in good condition and will be able to be maintained at a lower cost. As we increase the inventory of streets rated “good” or better, additional focus will be placed on the streets that have deteriorated below the critical range and are in a condition requiring more expensive maintenance. This program will allow us to apply more of the funding towards those streets without negatively impacting the deterioration of our “good” streets.
The proposed 2007 program included:
It is proposed that this level of funding be continued in 2008. As mentioned, by the third year we have anticipated that our street conditions will have stabilized and more emphasis could be placed, at that time, on more major rehabilitation/reconstruction of streets that have fallen into an unacceptable condition.
The question that has been presented is what would be the effect of funding the contracted street maintenance program at $5,000,000.00 (versus the proposed $6,000,000.00). Based on our analysis we believe that the reduction in funding would have the effect of reducing our positive potential impact to an additional 35 blocks of streets falling into the unacceptable range.
It is also important to realize that construction costs have increased this year alone by 20%.
2004 $33
per ton of asphalt 2005 $35 per ton of asphalt 2006 $44
per ton of asphalt
- For reference, in 2005 asphalt oil was $160/barrel; in 2006 the price is $230/barrel; for 2007 it is projected to be $320/barrel.
- Several rock quarries have consolidated recently and aggregate costs have nearly doubled.
- Significant increases in cement and fuel cost.
- Therefore, if construction costs continue to increase, for every 10% increase in costs, a reduction of $1 million in the proposed 2007 program will cost an additional $100,000 in a future year (a 15% increase in construction costs would result in an additional $150,000)
Providing timely application of preventative maintenance techniques can effectively and cost efficently postpone pavement deterioration and failure. The cost of microsurfacing is
$2-$5/square yard. The cost of milling and overlay is $12-$20/square yard. The cost of reconstruction can be as high as $100-$200/square yard.
We have reviewed the proposed
2007 maintenance program , if the Commission provides for only a $5,000,000.00
program it would include the following:
Maintenance Type Approximate
Construction Cost Crack Sealing $
300,000 Patching & Microsurfacing $ 800,000 Milling & Overlay $2,800,000 Curb & Gutter Repair $1,100,000
$5,000,000
.
.
- It is recommended that we continue and finish up our crack sealing program.
- The majority of the decrease would come from patching and microsurfacing.
- Small reduction in milling and overlay.
- The reduction in curb and gutter repair is from recently received bids for this item which have been lower than what we had estimated for this work.
Whatever the funding level, we will develop a recommended program for final Commission approval that best uses the resources and funding available staying true to the goals established of “keeping our good pavements in good condition”.
Respectfully submitted,
_____________________
Charles F. Soules, P.E.
Director of Public Works
CFS/ch
Attachment: Graph of PCI vs pavement age
Analysis: Remove from 2007 Street Maintenance Program
Lists of streets to be removed from 2007 Street Maintenance Program