City Streets: Investing in a Neglected Asset

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CITY OF JOHN DAY hi November 2006 the city of John Day entered into an intergovernmental agreement with Grant County Road Department to reconstruct a dangerous intersection within the city limits of John Day. However, the county is now unsure of its ability to perform these services due to the uncertain future of the Secure Rural Schools Act. The city of John Day now has several streets that are in need of repair. 'The city has reconstructed two major streets in the city during the past three years using the safety net funds received from the county. ~~~ - ~_ To help the city manage the coed resour essthe c ty cannot spend the money on the contracted maintenance plan. Due to hm technical services needed to conduct a street maintenance plan. Out of the 13.5 miles of city streets, over 50 percent are not in compliance with the adopted transportation system plan. Of this 50 percent, the street surface is nothing more than chip seal over native or gravel surface. This is a large task for a small city with diminishing financial resources. John Day's Critical Street Project List: 1. Charolais Heights Intersection: Condition - In need of safety improvements. Estimated Cost: $450,000. 2 15`, 2nd, 3'd, 4`h, and 5`h Streets: Condition - In need of total reconstruction. Estimated Cost: $2.5 million. 3. Brent Street: Condition - In need of total reconstruction. Estimated Cost: $600,000. 4. Downtown Core: Condition -Need underground utilities. Estimated Cost: $1,516.256. City Streets: Case Studies -Page 30 CITY OF LA GRANDE In the last six years, the percentage of La Grande's streets in `fair to good" condition has decreased by 6 percent, and the annual costs needed to improve these streets increased by $2-3 million. LA GRANDE QUICK FACTS • 2006 Population: 12,540 (an increase of 1 percent in 10 years) • Funding Need: An additional $800,000 to $1,000,000 annually is needed to maintain La Grande's 1801ane miles. A total cost of $7 million is needed to bring all streets up to "good" condition. • Highway 30 goes through the city's downtown, and crosses Highway 82 within city limits • Local Economy: Higher Education -Eastern Oregon University (1,159 employees). Manufacturing -Boise Cascade (680 employees). Union Pacific Railroad (310 employees). Mixed-Commercial. According to a recent private evaluation, La Grande's transportation system needs $7 million for improvement and maintenance projects. La Grande's paved streets are already strained by the temperature swings from 0 degrees in the winter to 110 degrees in the summer, but the lack of funding has made it impossible for La Grande to adequately maintain its streets year round. In 1997 La Grande's pavement management system rated 37 percent of city streets in fair to good condition -that number has declined to 31 percent in 2006. This means a large majority of city streets are below fair condition, and are in need of major rehabilitative work, possibly total reconstruction. La Grande prioritizes street projects using a pavement management system, the S.O.S. system, and a street maintenance committee. A list of needed street projects is drafted using the S.O.S. system, and the street maintenance committee prioritizes the projects based on the needs of the community. Collector and arterial streets are often a higher priority than minor streets, resulting in a further deterioration of La Grande's residential streets. City Streets: Case Studies -Page 31