FAQ   Why is the 2012 Statewide Needs Assessment Project important? The report evaluates the present condition and future requirements of California’s pavement, bridges, sidewalks and other essential transportation components of the local street and road network. It determines the cost to bring the transportation system up to a Best Management Practices condition, which is the most cost-effective and efficient condition to maintain pavement. It also indicates a funding shortfall of $82.2 billion over the next ten years. The findings will help educate policymakers at all levels of government about critical infrastructure needs and the economic and public safety impacts of delaying investment. What are the key findings of the 2012 Needs Assessment? There is a significant funding shortfall to bring the system up-to-date, and as pavement conditions deteriorate, the cost of repair increases exponentially; the longer we wait, the more it will cost. The data confirms that there has been a steady downward trend in the pavement condition since 2008, when the first comprehensive statewide local street and road pavement study was conducted. The majority of California’s counties now have an average pavement condition rating that is considered at risk, and projections indicate that by 2022, a quarter of local streets and roads will be in the failed category. Which counties have the worst pavement condition? Amador, Mendocino, Lake, Mariposa, Alpine, Madera, Santa Cruz, Trinity, Sonoma and Monterey. Which counties have the best pavement conditions? Fresno, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Mateo, Contra Costa, Sierra, Placer, Nevada, Santa Clara and Orange. Why is there a funding shortfall? An aging infrastructure, rising construction costs, and new regulatory requirements all contribute to the shortfall. In addition, the purchasing power of existing revenue streams is declining and budget constraints have precluded needed maintenance. Other factors such as heavier vehicles, better vehicle fuel efficiency, increasing traffic and the need to accommodate alternative modes of transportation like buses, bicyclists and pedestrians place increased demands on roads even as they decline. What is needed to establish stable funding and ensure ongoing repair and maintenance? New sustainable sources of revenues must be created, and a significant portion should be focused on preservation of the existing roads network. Once the system is in a state of good repair, the need for maintenance will be reduced. Everyone who benefits from local streets and roads - personal and commercial vehicles, transit, bicyclists, and pedestrians -should bear the cost of restoring and preserving them. Californians need to work together to find ways to fund local streets and roads, and push state and local governments to establish sustainable transportation revenues.

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