Road Maintenance Program

Road Maintenance Funding History

Mid-1980s

In the mid-1980s, the City ceased General Fund support for road programs in response to budget problems, relying primarily upon available State gas tax and TDA funds. As a result, the road maintenance backlog grew to $2 million by 1993.

1994

In 1994, Council considered Road Maintenance Assessments to raise funds but that effort failed. Council then commissioned a Citizen's Blue Ribbon Committee on Road Maintenance to reassess needs. The Committee validated a $5 million backlog and recommended phased correction with funding provided by property assessments.

1996

In 1996, Council again initiated proceedings for Road Maintenance Assessments but ultimately rejected enactment of the assessments to allow a vote on a Citywide sales tax as an alternative fund source. A sales tax measure was placed on the June 1998 ballot but failed. 

2000

The City Council again placed a sales tax initiative on the March 2000 ballot to address a backlog that had grown to $9.9 million. In March 2000, Woodland voters overwhelmingly approved a local, six year, 1/2 cent sales tax measure (Measure H) and several advisory measures on how the money was spent. The top vote getter (80%) was Advisory Measure E which said that $10 million in additional revenues should go towards the road maintenance backlog.

Current Road Maintenance Program

• 2014 Council Presentation (PDF)
• 2016 Council Update on Roads (PDF)

The tracking and evaluation of the condition of our road system is accomplished through a computerized pavement management system (PMS) which is determined by a pavement rating performed by visual inspection. The PMS provides a systematic approach to managing pavements in the most cost-effective manner. The PMS program provides an inventory of roads, pavement condition data, pavement performance history, conceptual designs with life cycle cost evaluation, and prioritization and optimization methodologies.

Coupled with sound engineering judgment and management practices, the PMS will identify what work needs to be done to provide the most cost-effective management of the road system pavements.

In-House Function & Contract Component

The City of Woodland's road maintenance program includes both an in-house function and contract component. Our in-house street maintenance program includes base failure repair, crack sealing, patch paving, and seal coats. Road overlays and reconstruction projects are contracted out through a competitive bidding process.

Preventive Maintenance & Overlays

Preventive maintenance and overlays provide the maximum benefit and therefore will generally have first priority for use of available funds. This type of work will prevent or defer the more extensive and expensive reconstruction, which is necessary when the pavement and base material have failed due to lack of maintenance.

Pavement Maintenance & Rehabilitation Requirements

The annual Pavement Maintenance Program is designed to maximize the useful life of our roadway system pavements at minimum life-cycle costs.

Historically, there has been State and Federal sources that are used for funding of the pavement management program.

Project Funding

The projected total funding available from these sources between 2014 to 2020 is $18 million. A significant portion of this funding is specific to the Kentucky Avenue Widening and Complete Streets Project. Additional funding is received as gas tax revenue, however, it is used for street lights, traffic signals, and signs and markings. This revenue is insufficient to cover the annual cost of ownership. 

Additionally, there are certain requirements placed on the use of state and federal funding programs that restrict its use to overlay and reconstruction projects. In order to protect its investment in the road system, the City must repair the backlog of overlay and reconstruction work that was built up during the 1990's and properly fund the annual "cost of ownership" so that another backlog doesn't develop.

More Information

If you have questions or comments, please email the City of Woodland Community Development Engineering Division.