Thank you for your response to our concerns over the deteriorating condition of our neighborhood's streets, specifically, East O and East N Streets. We have been reporting the poor condition of these streets since at least 2008. Yet, the City of Benicia has taken virtually no action to repair them. Our neighborhood feels like we have been ignored and forgotten by the City.
You stated that 35% of Benicia's streets are in "...poor or failed condition." Is the pavement condition of Benicia's streets the worst streets in Solano County? What criteria do you use to determine if a street will be repaved? We have witnessed many of Benicia's streets that are in much better condition being repaved. When does the deteriorated condition of a street reach the level of requiring emergency repair? One has to dodge potholes on East O Street near the car wash much like driving down a farmer's dirt road. One would think that such a deteriorated condition would warrant immediate repair. We think that the 400 block of East O Street needs immediate repair. You can visit our website at www.safebenicia.blogspot.com to pictures of the street's failed condition.
While we take pride in our neighborhood, this is not just a nuisance and asthetic issue. This is a safety issue. The numerous potholes, cracks, and surface failures that you mentioned can easily cause bicyclists and motorcyclists to lose control, especially in wet conditons.
The area in question is about 4 blocks long. This would not seem to be a huge project. We urge you to take immediate action to repair the unacceptable conditions that have been ignored by the City for over 8 years. Anything less would not be fulfilling the City's responsibility to Benicia's businesses and residents.
We look forward to your answers to our questions. Thank you again for your response.
Ross Sagun
www.safebenicia.blogspot.com
On 9/19/2016 11:51 AM, Graham Wadsworth
wrote:
Mr. Sagun,I drove on East N and East O Streets, and looked up the Pavement Condition Index (PCI), which are 27 and 35, respectively. The streets have deep longitudinal cracks, alligator cracking, and surface failures. It appears that the City has done some patch paving on these streets in the past. The Public Works crew fills potholes in the fall before the winter rains begin, so I am copying the Superintendent for his information.The Metropolitan Transportation Commission classifies a PCI less than 25 out of 100 as a “very poor / failed” street, and recommends that the street be reconstructed. The portion of East O between East 4th and East 5th appears to have reached this level. On page 8 of the attached City Manager’s Report, it states that 70 out of 200 miles (or 35%) of City streets are in poor or failed condition. With a decrease in Gas Tax funding over the past 20 years, there is more work to do than funding available to fix the City’s streets.The City used Measure C sales tax revenue to hire a contractor to do some patch paving work on streets south if I-780 within the past year, but I did not see any recent patches on these streets. Measure C funding will be used to pave Southampton Road from Hastings Drive to the new pavement near Panorama Drive. In October, City staff will be preparing a paving program to use the available funding as cost effectively as possible to stretch the dollars as far as possible. East O Street is already on the Pavement Repair Request Log. By copy of this email, I am asking Lisa to add East N Street to the Log. We plan to hire a contractor to do more patch paving in 2017, so we will see if there are places on East N and East O Streets where that makes sense.The paving program will be used to recommend projects in the Fiscal Year 2017-19 Budget. If you would like more information about the paving program, feel free to contact Steve Yee at the email above or 746-4240.Graham Wadsworth, P. E.Public Works Director / City EngineerCity of Benicia Public Works Department250 East "L" StreetBenicia, CA 94510707-746-4240
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