Local roads in Santa Cruz County are among the worst in the entire state, according to a state report released this week.
The biennial report by the California State Association of Counties and League of California Cities, “California Statewide Local Streets and Roads Needs Assessment” ranked Santa Cruz County roads 51st out of 58 counties based on industry-standard pavement condition measurements.
The report prompted local cities and the County of Santa Cruz to call for new road funding and voter approval of local Measure D.
“Residents from the mountains to the sea know the condition of our roads is an issue that needs to be addressed,” Board of Supervisors Chair Bruce McPherson said. “Whether at the state or local level, new funding is needed so that we can get to work fixing our streets and roads. Without it, conditions will continue to deteriorate further.”
The 2016 report confirms pavement conditions continue to decline due to insufficient funding to properly fix and/or maintain streets, roads, bridges, sidewalks, storm drains and traffic signs. Deferring this crucial work will increase the cost of repairs in the future, and impede efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and other air pollutants, according to the report.
“No matter what your mode of transportation, local roads are what our residents depend on every day to get around,” Santa Cruz Councilmember Don Lane said. “They carry pedestrians, bikes, busses and cars alike. Deteriorating roads impacts our quality of life and our neighborhoods, and must be addressed.”
Twenty counties currently have transportation-specific local sales tax measures, which together include more than 83 percent of the state’s population. A dozen more have one on the ballot, including Santa Cruz County’s Measure D, which would raise at least $500 million over 30 years for local roads, public transit, bicycling infrastructure and congestion relief along Highway 1.
