Pothole Report: Alameda's Roads in Fair Condition

The city of Alameda's roads are in fair condition and in need of repair, according to a recent Metropolitan Transportation Commission report.

Alameda scored 66 out of a possible 100 for its 2010 pavement condition index (PCI), earning it the"fair" assessment of cities which scored in the 60-69 point range. According to The Pothole Report, "Pavements at the low end of this range have significant levels of distress and may require a combination of rehabilitation and preventive maintenance to keep them from deteriorating rapidly."

Some of the best roads in the Bay Area, according to the study, are in Brentwood, Belvedere, Dublin, Los Altos and Foster City — each with a "very good" score above 81 points. The worst areas were in Rio Vista, Larkspur, Sonoma County, St. Helena and Orinda, all with "poor" scores in the 40-range. 

The Bay Area's overall score as a region was also 66, and the report concludes that the condition of the 42,500 lane-miles of local streets in the Bay Area are "only fair at best," with serious wear and impending need for improvement. The results are the same as the 2009 reading, and within two points of readings going back to 2006. This leaves the region "mired in a mediocre-quality range," according to the report.

While well-maintained pavements could help the Bay Area meet state environmental targets by increasing fuel economy, the report adds that the task of improving the region's roads "is more daunting — and more expensive — than ever."

Bringing Bay Area roads up to a "good" rating of 75 points or more would, MTC estimates, require $25 billion through 2035 — a cost that is three times higher than the current $351 million spent annually on road maintenance. 

The deterioration of a road begins with the daily impact from vehicles —particularly heavy vehicles such as trucks and buses — that eventually causes surfaces to crack. Water leaks through the cracks and erodes pavement strength, eventually causing interconnected networks of cracks known as "alligator cracking." These deep crevices are the culprits behind potholes.

The Pothole Report also calls for what MTC calls a "Complete Streets" approach to road renovation, which encourages better access and use for pedestrians, bicyclists and bus riders as well as drivers.