Los Angeles has not repaved any streets since July 1, the start of the city’s fiscal year, and plans to continue this approach next year.
Instead of full resurfacing, the city has shifted its focus to “large asphalt repair,” which involves patching only the most worn portions of streets. This strategy, while seemingly cost-effective, is actually more expensive per mile than full repaving because it requires the same equipment and labor for less work. The city’s Pavement Condition Index is projected to drop to 56 next year, a 4% decline, putting L.A. behind neighboring cities like Santa Monica and West Hollywood, which have higher indices of 82 and 77, respectively.
The halt in repaving is partly due to federal requirements under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). When a street is repaved, adjacent curb ramps must be updated to meet accessibility standards, which can double the cost of repaving. To avoid these costs, Los Angeles has reclassified resurfacing as maintenance, circumventing the need for ADA compliance. According to the Los Angeles Times, this has led to a backlog of accessibility improvements and increased long-term costs, as streets in disrepair require more expensive fixes later.
The city’s budget constraints have exacerbated the issue. Los Angeles spends significantly less on street infrastructure per capita compared to other major cities, such as New York and San Francisco. The city’s fragmented approach, with different departments handling various aspects of street maintenance, further complicates efficient spending. Oren Hadar, a housing and transportation advocate, told Mar Vista Voice, “You can’t not pave your streets. It’s the most basic city service.”
Proposed solutions include consolidating street maintenance under a single department and securing stable funding through a dedicated share of assessed property values. These changes aim to improve efficiency and ensure that Los Angeles can meet its infrastructure needs without further deferring essential repairs.
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