New report looks at road quality throughout California

A new report looking at roads throughout the state indicates that nearly $7 billion a year is needed to improve the state’s roadways and make them safer.

The report, “Save California Streets,” was released this week by the California State Association of Counties and the League of California Cities. It breaks the state down by county and analyzes the roads and streets we drive every day.

(Click here to read the report.)

The report shows pavement conditions are quite poor in Monterey and San Benito counties. Santa Cruz County isn’t quite as bad, labeled as “high risk.” But it could get worse as public works cuts staffing.

Santa Cruz County Public Works officials say they’re working with the same amount of money it got 21 years ago for repair work – and that’s not enough.

“It’s a smaller county so I’m sure with budget cuts and so forth, it makes it hard to keep up with the demands,” said Bobby Scott, president of Scott’s Body Shop in Santa Cruz.

In the more than 21 years that the shop’s been in business, he says he’s seen the toll the roads take on vehicles that come into his shop.

“Whether it be the ability to stop as the road is not in good condition, your gas mileage is affected, your tire wear, brakes, your shocks, all those things are being worn out on rougher than normal roads for sure,” he said.

The results of the newest report don’t surprise him.

“The roads definitely are in need of repair,” Scott said.

There is roadwork being done throughout the Central Coast, of course, particularly in Santa Cruz County as of late, but there is still a lot more repairs to go. As with everything, it boils down to money and that may not be improving any time soon.