Note: This information is taken from the City Controller’s Office report relative to an audit of the Bureau of Street Services Resurfacing and Maintenance activities.

In the City’s 2011 State of the Streets Report, Bureau of Street Services’ own assessment rated the majority of Los Angeles streets at a less than satisfactory grade.

A 2013 report by TRIP, a private nonprofit organization that researches, evaluates and distributes economic and technical data on surface transportation issues, offers its own assessment.

TRIP reported that 90% of streets in the Los Angeles Urban Area were in “poor” and “mediocre” condition.2 In addition, the LA area had the highest percentage of pavement in poor condition (64%) of all the areas studied with populations of 500,000 or greater.

Further, TRIP reported that the average motorist in the Los Angeles area spends the most ($832) in additional annual vehicle operating costs as a result of driving on roads in need of repair, since driving on poor roads accelerates vehicle deterioration, increases the need for frequent maintenance, and requires additional fuel consumption.3 This amount is 71% higher than the $486 average additional annual vehicle cost found in the 75 large urban areas studied.

The audit further states that “A recent estimate presented to policymakers indicated that it will take 20 years and cost $3.86 billion to rehabilitate the 8,200 lane miles of currently rated “D” and “F” streets (which are considered “poor” or “failed”), plus 500 lane miles of streets that may become “D” or “F” rated during the decades it will take to complete the project.5 This capital investment would be in addition to the approximately $3 billion the City will need to continue to spend on itsPavement Preservation Plan over that same 20-year period–money necessary to keep even more streets from failing.”