In the heart of Upland, city officials gathered for a special workshop, focusing on a pressing issue that affects every resident: the condition of the city’s roadways. As the meeting unfolded, the discussion centered around the Pavement Condition Index (PCI), a vital tool used nationwide to assess the health of roads. This standardized index rates pavement quality on a scale from 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating better conditions.

Currently, Upland's roads have an average PCI score of 57, placing them in the fair range. This score highlights the need for attention, as a PCI of 70 or higher is deemed ideal. In such cases, cities can prioritize low-cost maintenance strategies, like slurry seals, to extend the life of their roads. However, with over 191 miles of roadway to maintain, the city faces a daunting challenge.

To fully restore Upland’s roadway network to optimal conditions would require an investment of approximately $160 million—a figure that continues to rise. This assessment was conducted by a third-party contractor specializing in pavement evaluations, ensuring an unbiased and accurate measurement of each mile of roadway.

As the city grapples with these figures, the implications are clear: without timely investments and strategic planning, the quality of Upland's roads could deteriorate further, impacting daily commutes and overall community safety. The workshop served as a crucial reminder of the importance of infrastructure maintenance and the need for proactive measures to secure the city’s future.