[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6487983,"mediaKeyId","5476207-8f8a03d5caa4549b213af267f827772e","parentId",5476207,"title","Pavement study: $50M bond would raise network PCI; $20M preserves current condition, $2.1M annual budget is insufficient","audioSeconds",1056,"startMs",7793000,"endMs",8849000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5476207-8f8a03d5caa4549b213af267f827772e&start=7793&end=8849","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5476207-8f8a03d5caa4549b213af267f827772e/thumbnail_7793000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6487983/Galveston/Galveston-County/Texas/Pavement-study-50M-bond-would-raise-network-PCI-20M-preserves-current-condition-21M-annual-budget-is-insufficient","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6487983-9accdbf9a5e05aa80a8b137baaaf0017/orig.mp4?Expires=1771132766&Signature=ADvbzig2elMw2YcbdWXce5BJ1zKFFdVcfJ8UT96FV3YJF--FlPONXLklb8pJ-Bc8HZ0NxjMYsyHGmLT3XcYjzTkPGF15LWLi~SeZfqW2ldpS~070TudwdgCSEhMpo38qBYD6D5qiyQD-0IvrrTg9oe1xAmoj5xOimoAduA2Y8kL43z1nXCM66kYa13h4upMBYvEBbBxvONuPyCUryryz5V5j5~V3o2KGJIi8rBwxqym7Q30peOTSEblVWlFkqNyL9xtJj25yvKJEViSYu9AwftVVbF-Q9~MnlwvSg4kABL-32vu4FKCZojiFBupRsifbjnX5xZbGS7S4sR7Tjv4CiA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Galveston","date","2025-07-24T00:00:00Z","article","A consultant team from Roadway Asset Services released updated pavement condition data and modeled funding scenarios for Galveston’s paved roadway network, saying current maintenance levels are not sufficient to keep average pavement health steady.

Zach Thomason, senior vice president at Roadway Asset Services, said the city’s paved network is about 300 centerline miles (roughly 5.6 million square yards of pavement). A mobile survey van collected imagery and pavement distress data in late 2022 and the consultant adjusted those results for five years of subsequent maintenance activity to produce a current snapshot. The city’s network pavement condition index (PCI) averaged about 74 today, down from 76 in the prior snapshot.

Thomason reviewed three model runs: (1) the current annual pavement budget of about $2.1 million, which the consultant projects would allow the PCI to fall to about 69 in seven years; (2) a $20 million bond infusion combined with the $2.1 million annual program, which would hold the system near today’s condition (projected PCI ~73); and (3) a $50 million bond infusion that would raise the average PCI to about 79 after seven years. The consultant emphasized the cost of deferral: routine preservation such as microsurfacing costs roughly $5–6 per square yard while mill/overlay and full reconstruction cost many times as much if the pavement is allowed to deteriorate.

Roadway Asset Services also produced modelled annual budgets to maintain a given network PCI. Maintaining a PCI near the current level across the next seven years would require about $5.75 million per year (today’s dollars); the higher PCI target (79) implied an annualized maintenance need of roughly $3.5–$5.9 million depending on inflation assumptions.

Council members discussed the political feasibility of city‑wide bonds and asked staff for breakdowns by council district. Staff said they would produce a draft project map showing candidate streets and attempt to allocate the program across districts so the proposed program would be geographically balanced for voters. Staff also said they would provide projected tax impacts of several bond sizes and suggested an August 14 schedule to consider ballot language and a tentative November ballot if council chooses to proceed.

Consultant Zach Thomason said the plan used an optimization algorithm rather than a worst‑first approach in order to capture the most pavement “bang for the buck” and to avoid paying exponentially more later by letting roads fall into reconstruction category.

City staff said they will return with the draft list of candidate streets, district allocations and tax impact projections for council consideration; council directed staff to provide the material quickly for the August meetings so members can determine whether to put a bond question on the November ballot.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Galveston - Council Workshop","oneSentenceSummary","A city‑commissioned pavement assessment found Galveston’s paved network averaging a PCI of about 74 and projected that the current annual pavement budget of about $2.1 million would reduce average pavement health to an estimated PCI of 69 in seven years unless the city increases funding or passes bonds.","taxTitle","Galveston , Galveston County, Texas","taxId",5145,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6487988,"Galveston staff present data-driven water and wastewater master plans with $95M in near-term projects",1328,1837000,3165000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5476207-8f8a03d5caa4549b213af267f827772e&start=1837&end=3165","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5476207-8f8a03d5caa4549b213af267f827772e/thumbnail_1837000.jpg","/articles/6487988/Galveston/Galveston-County/Texas/Galveston-staff-present-data-driven-water-and-wastewater-master-plans-with-95M-in-near-term-projects","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6487988-4bc0632a1829ab4f75d5ee7367d608f4/orig.mp4?Expires=1771132766&Signature=Yo2Hm2hCW2MwLU2zbCedMeNdroj1lERh5Id0sJUHlku6XflaGweZ5GHVBczd-XdmoVmhxCrnRLHvHW2lTvFqJSUbVd6XamEWmMIJe52ePbCXqFTriScuCZpRoaKLpzsYnTUuN9CZXTX0YmsE-dqFh2rHNrqBc-hIhf~xq~bZZCWYYm2ns8pmqJo~8fJQVAsoyuMKFcvzPjySKYkg~u~2M4xmFZsDrpnjwAeQQh5bb4f9x8QYIwtgoJun6lLf19Q~NXF-9I8aj5FDIjlf~-E~yNNeL4xqBA87E25eUaWf8pCWDIpFIXOyvzVPEpkyw2NusW8D0ulWxqHAEqwHyv5S7A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","City staff and consultant Friese and Nichols presented a data-driven update to Galveston’s water and wastewater master plans that identifies condition- and regulation-driven projects and a 10-year capital improvement program that totals roughly $95 million.

Brandon Cook, assistant city manager, said the city and consultant teams focused on condition assessments, hydraulic modeling and sensor-based monitoring to limit opinion and base the plan on measured system performance. “We did over 80 site visits with the city operational staff,” consultant Kendall Ryan of Freese and Nichols told council, adding the team deployed pressure and flow sensors during peak (tourist) conditions to calibrate models.

The plans flag water system needs including elevated storage and pump-station improvements and identify about $61 million in water projects over 10 years; Friese and Nichols reported about $34.7 million of that is expected to be covered by federal/state grants or earmarks and roughly $24.3 million by local bonds or existing bond funds. The sewer program lists about $34 million of projects (lift-station work and conveyance improvements), with the consultants noting approximately $32 million from existing bond revenue and $1.7 million from grants for the first tranche.

Consultants and staff emphasized that much of the near-term CIP is driven by condition (many pipes and facilities are older than the industry expected 50-year useful life) and by regulatory requirements under Texas administrative code (water: TAC chapter 290; wastewater: TAC chapter 217). Ryan said the city has reduced distribution system water loss from about 40% at a previous high-point to about 10% today through leak detection and meter work, improving the system’s efficiency ahead of larger investments.

Finance staff summarized the budget picture tied to the CIPs. City finance reported the FY26 draft utility budget projects combined water/wastewater revenue of about $47.6 million with operations around $35.2 million, debt service about $10.5 million and a projected ending fund balance that is close to the city’s 120-day target. Staff warned that implementation will require a rate study and likely future rate adjustments tied to any debt issuance to fund projects beyond available grants. City staff recommended conducting a FY27 rate study and presenting options to council in mid‑2026.

Council asked about growth assumptions, alternative supplies and resiliency. Consultants said the plans used a conservative 1% annual average growth projection and noted staff is pursuing short-term capacity actions (rehabilitating off‑island wellfields) while coordinating with Gulf Coast Water Authority on longer‑term regional supply and desalination options. Cook summarized next steps: finalize the plans, pursue grants, and begin a rate study so council can decide on financing and timing of bond issues or other funding mechanisms.","City staff and consultants summarized 18 months of analysis and monitoring that produced 10-year capital improvement programs for water and wastewater; projects in the first 10 years total about $95 million, with roughly $35 million expected from federal grants and the remainder from bonds or local funds.","actionData","errors"]

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Pavement study: $50M bond would raise network PCI; $20M preserves current condition, $2.1M annual budget is insufficient

Galveston staff present data-driven water and wastewater master plans with $95M in near-term projects