A recent “Ask the Mayor” question is a variation of one I hear from constituents all the time: “When is the City going to fix the road in front of my house?” 
 

As a San Diegan myself, I share your frustration with the condition of our streets. Years of disinvestment have brought us to this point, and I’m committed to fixing the damn roads—even amid significant budget constraints. 
 

To answer the question: Our City fixes roads across San Diego based on the Transportation Department’s Pavement Management Plan, a comprehensive and data-driven approach based on the latest 2023 pavement condition assessment. This plan uses objective criteria to prioritize street repairs, ensuring our limited resources are invested strategically. 
 

The objective criteria used to prioritize street repairs in San Diego include: 
 

• Pavement Condition Index (PCI): A numerical rating based on pavement surveys assessing overall road condition. The lower the PCI, the worse the shape of the street. The street condition dictates what repair treatment type is required, and therefore the estimated cost of those repairs. 

• Road Type and Traffic Volume: Main thoroughfares and arterials often get precedence over smaller neighborhood streets. 

• Equitable Communities: Streets within communities of concern are prioritized higher than streets with the same road type and PCI that are in communities with more resources. 

• Proximity to High Use Areas: Streets located near high-use areas such as tourist attractions, schools, and shopping centers are prioritized higher.  

• Maintenance History: Past repairs and maintenance records are evaluated. 

• Planned Construction Projects: Repairs are coordinated with other infrastructure projects to minimize disruption and maximize efficiency. 
   

These factors ensure a data-driven, strategic approach to efficiently maintain San Diego’s streets. 

The Pavement Management Plan outlines specific streets targeted for improvements over the next five years and is updated annually. Our aspirational goal is to achieve a citywide average Pavement Condition Index (PCI) of 70, a score that signifies good street condition. Achieving this rating requires dedicated annual investments totaling $1.9 billion over the next decade. My administration has been working hard to identify savings and establish new revenues so we can continue making progress on fixing the roads.  
 

Residents can view the Five-Year Plan via the Streets SD website. Type in the name of the streets you’re wondering about to see its current status. The map shows pavement conditions, planned paving dates (pending funding), and past paving projects, with updates occurring at least annually based on funding, project conflicts, and potential delays such as weather or supply issues. 
 

If your street isn't on the list, there's no need to report it for resurfacing since we don’t prioritize street repairs based on residents’ reports, instead we use the data-driven process detailed above. However, potholes can and should be reported. These smaller, bowl-shaped pavement depressions are typically caused by water seepage and vehicular traffic, especially after rain. The City repairs more than 40,000 potholes each year using reliable materials like hot patch compound and bagged asphalt. Your participation helps us target repairs effectively and keeps San Diego moving forward. 
 

Email askthemayor@sandiego.gov if you have a question you'd like the mayor to consider.