SJ roads worst in the nation!
SJ roads worst in the nation!
I have been saying this for years and am usually met with flack from the snow belt folks, here is the proof.
On top of all that, those that road up on 101 to RR this weekend, did you notice how bumpy all that new pavement is in Sunnyvale/Mountain View, what the heck?
Chris
http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercu...n/15658908.htm
On top of all that, those that road up on 101 to RR this weekend, did you notice how bumpy all that new pavement is in Sunnyvale/Mountain View, what the heck?
Chris
http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercu...n/15658908.htm
Bumpy S.J. roads worst in nation
By Gary Richards
Mercury News
The South Bay has the bumpiest roads in the nation -- more potholes, rough rides, cracked pavement -- than any urban region in the country, according to a national study released today.
That distinction costs motorists here $705 in repairs a year, the biggest bill in the country and nearly double the national average of $383.
``No surprise,'' said Jeff Slavich, owner of Tires Unlimited in Campbell. ``We see an awful lot of cars come in with damaged tires, wheels and suspensions because of the bumpy roads. It's great for business.''
You thought cities in snow belt areas would have the worst roads? Not true. Five of the bumpiest seven are in California, with Los Angeles second, the San Francisco-Oakland region at No. 3, followed by Kansas City, New Orleans (pre-Katrina), San Diego and Sacramento.
Turns out that it's not the snow or ice that causes trouble. It's the number of cars, SUVs and big rigs.
``Usually, in the Northern states, you may see more extreme examples like big potholes and sinkholes than in cities with temperate climates,'' said Frank Moretti, research director for TRIP, the non-profit research organization based in Washington, D.C., that did the study. ``But California has a lot of old pavement that gets tremendous use and is inadequately maintained.
``We see that all over the map in your state.''
Every year, the Federal Highway Administration requires state and local agencies to conduct vibration tests on main roads. That data for 2004 was analyzed by TRIP, which specializes in highway transportation issues.
The study evaluated conditions on freeways, highways and city streets in regions with 500,000 or more residents. Two-thirds -- or 66 percent -- of South Bay roads are in poor condition, edging out runner-up Los Angeles at 65 percent. That's more than twice the national average of 26 percent.
An additional 26 percent of San Jose area roads are in mediocre condition, and only 8 percent are rated as good or fair.
Not enough money
More than 400 of the city's 2,300 miles of streets are in need of resurfacing, according to San Jose's Department of Transportation, a figure that will grow to 700 miles by 2011 unless there's an infusion of cash. More than $30 million is needed annually to perform adequate levels of repair work, preventive maintenance and resurfacing each year.
But for the past five years, San Jose's street maintenance program has been severely under-funded, getting about $15 million a year, or half of what it needs.
``Not only has the funding shortfall impacted the condition of our streets by greatly restricting the amount of repair, maintenance and resurfacing we performed,'' said Kevin O'Connor, a deputy director with the city's transportation department, ``it has also created a significant backlog of streets that need costly resurfacing or reconstruction.''
The cost to repave those 400-plus miles of streets is about $130 million. And to bring all of the city's roads into good condition would cost about $210 million.
There is a glimmer of smoothness. The state has doubled funding for repaving from $326 million in 2005 to $666 million this year, and has spent the summer repaving Highway 101 and Interstate 280 through the South Bay, sections of Highway 17, Highway 92 along the Peninsula and Highway 152 east of Gilroy. During the next decade, Caltrans intends to repave 13,592 of the 18,453 miles of lanes throughout the state.
A 1996 countywide sales tax reaped $90 million for repaving work in cities in Santa Clara County, and most expressways were resurfaced along with key city streets such as Saratoga Avenue.
No surprise to drivers
Motorists, both here and out of state, notice the rough spots.
``I can tell when I reach the California-Oregon border,'' said Kelly Danner, 54, who moved from California to Grants Pass, Ore., five years ago. ``California's roads are bumpy, uneven, with potholes. I left California to get away from the traffic, the crumbling roads and all those people.''
Sigh, said the Rev. Peter Pabst, president of Nativity Schools of San Jose, who calls Virginia Street between Bird and First streets near his schools ``amazingly bumpy.''
It's so bad, he says, that ``Virginia rattles dentures.''
By Gary Richards
Mercury News
The South Bay has the bumpiest roads in the nation -- more potholes, rough rides, cracked pavement -- than any urban region in the country, according to a national study released today.
That distinction costs motorists here $705 in repairs a year, the biggest bill in the country and nearly double the national average of $383.
``No surprise,'' said Jeff Slavich, owner of Tires Unlimited in Campbell. ``We see an awful lot of cars come in with damaged tires, wheels and suspensions because of the bumpy roads. It's great for business.''
You thought cities in snow belt areas would have the worst roads? Not true. Five of the bumpiest seven are in California, with Los Angeles second, the San Francisco-Oakland region at No. 3, followed by Kansas City, New Orleans (pre-Katrina), San Diego and Sacramento.
Turns out that it's not the snow or ice that causes trouble. It's the number of cars, SUVs and big rigs.
``Usually, in the Northern states, you may see more extreme examples like big potholes and sinkholes than in cities with temperate climates,'' said Frank Moretti, research director for TRIP, the non-profit research organization based in Washington, D.C., that did the study. ``But California has a lot of old pavement that gets tremendous use and is inadequately maintained.
``We see that all over the map in your state.''
Every year, the Federal Highway Administration requires state and local agencies to conduct vibration tests on main roads. That data for 2004 was analyzed by TRIP, which specializes in highway transportation issues.
The study evaluated conditions on freeways, highways and city streets in regions with 500,000 or more residents. Two-thirds -- or 66 percent -- of South Bay roads are in poor condition, edging out runner-up Los Angeles at 65 percent. That's more than twice the national average of 26 percent.
An additional 26 percent of San Jose area roads are in mediocre condition, and only 8 percent are rated as good or fair.
Not enough money
More than 400 of the city's 2,300 miles of streets are in need of resurfacing, according to San Jose's Department of Transportation, a figure that will grow to 700 miles by 2011 unless there's an infusion of cash. More than $30 million is needed annually to perform adequate levels of repair work, preventive maintenance and resurfacing each year.
But for the past five years, San Jose's street maintenance program has been severely under-funded, getting about $15 million a year, or half of what it needs.
``Not only has the funding shortfall impacted the condition of our streets by greatly restricting the amount of repair, maintenance and resurfacing we performed,'' said Kevin O'Connor, a deputy director with the city's transportation department, ``it has also created a significant backlog of streets that need costly resurfacing or reconstruction.''
The cost to repave those 400-plus miles of streets is about $130 million. And to bring all of the city's roads into good condition would cost about $210 million.
There is a glimmer of smoothness. The state has doubled funding for repaving from $326 million in 2005 to $666 million this year, and has spent the summer repaving Highway 101 and Interstate 280 through the South Bay, sections of Highway 17, Highway 92 along the Peninsula and Highway 152 east of Gilroy. During the next decade, Caltrans intends to repave 13,592 of the 18,453 miles of lanes throughout the state.
A 1996 countywide sales tax reaped $90 million for repaving work in cities in Santa Clara County, and most expressways were resurfaced along with key city streets such as Saratoga Avenue.
No surprise to drivers
Motorists, both here and out of state, notice the rough spots.
``I can tell when I reach the California-Oregon border,'' said Kelly Danner, 54, who moved from California to Grants Pass, Ore., five years ago. ``California's roads are bumpy, uneven, with potholes. I left California to get away from the traffic, the crumbling roads and all those people.''
Sigh, said the Rev. Peter Pabst, president of Nativity Schools of San Jose, who calls Virginia Street between Bird and First streets near his schools ``amazingly bumpy.''
It's so bad, he says, that ``Virginia rattles dentures.''
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You guys ever drive from CA to Reno. Once you pass the boarder, the road conditions are like night and day.... You can close your eyes and would have no problem telling exactly when you pass the state lines.
It goes from bumpy, loud ride to all of sudden a smooth quiet ride.
How can this state be one if not THE wealthiest in the nation and have one of the worst roads, schools, crime rates etc.
It goes from bumpy, loud ride to all of sudden a smooth quiet ride.
How can this state be one if not THE wealthiest in the nation and have one of the worst roads, schools, crime rates etc.
15M on roads, 400M on the damn city hall, freakin' politicians!
And why is anyone even asking if we should throw another 1M at the Rep and lets not forget the 4M we spent on the GP, like it grows on trees.
Chris
And why is anyone even asking if we should throw another 1M at the Rep and lets not forget the 4M we spent on the GP, like it grows on trees.
Chris
Originally Posted by HyperSprite
15M on roads, 400M on the damn city hall, freakin' politicians!
And why is anyone even asking if we should throw another 1M at the Rep and lets not forget the 4M we spent on the GP, like it grows on trees.
Chris
And why is anyone even asking if we should throw another 1M at the Rep and lets not forget the 4M we spent on the GP, like it grows on trees.
Chris
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From: SF Bay Area, CA
Weird. 
I grew up in SJ (lived here from ~age 3 to 17.5) but moved away after college and my parents and I haven't had any car repairs (other than cracked windshields from road debris/rocks) we could attribute to bad roads.
I've been back for 2 years now and so far I've racked up $0 in repairs due to bad roads.
85 north and south between 280 and 101 is HORRIBLY bouncy/bumpy in my Z, all ~8 miles of it. Unfortunately, when I take my Z to work, I have to go over it, twice. In WA state, the highways were loud (rough pavemnt?) but none were THAT bad for that long, maybe 1/4 to 1/2 mile of that level of bounce at most.
I grew up in SJ (lived here from ~age 3 to 17.5) but moved away after college and my parents and I haven't had any car repairs (other than cracked windshields from road debris/rocks) we could attribute to bad roads.I've been back for 2 years now and so far I've racked up $0 in repairs due to bad roads.
85 north and south between 280 and 101 is HORRIBLY bouncy/bumpy in my Z, all ~8 miles of it. Unfortunately, when I take my Z to work, I have to go over it, twice. In WA state, the highways were loud (rough pavemnt?) but none were THAT bad for that long, maybe 1/4 to 1/2 mile of that level of bounce at most.
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