by Nicole Bradford
The results of a 2023 citywide pavement assessment show while Pearland streets rate better than the national average, they’ve been getting worse over time.
On a scale of 0 to 100, with 100 meaning “very good,” Pearland’s average is 74, according to the assessment performed by infrastructure expert and researcher Dr. Sadaf Khosravifar.
It’s above the national average — but two points lower than the city scored in a 2014 pavement assessment.
“In our clients, the average is about 63,” Khosravifar told city council members during a presentation Monday. “But when we compare Pearland to Pearland back in 2014, we can see a decline.”
Roads are assessed through 3-D laser cameras that identify and classify types of pavement distress over the city’s 449-mile network. For streets rated below 40, maintenance is no longer an option, Khosravifar said; since these are in such poor condition, they must be reconstructed.
Examples of streets with a score below 40 included South Texas Avenue from West Walnut to West Pear Street.
The percentage of streets in poor condition was only 1.5 percent in a 2014 assessment but rose to 3.6 percent in 2023.
“What we really are seeing is that the asphalt streets that have degraded significantly,” City Manager Trent Epperson said. “Our concrete streets are still in relatively good condition.”
City staff presented options for increased funding and staff to keep up with street and sidewalk maintenance. Also proposed is a “robust” repair and repaving program to prevent streets that fall below a grade of 40.
“My only concern is I would like to see which projects move forward based on traffic data,” Councilman Rushi Patel said.
