Called “severe” by local agencies
The County of Sonoma Transportation and Public Works (TPW) department has released a statement regarding the amount of damage done to county roads from the historic storms this winter.
According to the TPW, preliminary estimates put the damage repair costs at around $16.4 million, but stress that these assessments are still in the early stages. Soils are still saturated and the ground continues to move in some places, meaning final assessments cannot be done. In addition, some of the repairs are so major they will require “geotechnical assessments and engineered designs to properly address damage,” at potentially higher cost.
Damage that occurred during the first storm in early January may be eligible for state or federal emergency funding, and county staff is working with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the California Office of Emergency Services (CAL-OES) to identify those areas which may be eligible for these funds. According the county, “Repairs that might be eligible for emergency funding include large projects that are clearly attributed to storm damage, and emergency overtime response by staff and contractors.”
To date, of the four major storm sequences we’ve experienced since Jan. 1, only the first has been declared a federal emergency, but the first three have been declared state emergencies, opening up other possible funding streams for the county.
The county also maintains an operating reserve for the purpose of situations such as this. However, the amount of damage will likely exceed those reserves. In addition, as the storm season is not over and additional damage and sliding is possible, the TPW will wait until “areas are able to be accurately assessed … Transportation and Public Works will work with the Board of Supervisors and County Administrator’s Office to identify additional sources for repair work that will not be covered by the roads reserve and/or state/federal emergency funds.”
The one bright spot may be that thanks to the work undertaken as part of the county’s pavement preservation program, water was prevented from flowing under the roadways in many areas, thus preventing even more severe damage.
The amount of damage done and the cost of repairs has led the county to come out in support of SB 1, a state transportation bill that would seek to raise additional funds for road repair and maintenance. Money would come from increases in vehicle registration, increased gas taxes (with a slightly higher increase for diesel) and other sources. The county estimates its share of revenue from SB1 would be around $18.7 million annually.
According to the county, “When the state gas tax was enacted in 1923, there was enough money to cover both corrective maintenance and pavement preservation. However, due to stagnant state and federal funding, state gas tax only covers a percentage of Sonoma County’s corrective maintenance, and leaves no funding for pavement preservation.”
