Please click the image above to visit the Smooth Streets Story Map to learn about upcoming paving work. 
To learn more about the program, continue reading below.

Program Background

The Smooth Streets Program (formerly Failed Streets Program) replaces streets that have reached the end of their service life. Unlike our Pavement Management Program which repairs and protects streets through resurfacing, slurry sealing, and pothole repair, the reconstruction of streets typically involves removing and replacing the entire pavement section down to the base of the roadway.

We have identified approximately 15 miles of streets to be reconstructed based on visual inspection and their Pavement Condition Index (PCI). The PCI of a street is a numerical rating from 1 to 100 that indicates the general condition of the pavement including traffic volumes and pavement distresses.  If a street has a PCI score of 30 or less, they are considered “failed” and are our top priority for reconstruction. With the help of funds from Measure S, a quarter-cent sales tax passed by San Mateo voters in 2015, we are undertaking an ambitious program to systematically rebuild these failed streets.

Coordination and Constraints

We are coordinating this work with the Clean Water Program, which involves extensive work on the sewers beneath our streets. One to two miles of sewer lines are scheduled for rehabilitation underneath failed streets, and if we reconstruct one of these roads prematurely the brand new pavement would have to be excavated to reach the sewer lines.

The Public Works Department is also coordinating with Pacific Gas & Electric and California Water Service to minimize avoidable expense and inconvenience to community members.  We are physically digging down to known utilities buried beneath the streets to confirm their depth. If a utility line is too close to the surface, it will have to be moved before the street can be reconstructed. When utility conflicts are found, we will request that the private utility companies relocate their pipes, wires, or other buried infrastructure. In can take anywhere from 9 to 24 months to relocate a mile of buried utilities.

Program Status:

The first group of streets has been repaired. These streets were repaired first because there were no utility conflicts. Design work is being done for the next section of streets, and construction is anticipated to take place in spring or summer 2019.  Because of utility conflicts, these streets will take longer to complete than the first group.

• Geotechnical soil evaluation (completed in November 2017)
• Repair of first group of streets (completed summer 2018)
• Utility depth verification for second group of streets (completed in July 2018)
• Prepare plans and specs for second group of streets (in progress)

Next steps: The 5-year plan will be updated regularly as the Smooth Streets Program progresses.