Town of Washougal has a few of the best-conditioned and well-maintained roads in Washington, in line with a current report.
Silverton, Ore.-based Capitol Asset & Pavement Providers evaluated all paved streets maintained by the town and awarded Washougal with a Pavement Situation Index rating of 82.
“CAPS does not provide pavement analysis for all municipalities within the state, so it would be difficult to identify each jurisdiction and what their PCI would currently be,” Washougal Public Works Director Trevor Evers mentioned. “(But CAPS co-owner) Joel Conder mentioned that our current PCI is one of the best in Washington state.”
Conder mentioned throughout the Washougal Metropolis Council’s Feb. 24 workshop session that the common PCI in Washington is 71.
“Your staff and the folks that allocate the money for your streets have done an excellent job,” Conder mentioned. “When I go into a city and try to help folks get going with their pavement management system, I try to get them to 82.”
The rating is a results of the council’s continued funding in pavement administration, guaranteeing that native streets stay secure, environment friendly and well-maintained, Evers mentioned.
“Because of the city council’s investment in our pavement management program, we are able to focus on preventative maintenance rather than costly reconstructions,” Evers mentioned. “This strategy saves money in the long run and ensures our roads remain safe and reliable for years to come.”
The council allotted $1.1 million in 2025 and $1.1 million in 2026 from the town’s common fund price range to the town’s Pavement Administration Program.
“With this investment, we are ensuring smooth, safe roads, reducing vehicle maintenance costs for residents, and enhancing the overall quality of life in Washougal,” Metropolis Supervisor David Scott mentioned.
Town preserves 70.2 centerline miles of paved streets with yearly upkeep measures, similar to crack-sealing and slurry-sealing. (A centerline mile measures the entire size of a highway alongside the middle line, whatever the variety of lanes.)
“Obviously, you want to catch those roads that are in fair and good condition and do maintenance to them,” Conder mentioned. “It’s about $2 a square yard to do it in the early years. If you wait, it gets very expensive to do (up to $130 per square yard). That’s one thing the city has been really good about, maintaining the ‘good’ streets and keeping them there.”
In accordance with the report, 93.2 % of Washougal’s roads are in “good” situation.
Conder informed Washougal leaders, nevertheless, that they need to think about growing their upkeep funding sooner or later.
“My advice would be to start stockpiling some money if you can, because you can only seal-coat these roads so long, and eventually, they’re going to need some structural integrity added to them,” he mentioned. “The (money that you’re) spending now will not work 10 to 12 years from now. A lot of councils that I talk to say, ‘Well, we’re going to kick the proverbial can down the road because we’re not even going to be on this council in 10, 12 years.’ The proper thing to do would be to start planning for that savings.”
Scott informed the council that it might transfer funds from different applications or implement new strategies to fund the Pavement Administration Program.
“For example, the license tab fee. It’s $20 now but could go to $50,” he mentioned. “Also, the council can do a 0.1 percent sales tax (increase). As we move into the next period of time in the strategic plan, one of the things (we’ll do is) a community funding analysis that’s going to look at all of our programs.”
Councilwoman Julie Russell mentioned the council ought to depart the $2.2 million that’s already allotted for 2025 and 2026 untouched and think about different choices for the town’s subsequent biennial price range in 2027-28.
“That’s the easiest approach because we’ve already done (this year’s) budget,” Scott mentioned. “And that gives time for our community funding analysis to mature.”