By Sara Beth Williams–
Amid ongoing public complaints about deteriorating road conditions in the city, Citrus Heights General Services Director Regina Cave sat down for an interview to address residents’ questions and concerns, and explained when and how the city is responding.
How much money is being allocated toward fixing roads?
Cave said $4 million from the General Fund is currently allocated toward road maintenance, such as resurfacing and restriping. The city also receives money from the California gas tax, Senate Bill 1, which is a supplemental gas tax, and Measure A maintenance sales taxes.
Additionally, Cave said funds can also be utilized from the city’s stormwater utility fund and from Community Development Block Grant funding to help support resurfacing projects by funding ADA ramp upgrades, sidewalk repairs, and storm pipe repairs, all of which need to be addressed before a road is fully resurfaced, Cave said.
The total allocated cost is around $7.5 million, with $700,000 alone allocated toward pothole patches and mill and fill during the cold and wet winter season.
“Potholes are like death and taxes,” Cave said, referring to the inevitability of potholes.
The city also regularly applies for grants from the Sacramento Area Council of Governments. Certain funding received can be allocated toward maintenance and modernization projects. However, Cave said, some grant funding tends to be more stringent and requires that 60 to 80 percent of the total project address multi-modal and other elements, which can turn an $800,000 project into a $4.5 million project.
What is the difference between repaving and resurfacing?
There is a difference between paving and resurfacing, and paving is significantly more expensive, Cave said. Because of this, the city focuses on resurfacing, which is altering the surface of the street and adding treatment to improve or maintain the street. Resurfacing a street can cost between $7 and $15 per square yard, whereas repaving costs similarly but per square foot instead.
What types of roads are part of the Three-Year Pavement Preservation Plan?
The Three-Year-Pavement-Preservation Plan includes arterials, or major throughways, as well as collectors— roads that connect local streets to arterial roads— plus longer residential streets, and some courts. Cave said the city has been trying to broaden application and not focus on just one type of street and that currently, sidewalk deficiencies and required ADA updates are being identified for over 100 neighborhood streets.
The goal in 2025 is to complete ADA updates, sidewalk repairs, storm drain updates prior to beginning resurfacing projects. Cave acknowledged that many streets scheduled for resurfacing this year may be pushed back to 2026, but added that resurfacing projects are generally quick once all other repairs or updates are complete.
Cave also emphasized the importance of being aware of all construction projects happening the need to work around major Complete Streets projects to help prevent any traffic congestion from occurring.
“Between 2011 and 2015, we had a ton of construction happening on Auburn Boulevard. during the last Phase One, and we also had road work occurring on Sunrise Boulevard from Antelope Road to Oak Avenue,” Cave said, adding that the city has learned its lesson and has had to delay some resurfacing of smaller streets near Auburn Boulevard because of the major Complete Streets project taking place.
Upcoming roadwork projects
Though some projects have been postponed due to ongoing construction along Auburn Boulevard, Citrus Heights residents can expect several major road improvement projects in the near future, Cave said.
Resurfacing is scheduled to begin in mid-May along Sunrise Boulevard, between Greenback Lane and Madison Avenue, and along Macy Plaza Drive, between Birdcage Street and Sunrise Boulevard, Cave said. Both streets will receive a three-layer resurfacing treatment, and most of the work will be done at night, with the exception of edge grinding, which is scheduled to take place on Monday, May 19 during the day.
Resurfacing and restriping are also scheduled to take place this summer along Dewey Drive from the southern city limits to Greenback Lane and from Van Maren Lane to Auburn Boulevard. Cave said the roadwork should be completed quickly, as sidewalk deficiencies and ADA updates have already been completed.
Looking ahead to 2026, Cave said she anticipates the start of several major resurfacing projects, including resurfacing and some partial mill and fill on Antelope Road from Roseville Road to Auburn Boulevard, and the resurfacing of Fair Oaks Boulevard from Greenback Lane to Madison Avenue, and Rollingwood Boulevard from Antelope Road to Auburn Boulevard. These projects are currently in the planning and design phase, with studies underway to evaluate utility infrastructure, traffic signal operations and so on.
Cave also said Sacramento County is planning to repave Madison Avenue from San Juan Avenue to Fair Oaks Boulevard sometime in 2026.
