One reason, researchers say, is that the city has a large residential base but comparatively fewer major commercial employers to generate sales and business tax revenue.<\/p>\n
As a result, less money flows into the city’s general fund, which helps pay for road repairs, bridge maintenance, parks and emergency services.<\/p>\n
The challenge has been compounded by decades of rapid growth. Unlike denser urban centers, San Jose expanded across a broad geographic area, increasing the amount of infrastructure the city must maintain.<\/p>\n
“And one of the issues is, when you grow a lot and you grow horizontally in terms of spreading out a bit more, you’re spreading your infrastructure costs out over a population that is not as dense,” Terplan said.<\/p>\n
The scale of the system is significant. San Francisco maintains approximately 1,260 miles of roads, while San Jose’s street network exceeds 2,500 miles.<\/p>\n
Residents say the effects extend beyond roadways.<\/p>\n
“Also, a lot of littering out here, a lot of trash out here. Kids are playing around and they are picking up trash or they are not able to use certain equipment out here,” said San Jose resident Octavio Gonzalez.<\/p>\n
MORE: San Jose pilot program using AI to detect roadway obstructions sees positive results<\/a><\/p>\n City officials acknowledge the scope of the challenge. A report from San Jose’s Department of Public Works identified a substantial deferred maintenance backlog.<\/p>\n “In that report we announced, through all the different bits of infrastructure, where we think we are short over the next 30 years, it’s a very large number.<\/p>\n “What is that number?” ABC7 Eyewitness News reporter Lyanne Melendez asked.<\/p>\n “It’s about $2.2 billion,” said Matt Loesch, the city’s director of Public Works.<\/p>\n Independent research has also highlighted the issue. Merritt Research Services found that San Jose carries the highest infrastructure and capital asset burden among large U.S. cities included in its analysis.<\/p>\n “The longer you wait to address your capital needs, the more expensive it is. At the same time it’s becoming less reliable and potentially less safe,” said Richard Ciccarone, president emeritus of Merritt Research Services.<\/p>\n City leaders point to progress made since voters approved Measure T, a $650 million infrastructure bond measure, in 2018. “We’ve done about 1,000 miles of our roads,” Loesch said.<\/p>\n
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