Sierra Vista Road Maintenance and Projects

Sierra Vista, AZ – February 26, 2025

Sierra Vista relies on multiple funding sources and strategic planning to keep its streets maintained. However, with rising maintenance costs and stagnant fuel tax revenues, the city faces increasing challenges in keeping up with necessary repairs.

Sierra Vista’s road maintenance is primarily funded through grants and the Highway User Revenue Fund (HURF), which consists of state fuel taxes, vehicle registration fees, and license taxes. The state only distributes 27.5% of total HURF tax revenues to Arizona cities and towns using a formula based on:

1. City population

2. Gas sales in the county and the city's share of the county's population

For Fiscal Year 2025, Sierra Vista’s estimated HURF revenue is $4.4 million, which is legally required to be used for street and transportation-related expenses. Costs are roughly estimated at $1 million per lane mile for reconstruction.

Since Arizona has not increased its gas tax since the early 1990s ($0.18 per gallon on gas, the fourth lowest in the nation), fuel tax revenue has created challenges with rising road repair costs. To help fill this gap, the city supplements HURF funds with general budget revenues, including money from local sales taxes. Some grants also require the city to match funds to a specified percent.

Sierra Vista is responsible for 700 miles of city-owned roads, covering approximately 4,000,000 square yards of pavement. These roads are classified into:

• Arterial Roads – Major streets with heavy traffic, such as Buffalo Soldier Trail (BST)

• Collector Roads – Secondary roads that connect to arterials, such as Camino Real and Canyon de Flores

• Local Roads – Neighborhood streets with residential driveways

Currently, 14% of city-maintained streets are rated poor or very poor, an increase from 6.2% in 2019. The city collects pavement condition data using a radar trailer to assess which roads require repairs and prioritize improvement projects.

The city employs a variety of road maintenance techniques, depending on the condition and budget allocation for each project:

• Crack Seal – The most affordable method; extends the life of roads by sealing small cracks but has a short lifespan

• Slurry Seal – A protective layer applied over roads to prevent further deterioration

• Chip Seal – A process that uses asphalt and stone chips to restore surface texture

• Overlay – Laying new asphalt over an existing road surface to extend its lifespan

• Milling and Fill – Removing a portion of the road surface and replacing it with new material to improve durability

• Total Reconstruction – Most expensive but ensures a road can last 20-30 years under proper maintenance

Upcoming Street Maintenance:

• MLK Jr. Parkway (Avenida Escuela to Highway 90 Bypass) – A total reconstruction project along the Walmart and Lowe’s entrances, with construction planned to begin in March or April

• Garden Avenue Project – Bids for construction due March 5

• Fab Avenue – The project is currently delayed due to a contractor’s fee proposal issue

  
  

Buffalo Soldier Trail (BST) Reconstruction:

• Last rebuilt over 20 years ago.

• Phase One (FY24 Appropriations) – $3.79 million secured by Congressman Juan Ciscomani

• Phase Two (FY25 Appropriations) – $7 million secured for further improvements

  
  

Several older subdivisions in the city also require increasing maintenance:

• 40+ Years Old: Village Meadows, Pueblo del Sol, MonteBello, Town and Country.

• Canyon de Flores: 25 years old, with newer portions around 20 years old

Why Some Roads Get Repaired Before Others:

Residents may see crews working on a road that appears to be in better condition than another road—this is because:

• Some roads require minor fixes, which can be done quickly and at a lower cost

• Severely damaged roads often require full reconstruction, which takes longer due to contracting, permitting, and budget allocation processes

  
  

Looking Ahead: Fiscal Year 2026 Projected Plans

• Kayetan Drive - BST to Taylor

  Pavement Replacement

• North Ave - Cyr Center Drive to North Ave

  Pavement Replacement

• Wilcox Drive - 7th to BST Pavement

  Replacement

• Buffalo Soldier Trail - Hatfield St/Hwy 90 Bypass to 7th St: Road rebuild

• Tacoma Pavement Improvement

Main Thoroughfares (FY Projected):

• Fry Boulevard: Fiscal Year 2029

• 7th Street: Fiscal Year 2029

• Willcox Drive - North of Calle Portal: Fiscal Year 2029