The average life of a street is twelve to fifteen years. Streets begin to deteriorate from the moment they are constructed. Streets with higher traffic volumes or more truck traffic, deteriorate more rapidly than other streets.

Nationally, cities use a Pavement Condition Index (PCI) to rate streets on a 100-point scale, with failed streets rated at 0 and excellent streets at 100. The City of El Cerrito uses this standard rating to help determine what type of work is needed for each street, as well as to help prioritize the order in which streets are repaired.

PCI Index (+/- 3 points)

100	67	33	0
Excellent	Good	Fair	Poor

The PCI is also used to compare the average condition of streets among cities and jurisdictions.

In 2006, the Metropolitan Transportation Commission's "pavement quality report card," reported El Cerrito among the ten worst cities in the Bay Area regarding streets. The Metropolitan Transportation Commission conducts an independent bi-annual analysis of city and county roads in the region. Highlights from the 2006 report can be viewed at www.mtc.ca.gov/news/press_releases/2006/rel376.htm.
The Report is part of the MTC's "State of the System" report, available at www.mtc.ca.gov/library/state_of_the_system/2006/pavement_condition.pdf

The City evaluates every street periodically. With the successful passage of Measure A, it is the City’s goal to have an average PCI of 70 or better by 2012.

PCI Examples
Street Segment	PCI
Arlington Avenue between Madera Dr and Potrero Ave	100
Potrero Avenue between Roger Ct and Navellier St	100
Shevlin Drive between Moeser Lane and King Drive	83
Avila Street between San Pablo Ave and Central Park	79
Schmidt Lane between Lawrence Street and Norvell Street	71
Everett Street between Eureka Avenue and Moeser Lane	20
Liberty Street between Central Avenue and Eureka Avenue	18
Kenilworth Avenue between Ganges Avenue and Cutting Boulevard	17
Lawrence Street between Schmidt Lane and Gladys Avenue	13
Brewster Drive between Buckingham Drive and Devonshire Drive	10