The City uses a formal asset management program that categorizes roads based on a Pavement Surface Evaluation and Rating System (PASER). PASER is a system for visually rating the surface condition of a pavement from a scale of 1 to 10, with 1 being a pavement in a failed condition and 10 being a pavement in excellent condition. Guidelines for rating the pavement surface using the PASER system have been developed by the Michigan Transportation Asset Management Council. All city-owned streets within the City are evaluated.
Roads in poor condition (PASER 1-4) are candidates for reconstruction or rehabilitation. Those in fair condition (PASER 5-7) receive capital preventive maintenance, while roads in good condition (PASER 8-10) are candidates for routine maintenance work. The lowest rated roads in each of these categories are generally addressed first.