Storms & Streets
The Town of Hillsborough street infrastructure consists of approximately 96 miles of streets, 2,500 catch basins and storm drain inlets, and thousands of street signs. Responsibilities include:
- Maintaining the quality of Hillsborough's streets and storm sewer system
- Installing and replacing street signs, guardrails, and street markings such as stop bars
- Repairing sections of the street damaged by tree roots and collapsed asphalt
- Repairing potholes
- Notifying homeowners to trim foliage that blocks gutters and streets
- Performing maintenance on public lands and facilities
- Inspecting private improvements in the right of way (encroachment permits)
Street Damage or Impediments
In the event of a fallen tree or other roadway issue, residents may:
- Contact the Public Works Department at 650-375-7444 or via email.
- Use the SeeClickFix smart phone program for iPhone, Blackberry, or Android.
- After hours and on weekends, please call the Hillsborough Police Department at 650-375-7470. In the event of injury or emergency, call 911.
Street Projects
The town generally maintains its streets using surface seal methods and rehabilitates its streets using grind and overlay methods.
Rubberized Pavement
Rubberized asphalt concrete (commonly known as RAC) is a road paving material made by blending ground-up recycled tires with asphalt to produce a binder which is then mixed with conventional aggregate materials. This mix is then placed and compacted into a road surface. As part of the 2017 Street Resurfacing Project, CalRecycle provided grant funding for the use of rubberized asphalt concrete for the two main thoroughfares of Hillsborough Boulevard and Crystal Springs Road, helping to divert 11,250 passenger tire equivalents from the waste system.
Surface Seal Methods
The surface seal methods apply water-proof seal coats to the asphalt surface to prevent pavements from deteriorating over time due to water permeation beneath the asphalt layer. The town usually uses a combination of micro-surfacing and scrub seal treatments to preserve the streets with pavements that are mostly in good condition without structural failures. The combined treatment is at least 10 times more cost effective than traditional reconstruction methods and can extend pavement life an average of 5 to 10 years.
Grind & Overlay Methods
The grind and overlay methods apply structural enhancements to the asphalt layer and improve load-carrying capability. The town usually applies 1.5 to 3 inches of AC overlays to streets with pavements that are in fair condition with mild to moderate levels of base failure. The overlay treatments are at least 3 times more cost effective than traditional reconstruction method and can extend service life of a pavement 10 to 20 years.
View a broad overview of micro-surfacing from Missouri Petroleum.
Condition Evaluations
The pavement condition of Hillsborough's street network is evaluated every 2 to 5 years. The condition survey grades the streets using a rating standard called Pavement Condition Index (PCI) which ranges from 0 to 100 with 100 representing an excellent pavement. The average PCI for the Hillsborough's street network is 74 for 2012 and projected to be 72 for 2013.
How Streets Are Selected for Projects
The Public Works Department and City Engineer consider the PCI scores of streets, the timing of public projects for water and sewer infrastructure, and the limited funding when selecting streets for a project. The department's goal is to seal / improve each street at least once every 10 years. This strategy has improved the average score from 54 to 70 in recent years.
Funding
Sources for street funding include Measure A funds, gas taxes, the construction vehicle impact fees, and general fund money. When water or sewer projects damage streets, a contribution is made by the appropriate fund towards the repair of the streets.
Street-Related Construction Responsibilities
Contractor Responsibilities
Contractors are responsible for repairing damage to parking strips and curbs / gutters. The damaged areas must be removed and replaced at the expense of the contractor. All work on streets or in right-of-ways requires appropriate permits from the town's Building and Public Works departments.
Resident Responsibilities
As there is no street sweeping service in the town, residents are responsible for keeping curbs and gutters clean and free of leaves and other debris to prevent clogs. This includes using acceptable materials in parking strip construction (and not using rocks or pebbles, which can clog storm drains during wet weather).
At the discretion of the City Engineer, residents may be required to replace or repair parking strips or curbs / gutters that fall short of compliance or present a potential problem to the storm drain system.
For information on parking strip specifications, refer to the Parking Strip Requirements Handout (PDF).
Integrated Pest Management Policy
The Town of Hillsborough follows its Integrated Pest Management Policy when controlling pests on Town-owned property.
Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is an ecosystem-based strategy that focuses on long-term prevention of pests or their damage through a combination of control methods or techniques. Pesticides are used only after monitoring indicates they are needed, according to established guidelines, and pest threshold levels are exceeded. Pest control materials and methods are selected and applied in a manner that minimizes risk to human health, beneficial and non-target organisms and the environment.
The Policy provides resources and recommendations that Hillsborough residents may find useful in finding non- or least-toxic methods to controlling pests on their property.
On Thursday, February 18, 2021, City Manager Ann Ritzma and Public Works Director Paul Willis led a discussion on the Town's IPM during a Coffee with the City Manager session. For more information, refer to the recorded video or a copy of the slides presented.