<p>COLUMBIA — The City of Columbia is rolling out a comprehensive Pavement Management and Preservation Program aimed at bringing data-driven discipline to how city roads are maintained and repaired. The city has partnered with Alfred Benesch and Company and subconsultant Citylogix to collect high-resolution roadway data — including LiDAR scanning and 360-degree high-definition imaging — across all 235 centerline miles of Columbia's road network.</p><p>Mayor Chaz Molder framed the effort as a long-term investment rather than a reactive patch-and-pray approach. City Manager Tony Massey noted that reliable analytics will allow the city to prioritize projects more effectively and extend pavement life, reducing long-term maintenance costs. The program will also produce standardized plans and specifications, community education materials, and budget scenarios to guide future road spending. Data collection began in April, with analysis and the full management plan to follow.</p><p>For taxpayers frustrated by pothole-riddled streets, the program offers something concrete: an honest accounting of what's broken, what it will cost to fix it, and a ranked list of where to start. That kind of transparency is exactly what responsible government looks like.</p>