<p>COLUMBIA — The City of Columbia is moving forward with a comprehensive Pavement Management and Preservation Program aimed at making smarter, longer-lasting decisions about road repairs across the city's 235 centerline miles of roadway. The city announced the initiative in April, partnering with engineering firm Alfred Benesch and Company and data specialist Citylogix to collect high-resolution roadway data using advanced imaging, LiDAR, and 360-degree HD cameras.</p><p>The goal is to move away from reactive pothole-patching and toward a prioritized, data-driven maintenance strategy that extends pavement life and reduces long-term costs for taxpayers. The program will also produce standardized plans, community education materials, and budget scenarios. Mayor Chaz Molder said investing in infrastructure is investing in Columbia's future. City Manager Tony Massey said reliable data will allow the city to prioritize projects more effectively and extend the life of the roadway system.</p><p>Data collection was scheduled to begin in April, with analysis and program development to follow. Taxpayers who have grown frustrated watching the same streets deteriorate year after year should consider this a step in the right direction — provided the city holds itself accountable to the plan it builds.</p>