Maintaining the 23,000 miles of streets in Los Angeles has grow a critical challenge, with recent storms further deteriorating road conditions. Potholes have turned daily commutes into a serious risk for millions of residents traversing the city.
A Pattern of Decline
The city’s road quality has seen a significant downturn. In 2024, only 312 streets were repaved and the situation worsened in 2025, when the city failed to resurface a single street between July, and December.
Carlo St. Juste II, owner of DeliverySocal.com and a gig driver for over a decade, notes that the problem has worsened over the years. He reports seeing areas in need of repair on an almost daily basis.
The impact extends to the tourism industry as well. Elaine Warren, Founder and CEO of Family Cruise Companion, states that visitors often notice the poor conditions, which adds unnecessary stress to their holidays.
The Financial and Legal Toll
The poor state of the roads has placed Los Angeles among the top three worst cities for road quality in the United States, according to Mark Friend, Company Director at Classroom365.
This decline carries a heavy price tag. Driver vehicle damage associated with potholes is assessed at an average annual loss of $600 per driver.
The city has also faced significant costs in payouts to affected residents, totaling over $5.4 million between 2024 and 2025.
Benson Varghese, a Board Certified Criminal Lawyer at Versus Texas, explains that while legal action is possible, it is difficult. Claimants must typically prove the city had notice of the pothole and failed to repair it within a reasonable timeframe.
Technological Intervention
Following media coverage by The Future, the city took immediate action. By February 2026, officials had filled 10,000 potholes and announced plans to repave at least 120 lane miles of streets by the end of the year.
In April 2026, a pilot program was announced involving Waymo and Waze. Waymo’s self-driving vehicles will use perception and physical feedback systems to identify potholes, while Waze users can self-report hazards.
This data will be shared via the free Waze for Cities platform with city officials and the California Department of Transportation. Arielle Fleisher, Waymo’s Policy Development and Research Manager, stated the goal is to partner with officials to improve essential infrastructure.
Future Challenges and Expansion
Despite the promise of the program, technical hurdles remain. Taimur Ijlal, Information Security Leader at Proxy Coupons, warns that data accuracy at scale is a major challenge.
Ijlal suggests that implementing confidence scoring could help drivers distinguish between highly verified and newly detected potholes. He also notes that integrating historical data and weather patterns could potentially move the city from a reactive to a proactive repair model.
The pilot program is expected to expand beyond Los Angeles into other high-problem areas, including Atlanta, Austin, Phoenix, and San Francisco.
Sarah Kaufman, Director of the Recent York University Rudin Center for Transportation, describes the initiative as the “good neighbor principle” in action, helping cities make streets safer and repairs faster.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many potholes did the city fill by February 2026?
The city had filled 10,000 potholes by February 2026.
What is the estimated annual cost to drivers caused by potholes in LA?
Drivers face an average annual loss of $600 for vehicle damage associated with potholes.
How will Waymo and Waze help the city identify road damage?
Waymo’s self-driving vehicles will use perception and physical feedback systems to detect potholes, and Waze users will be able to self-report them.
Do you believe real-time data sharing from private companies is the most effective way for cities to manage public infrastructure?
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