County roads are monitored on a regular basis and assigned a Pavement Condition Index (PCI) number. This rating, along with the average daily traffic, funding availability, and other factors are evaluated to justify new maintenance projects. Some low volume roadways may only receive a minor surface treatment such as a chip seal or slurry seal. Heavily traveled regional or arterial type roadways may receive full asphalt overlay or rehabilitation such as pulverization, milling, or other process. The various strategies are analyzed by the Department’s Pavement Management Division and Transportation Program Management

Contact:
Written comments can be sent to: Department of Public Works – Transportation 825 E. 3rd Street, Room 143 San Bernardino, CA 92415-0835

The County Department of Public Works researches County documents and records about any particular road. Our research confirms whether the road is in the County Maintained Road System (CMRS). In general, due to lack of funds, the County only paves a limited number of existing dirt roads.

If the road or section of road is not in the CMRS, by law (California Streets and Highway Code, Section 2150), the County is not allowed to do any maintenance or repair work on roads that are not in the system. Often, one of the reasons a land purchase, especially in the mountain or desert areas, appears to be a “good deal” is that the road or roads serving the parcel are not in the CMRS. Purchasers should check to see if the road serving their parcel is maintained by the County. Any maintenance or repair work of non-CMRS roads is the responsibility of the respective property owners along that road.

There are basically two options available to property owners who wish to have a dirt road paved if they do not live on a CMRS roadway:

The first option is for the property owners of parcels adjacent to the road to hire a consultant/contractor to pave the road to County Standards at their own expense. Property owners should contact the Department’s Permits section at (909) 387-1863 to see if a permit is required.

The second option is by special road assessment. In many areas, property owners pay a special road assessment for road paving and maintenance. This program is administered by the County through the County Special Districts Department located at:

222 W. Hospitality Lane
San Bernardino, CA 92415
(909) 386-8800

Funds for maintenance and construction of county roads are derived from a variety of sources. The majority of the money available on a yearly basis comes from the State Fuel Tax of 18 cents per gallon. The state allocates fuel taxes and fees which may only be used for transportation purposes to cities and counties statewide.  Generally speaking, the County’s share of the fuel tax funds is proportionally allocated on the number of registered vehicles in the county.

Since San Bernardino is a very large county with many sparsely populated and widely separated communities, the revenue in terms of dollars per mile of road is very low. The more densely populated counties such as Orange or Los Angeles receive ten and five times respectively as much State Fuel tax money per mile of road for their county road systems. Over the years the ability of the County to maintain and improve the road system has been severely affected by inflation. Since the fuel tax is on a per gallon basis, the amount paid by the average driver has actually declined over the last several years due to more fuel-efficient vehicles.  

Other sources of funding include Measure I the 1/2 cent sales tax surcharge passed by the voters in 1989, and extended by the voters in 2006. Many significant County transportation projects have been made possible with this funding. Measure I monies may only be used in the geographic area where it is generated. Measure I monies have defined percentages that must be spent on arterial and local roads.Note:    Property taxes are used for many purposes including education, fire and police protection, but are not used to pave or maintain roads

Please contact the dispatch center at 909-387-8063.

Please contact the dispatch center at 909-387-8063.

Please contact the dispatch center at 909-387-8063.

Please contact the dispatch center at 909-387-8063.

Please contact the Transportation Permits section at 909-387-8046.

Please contact Transportation Planning at 909-387-8166.

Please contact Transportation Design at 909-387-7938.

Please contact the dispatch center at 909-387-8063.

Please contact the Transportation Planning at 909-387-8166

Throughout the year, the County of San Bernardino Transportation Department maintenance staffs prepare for snow removal by obtaining special training, checking equipment, performing dry runs on established snowplow routes and updating the listing of private individuals and/or companies with heavy equipment that can be contracted with should they be needed to assist with snow removal.

In a normal winter season, the county plows over 820 lane miles. As the elevation of the snow fall decreases the number of lane miles significantly increases. Such was the case in December of 2008, when the County plowed roughly 2000 lane miles. The County also coordinates with Special District’s, which plows 200 lane mikles and Caltrans which plows 240 lane miles.

Crews begin plowing the roads when there is 2 inches or more of snow on the primary roads.

During heavy snow falls the primary roads may get over the 2” threshold stated above before we are able to plow the local roads. The plows must go back to the primary roads first before continuing with the local roads. Also, other obstacles such as vehicles that may be blocking the narrower local roads take time to be removed so the plows can gain access to the roads.

During heavy snow falls the primary roads may get over the 2” threshold stated above before we are able to plow the local roads. The plows must go back to the primary roads first before continuing with the local roads. Also, other obstacles such as vehicles that may be blocking the narrower local roads take time to be removed so the plows can gain access to the roads.

We put cinders down on primary roads when the roads are experiencing icy conditions. They are also put down in school areas and where the California Highway Patrol advises us to. We do not cinder all County maintained roads.

Our snow removal equipment operators have maps of the assigned snow removal routes. At the end of their shift they go over their logs with their shift supervisor. We are also working on GPS based systems on our snow removal equipment to provide real time monitoring of their progress.

County crews are not authorized to move the vehicles and, therefore, must contact the California Highway Patrol to have them moved. From the moment the vehicle is ‘tagged’ to the actual removal may take up to 4 to 6 hours per vehicle. During heavy snow falls towing may not be possible.

The County has a replacement program to keep up with modernization of our fleet with newer equipment. The County also has maintenance staff in the mountain yards to repair the equipment without taking it out of the mountains. If equipment does break down we have stand by equipment and equipment that can be brought in from other areas. Rental equipment can also be requested from contractors in the area.

We are responsible for clearing County maintained roads. Caltrans plows the State Highways while Special Districts plows areas under current contracts with community service areas. The City of Big Bear Lake and private contractors also clear their own roads.

Call 911 or the local police immediately. They are equipped with special vehicles for traveling over snowy terrain in emergency situations. The Department of Public Works can provide assistance to emergency response agencies.

Snow plows will make two passes on each side of the road, please wait until the second pass before clearing your driveway. To avoid double work, please try to shovel snow from your driveway after a plow has gone by. Shovel the snow to the right of your driveway as you face the road. Please remember as the snow continues to fall and shortly afterwards, the snow plows will continue to make passes down your road to move the newly fallen snow to the edge of the road, and permit two way travel on your road.

Since our main goal is to open the primary roads as soon as possible, lifting of blades at each driveway would slow down the snow removal operation significantly and leave snow in the road that may in turn be a hazard.

We do make efforts to push snow into such areas when possible. But as stated above, our goal is to clear the roads as quickly as possible and the most efficient way to do so is to move the snow from the center of the roadway to the side. Apart from that would slow down the snow removal operations significantly. The size of a berm is determined by the amount of snowfall and accumulation on the roads.

If your property is damaged during snow removal or cinder spreading operations, it will be in your best interest to obtain as much of the following information as possible:

1.Note the date of the occurrence, time, address and any other information that you can.
2.Get a description of the vehicle (blower, blade or bucket), the color of the vehicle, vehicle number and any emblems or insignias.
3.Take pictures of damage if possible.

After obtaining this information, you should call the Road Yard Supervisor in your area and explain the damage to them. They will usually be able to tell you who plowed the street and direct you to the proper agency, contractor, or person who can help you further on your claim.

If the damage was caused by County equipment, file a “Claim Against the County” form with the Risk Management Division, within six months of the occurrence. A claim form may be obtained by calling the Radio Room at (909) 387-8063.Be sure and include copies of written estimates of damage and photographs, if possible. Mail to Risk Management, 222 West Hospitality Lane, Third Floor, San Bernardino, CA 92415-0016, (909) 386-8631.

Be sure to check with your yard supervisor first before filing a claim against the County.

Listed below are the County Road Yard telephone numbers:

Radio Room Dispatch – (909) 387-8063
Big Bear (Yard 9) – (909) 866-2167
Blue Jay (Yard 8) – (909) 336-7509
Crestline (Yard 7) – (909) 338-2140
Angelus Oaks (Yard 5) – (909) 387-8073
Forest Falls (Yard 5) – (909) 387-8073
Lytle Creek (Yard 3) – (909) 823-8811
Mt. Baldy/Chino (Yard 1) – (909) 823-7514
Running Springs (Yard 4) – (909) 867-3683
Wrightwood (Yard 11) – (760) 949-0335

Please contact the dispatch center at 909-387-8063.

Please contact Flood Control Engineering at 909-387-7962.

Please contact the dispatch center at 909-387-8063.

Please contact Flood Control Engineering at 909-387-7962.

Please contact Water Resources at 909-387-8213.

Please visit our Engineering page.

Please visit our Engineering page.

For our purposes, solid waste is discarded material generated from common residential & commercial sources. It does NOT include hazardous, medical, and universal wastes.

It manages the solid waste disposal system within San Bernardino County. Specifically it operates six landfills, eight transfer stations and three community collection centers. The Division also manages the solid waste handling franchise program & trash collection permit program for commercial waste haulers in the unincorporated areas of the county.

They are located throughout the county.

Visit our Disposal fee information page.

A list of Unacceptable Materials can be found at our Disposal fee information page or you can call 800-722-8004 for more information.

Because of its large geographic size, the county has many franchise areas. For the hauler that provides service to your area please call 909-386-8701 or go to our trash collection page.

Cost varies by community and services offered, please contact the franchised hauler providing service to your area. If you have any questions or concerns regarding a franchised hauler, please call 909-386-8701.

Please go to our Web Site by clicking the Solid Waste Mgmt. link above or call us at: 909-386-8701 or 800-722-8004.

Please contact the County Surveyor at 909-387-8149.

Please contact the County Surveyor at 909-387-8149.

Please contact the County Surveyor at 909-387-8149.

Please contact Vector Control at 909-388-4600.

Please contact the dispatch center at 909-387-8063.

Please contact the Contracts Division at 909-387-7920.