Lexington, MA

Lexington, MA Infrastructure Assessment

Summary

• 20 roadway miles scanned with LiDAR delivered defensible, resident-focused paving plans in weeks
• Detailed, actionable pavement condition data enabled faster, safer fixes for neighborhoods
• Lexington moved from reactive to proactive, improving public trust, scheduling, and budget confidence

Problem

Before adopting modern data practices, Lexington’s pavement decisions relied on scattered spreadsheets and occasional windshield surveys, leaving staff unsure which roads to fix or when. The city often found itself playing defense at town meetings, fielding “Why not my road?” questions without consistent, up-to-date evidence to justify choices. That uncertainty slowed work planning and strained budgets, as staff reacted to complaints instead of executing a clear, data-driven program.

Solution

Lexington selected Cyvl to rapidly survey its network using vehicle-mounted LiDAR and calibrated sensors, capturing high-resolution surface condition across 20 roadway miles. Cyvl’s Infrastructure Intelligence platform used AI to transform that raw data into clear condition scores, prioritized repair lists, and defensible, multi-year treatment plans—complete with quantities and cost implications. Results were delivered in weeks, on May, 23, 2022, giving city leaders detailed, actionable pavement condition data for every mile and the ability to move from ideas to implementation before the next paving window.

Impact

With objective street-level data and a transparent plan in hand, Lexington shifted from reactive maintenance to proactive, resident-focused delivery. The rapid turnaround—weeks instead of months—compressed the time between assessment and action, so crews could schedule and stage work sooner. Public communication improved as maps, scores, and project rationales replaced guesswork with clarity.

• Detailed, actionable pavement condition data for 20 miles enabled Lexington to line up repairs weeks sooner, accelerating visible improvements for neighborhoods.
• Residents experienced quicker pothole response because crews targeted high-need segments immediately after data delivery on May, 23, 2022.
• Town meetings became smoother with defensible maps, scores, and project lists that clearly explained the “why” behind each road choice.
• Budget planning strengthened as leaders could demonstrate efficient use of taxpayer dollars with transparent quantities and costs tied to each treatment.
• Work scheduling and communications became dramatically easier, reducing 311 complaints and helping crews spend more time fixing roads and less time fielding calls.
• Clear, prioritized projects built confidence with elected officials and residents, supporting approvals for maintenance funding and timely contract awards.