Up here in the North SF Bay Area we are at 278% of normal rainfall. Yes, we have some bad pavements and pot-holes, but it's only the big cities and outlying neighborhoods that have sinkholes ...
This is a result of block grants. Chunk of $$ to cities and they manage the roads - I don't think so. And CalTrans is always in a fight with the locals over where, and how, to build a freeway.
Plus, the locals control the drainages impinging on the freeway right of ways. CalTrans used to own and control 400' on either side of a major freeway. Has not been like that for decades as the locals wanted more land to develop McMansions right up to the fence line.
So, to me, it's activism and local politics that is constraining what CalTrans can do with run-off water, inflow velocities, etc. I made my living in Storm Water Management for 20 years. I've been in these dog fights many times. They are unpleasant, unruly and usually not very productive...