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Southern California Contractors' Dinner
Tuesday, Feb. 10, 5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Dal Rae Restaurant, 9023 E. Washington Blvd., Pico Rivera
Contact: Tony Grasso (909) 362-9192
Click HERE to sign up.
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Central Coast 'Hot Topics in HMA' Training Day
Tuesday, Feb. 17, 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Santa Ynez Valley Marriott, 555 McMurray Road, Buellton
Contact: Rita Leahy (916) 239-8315
Details HERE
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SAVE THE DATE!
CalAPA Annual Capitol 'Fly-in'
Sacramento, Calif.
Contact: Russell Snyder (916) 791-5044
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SAVE THE DATE!
2015 CalAPA Spring Conference & Equipment Expo
April 15-16, 2015
Ontario, Calif.
Contact: Sophie You (916) 791-5044
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CLICK & GO!View our interactive, "At a Glance" event calendar HERE.
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Asphalt is used on about 94 percent of paved roads in America. Why? Because it's smooth, quiet, safe, durable and 100 percent recyclable. Visit the Asphalt Pavement Alliance website learn more about why asphalt is the right choice now more than ever. |
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Are you an engineer, designer or technical professional who makes decisions on pavement type selection? The DriveAsphalt website has technical reports and other resources may be just what you're looking for. Click HERE for more information.
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| CalAPA | | |
California Asphalt Pavement Association (CalAPA)
Mailing address:
P.O. Box 981300
West Sacramento, CA 95798
Main office:
1550 Harbor Blvd., Suite 211
West Sacramento, CA 95691
(916) 791-5044 (phone)
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CalAPA produces a highly regarded magazine, California Asphalt, and an annual membership directory. To view back issues of the magazine, click HERE. For advertising sales in the magazine and directory, click HERE or call Kerry Hoover with Construction Marketing Services at (909) 772-3121.
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Click HERE to visit our video page.
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Click HERE to visit the PavExpress website.
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This weekly bulletin contains the latest news and information of interest to the asphalt pavement industry in California. Please feel free to distribute this newsletter to others who may be interested in asphalt pavements. |
 | News analysis: Transportation funding discussion goes from deep freeze to back burner
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At least they're talking about it.
The dire state of transportation funding nationally, and here in California, has seemingly been in cold storage for the past year and lawmakers and policy-shapers busy themselves with other issues.
Gov. Jerry Brown, during his state of the state speech last month, mentioned the yawning deficit between what is needed to keep our infrastructure in a good state of repair, and the available funds to pay for it. Still, he proposed no solutions beyond having a committee study the issue and come up with some recommendations.
Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom, speaking at CalAPA's Annual Dinner Jan. 15 in Los Angeles, went quite a bit further, saying "the Greatest  Generation" was in jeopardy of being replaced by the "grasshopper" generation that moves in, consumes all resources, and leaves a wasteland behind for future generations.
In Washington last week, meanwhile, U.S. Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., who recently announced she will be retiring, has lost none of the fight that is suggested by her last name, telling a hearing: "We have to have the courage, in the Senate and in the House, to fund a multi-year bill. We cannot leap over that idea to an extension."
"We are getting perilously close to the bankruptcy of the Highway Trust Fund May 31," she said in a hearing of the Senate Environment & Public Works Committee on transportation funding issues and reported by Politico. "If you go to the bank and you're going to buy a house, and the bank says 'oh great we'll lend you the money, but only for five months,' you're going to walk away."
U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx, at the same hearing, lamented that the myriad of short-term extensions that have characterized federal transportation funding over the past several years has sapped America's will to build.
"America is in a race. Not just against our global competitors, but against the high standards of innovation and progress our nation has shown for generations," he said. "We're behind in that race and when you're behind, you have to run faster and do more than just keep pace."
Some transportation advocates have argued for raising the federal gas tax, which at 18.4 cents a gallon hasn't been increased since 1993 and was never indexed for inflation. It currently has half the buying power than it did when Bill Clinton was president.
That idea has encountered a chilly reception on Capitol Hill, however, as the new GOP majority in the Senate, joining a Republican-controlled House of Representatives, seemed reluctant to take up a tax increase. Some have called for an overhaul on how transportation improvements are paid for, adding more complexity to the debate.
Back in California, meanwhile, there are rumblings in the Legislature about shaking up the status quo for transportation funding. The unexpected drop in fuel prices could result in even fewer dollars for roads thanks to a complex "gas tax swap" enacted during the state's fiscal crisis that links funding to the price of fuel at the pump. One estimate put the loss in funds devoted to transportation at $770 million for the 2015-16 budget year, eliciting howls of anguish from already cash-strapped state and local transportation officials.
Transportation advocates, meanwhile, keep pressing to move the debate from the back burner to the front burner. CalAPA will be holding its annual State Capitol "Fly-in" on March 10-11 in Sacramento, and members are encouraged to participate and let our elected officials know how inaction has harmed our industry and our infrastructure.
For more information on what you can do, contact CalAPA at (916) 791-5044. Click HERE to access grass-roots resources on CalAPA's Legislative Action Page.
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| Another great video highlighting the need for road funding in California
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Our friends at Transportation California are back with another compelling promotional video meant to spotlight the importance good roads play in our quality of life. Click HERE to view it. 
The video comes on the heels of another great video that shows how just one pothole can ruin your whole day. Click HERE to view it.
While these may not be in the running for the best ad shown during the Super Bowl, they nonetheless are worthy of being distributed far and wide. |
| Timely tax tips highlighted at CalAPA Southern California paving contractor dinner Feb. 10 in Pico Rivera
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The first CalAPA Southern California Contractors' Dinner of the year will feature timely financial information on what contractors can do to make sure year-end financial and tax matters are handled properly to avoid run-ins with the tax man. Click HERE for details. The guest speakers for the Feb. 10 dinner will be tax and finance experts Matt Gilbert and
 | | Chris Gewain |
Chris Gewain with new CalAPA associate member Moss Adams LLP. The title of their talk is " Best Practices to prepare for getting your company's financial statements and income taxes completed in a timely manner, as well as 2014 hot-button issues." The dinner program will also feature regular updates on specifications, public works funding, regulations, a "technical tidbit" and "insurance tidbit." The event is open to CalAPA members and invited guests only. The dinner will take place Feb. 10 from 5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Dal Rae Restaurant, 923 E. Washington Blvd. in Pico Rivera. Seating is limited and advance registration is required. Sign-up HERE. For more information, contact Sophie You of CalAPA at (916) 791-5044. |
| NDOT names chief materials engineer
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Darin Tedford has been named the Chief Materials Engineer for the Nevada Department of Transportation (NDOT), it was announced.
"I am pleased to announce the appointment of Darin Tedford to the Chief Materials Engineer position," said NDOT Assistant Director of Operations Reid Kaiser in an e-mail. Kaiser formerly was the chief materials engineer for NDOT and has been a familiar face at CalAPA conferences.
Tedford, who was born and raised in California, holds a degree in civil engineering from the University of Nevada, Reno. He has
 | | Darin Tedford |
worked for NDOT for the past 21 years, including five years in roadway design and 16 in the materials division.
"He has extensive experience working with other NDOT Divisions including the Districts and Resident Engineers," Kaiser wrote. "Darin has played a major role in getting Nevada's pavements as some of the best in the nation."
Many CalAPA member firms also do business in Nevada. CalAPA associate member Mike Robinson, a pavement consultant, said he is looking forward to working with Tedford in his new position.
"I've known and worked with Darin for a long time and look forward to continuing to do so as he takes over the reins at NDOT Materials," Robinson said. "I'm sure Darin will offer some fresh perspectives as the Materials Division continues to adapt to new challenges and opportunities." In other Nevada news, meanwhile, another of the the Federal Highway Administration-sponsored "Intelligent Compaction" demonstration projects is scheduled for April 12 in Carson City. Click HERE for details on the free event and to sign up, or contact Jennifer Rutledge at (512) 451-6233 ext. 236. |
| Tech Report: 7 Steps to Highly Successful Parking Lots
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There's no shortage of technical resources about asphalt pavements, and many can be found on the driveasphalt.org website, including a handy infographic, "7 Keys to Highly Successful Parking Lots." You can download it HERE. The user-friendly graphic depicts the most important aspects to  consider when constructing parking lots, including choosing the right mix, making sure the foundation is adequately prepared and accounting for proper drainage. For more information on building the perfect parking lot, contact CalAPA at (916) 791-5044. |
| Quote of the Week
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"Man is the only kind of varmint that sets his own trap, baits it, and falls into it."
John Steinbeck
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We hope you enjoy CalAPA's Asphalt Insider. We are committed to providing you with the most up-to-date information on technical issues, regulation, news and events in California that may impact the asphalt pavement industry. Click HERE to contact us with any comments or suggestions.
Sincerely,
Russell W. SnyderExecutive Director California Asphalt Pavement Association (CalAPA) |
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