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CALENDAR
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CALAPA MEMBERS ONLY'FAST Act federal highway bill impact on CA' WebinarTuesday, Jan. 1210 a.m. to 11 a.m. PST (See CalAPA's Dec. 11 "Member Alert" or contact CalAPA for details on how to participate) *
REGISTER NOW!
CalAPA Annual Dinner
Thursday, Jan. 21 The Jonathan Club
545 S. Figueroa St.
Los Angeles
Details HERE
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"Critical Changes to Caltrans Section 39 HMA Specifications" class
Tuesday, Feb. 2 8 a.m. to noon
Caltrans Construction Field Office, 3401 Regatta Blvd., Richmond
Contact: Ritha Nhorn (916) 791-5044
Register HERE.
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"Critical Changes to Caltrans Section 39 HMA Specifications" class
Wednesday, Feb. 3 8 a.m. to noon
Caltrans Construction Field Office, 3401 Regatta Blvd., Richmond
Contact: Ritha Nhorn (916) 791-5044
Register HERE.
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"Critical Changes to Caltrans Section 39 HMA Specifications" class
Tuesday, Feb. 23 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
City of West Sacramento City offices, 1110 West Capitol Avenue, First Floor, West Sacramento
Contact: Ritha Nhorn (916) 791-5044
Register HERE
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"Critical Changes to Caltrans Section 39 HMA Specifications" class
Wednesday, Feb. 24
8 a.m. to noon
City of West Sacramento City offices, 1110 West Capitol Avenue, First Floor, West Sacramento
Contact: Ritha Nhorn (916) 791-5044
Register HERE
 View our interactive, "At a Glance" event calendar HERE.
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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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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: Gov. Brown folds elements of his transportation funding policy points into his proposed $171 billion 2016-17 budget
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Gov. Jerry Brown took command of the transportation funding debate last week, peppering his proposed 2016-17 state budget proposal with elements of his transportation funding priorities, including a "fix it first" focus on pavement maintenance.
It represented a remarkable shift for the governor, who early last year seemed indifferent to transportation, letting the Legislature propose various ideas for addressing the state's rapidly  deteriorating road network and dwindling dollars to address it. At one point the governor held a news conference with no real "news," saying he would sign what ever bill the Legislature sent him.
In the face of withering criticism from transportation advocates, the governor stepped up his game, calling for a special session of the Legislature to address California's transportation funding crisis. Later in the year the administration released its own transportation funding plan that included a mixture of fees and reforms intended to make marked improvements to pavement and bridge conditions.
Meanwhile, the Legislature was distracted by several nasty leadership fights, and a draconian bill to slash fuel consumption in the state, SB350. The "Special Session," which continues into 2016, amounted to nothing more than a few hearings and dueling press announcements.
To the surprise of many, the governor's proposed 2016-17 budget, released Jan. 7, included elements that were part of his transportation plan that would amount to $3.6 billion a year for roads, including a new $65 per vehicle highway user fee meant to prop up the state's fuel tax that hasn't been raised since the 1990s.
An even bigger surprise, the governor's budget proposes to jettison the much derided and even less understand "gas tax swap" that was enacted during the budget crisis years. It will "normalize" fuel tax revenue based on a five-year average, and, most importantly, index the fuel taxes to inflation. That fatal flaw has meant a 50 percent reduction in the buying power of the state gas tax, which if fixed should further smooth out the funding bumps in the future.
The governor's priorities, which he put dollars behind in is proposed budget, include:
- Giving "fix if first" projects to improve roads and bridges priority for new revenues.
- Investing in vital trade corridors to support economic growth and global competitiveness, including a sustainable freight strategy.
- Matching locally-generated funds from so-called "self-help" counties for high-priority transportation projects.
- Continuing measures to improve performance, accountability and efficiency at Caltrans, although the number of Caltrans positions in the budget holds steady at 19,182.
- $2 billion in new revenue from a "Road Improvement Charge" that would equate to $65 per vehicle.
- Resetting the state gas tax at 18 cents per gallon, which is the historical average in recent years prior to the notorious "gas tax swap" scheme that helped bail out the state's general fund during the economic downturn by diverting gas tax revenue to the general fund and "swapping" it with excise taxes, which proved to be volatile and recently have drifted downward as pump prices have fallen.
- An 11 cent increase in diesel excise tax beginning in 2017-18, which would also be adjusted for inflation annually.
- Accelerating $879 million in loan repayments over the next four years. These were loans to the general fund made out of transportation funds during the economic downturn.
- Chipping in $500 million in additional "cap-and-trade" funds generated through the state's new carbon credits program. $100 million would be designated for a new "Low Carbon Road" program for local projects that encourage active transportation.
- $100 million in reforms and cost-savings extracted from the massive California Department of Transportation.
Although many of these ideas have been floating around the
Capitol in various forms, including bills introduced in the Special Session, inclusion in the governor's budget will ensure that the Legislature must react to them because the state Constitution mandates that a budget be enacted by July 1 every year. This adds an element of urgency to the proposals.
While reaction to the proposal from transportation advocates was somewhat subdued, there was consensus that the plan represented a good starting point for negotiations. California State Transportation Secretary Brian Kelly, the governor's Cabinet secretary, told a conference call of stakeholders last week that the budget proposals were "prudent" and will result in "reasonable outcomes for California." The total proposed budget for all seven agencies under his control constituted $16.2 billion. The governor's budget website, where the budget summary and detail is posted, can be found HERE.
Kelly sat down for an exclusive interview with CalAPA's official magazine, California Asphalt, which will arrive in mailboxes later this month. In the interview, he goes into greater detail about the governor's transportation priorities, reform of Caltrans and more. He also will be the featured speaker at the CalAPA Spring Conference and Equipment Expo, which is scheduled for April 20-21 in Ontario. Due to Republican gains in the Senate and Assembly, the GOP will have a greater say about what any final transportation package looks like. A key figure will be Assemblywoman Melissa Melendez, R-Lake Elsinore, who is vice chair of the Assembly Budget Committee as well as a member of the Transportation Committee. She will be the keynote speaker at the CalAPA Annual Dinner set for Jan. 21 in Los Angeles. Details about that event are HERE. CalAPA members are reminded that a free, member-only webinar briefing about the new federal surface transportation, and the state transportation funding picture, is scheduled for Tuesday, Jan. 12 at 10 a.m. A notice with the log-in information was sent out to members last week. The webinar is being produced jointly by the National Asphalt Pavement Association (NAPA) and CalAPA. |
| Caltrans management assignment changes in materials area announced
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Caltrans State Materials Engineer Phil Stolarski, a familiar face to the asphalt pavement industry and one of three Caltrans co-chairs of the joint Caltrans-industry Rock Products Committee, is taking a temporary assignment as acting chief of the Division of Environmental Analysis, it was announced.
Roberto Lacalle was named as acting state materials engineer during Stolarski's one-year assignment. Lacalle's longer title
is acting Assistant Division Chief, Materials Engineering and Testing Services & Geotechnical Services (METS).
Katrina Pierce, Chief of the Division of Environmental Analysis,
welcomed Stolarski to her division. "Phil has done some some unique and interesting work (including leading teams to respond to FBI and DOJ inquiries)," she wrote. "He tackles problems with proactive solutions, new business approaches and impressive leadership."
In an e-mail to colleagues, Stolarski said he is taking on the new assignment "with mixed emotions," but looks forward to the challenges the new position will bring.
"I would like to take this opportunity to express my sincere appreciation to my friends and colleagues," Stolarski wrote. "I have learned a great deal from you and it has been a great pleasure working with you all. I have enjoyed my tenure in DES and I appreciate having had the opportunity to work with you. Thank you for the support, guidance, and encouragement you have provided me during my time with DES."
Stolarski, who holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, worked for three years as a civil engineer with the Chicago Bridge and Iron Company. He joined Caltrans in 1985 and was steadily promoted in various positions at TransLab, and for a time was responsible for the Fracture Critical Inspection Team that inspected 1,000 fracture-critical bridges in Califo
rnia through various methods and non-destructive testing. In 1996 he was promoted to Office Chief, Structural Materials Branch -- Office of Materials Engineering and Testing Services (METS). He begins his new assignment on Jan. 19.
Filling in temporarily will be Lacalle, who began his Caltrans careeras a junior civil engineer in Structure Construction in Los Angeles following his graduation from California State University, Chico. A licensed civil engineer, he has held a variety of positions at Caltrans, including Structure Maintenance Engineer, Office Chief for Project Delivery, and most recently, Office Chief for Structure Quality Management.
Asked by Asphalt Insider for a quote for publication, he said he would prefer to borrow from the California Bridges and Structures Strategic Direction: "The public deserves bridges, structures and roadways that are safe, sustainable, cost effective, well-built and maintained. Through an integrated collaborative management approach, Caltrans and transportation partners can more
effectively address California's transportation needs to best serve the traveling public."
It was also announced that another familiar figure to the materials industry, Dan Speer, will temporarily fill Lacalle's position. Speer, a 31-year department veteran, is currently chief of the Caltrans Office of Structural Materials (OSM).
In making the announcement, Tom Ostrom, Deputy Division Chief for Structure Policy and Innovation noted that during his tenure at OSM, "Dan has established business practices, increased efficiencies, enhanced credibility, developed new specifications and pioneered far-reaching, risk-based overall of California's quality management program."
Speer also begins his new duties on Jan. 19.
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| Melendez to be keynote speaker at CalAPA Annual Dinner Jan. 21 in Los Angeles
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Assemblywoman Melissa Melendez will be the keynote speaker at the the most prestigious industry event of the year: CalAPA's Annual Dinner Jan. 21 at the historic Jonathan Club in downtown Los Angeles. Click HERE for details. The "early-bird" deadline to purchase discounted tickets is Thursday, Jan. 14.
Melendez, a Republican who represents the 67th Assembly District in Southern California, is vice chair of the powerful Assembly Budget Committee and also is a member of the Assembly Transportation
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| | Assemblywoman Melissa Melendez |
Committee. She's provide valuable insight to the state of the state's finances and transportation funding.
Traditionally one of CalAPA's most popular events, attendees will be able to re-connect with colleagues, meet new industry leaders and enjoy sumptuous food in one of the most elegant settings in California. This is a member-only event, but spouses and invited guests are welcome if paid for and accompanied by a member.
The festivities will take place at the elegant venue, 545 S. Figueroa St. in Los Angeles. The reception begins at 5:30 p.m., with the dinner program following. The CalAPA Board of Directors meets earlier in the day.
For more information, including sponsorship opportunities, contact Sophie You of CalAPA at (916) 791-5044.
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| Tech Term of the Week
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Each week we highlight a word, acronym or other reference commonly used in the asphalt pavement industry in California.
MICROSURFACING: A mixture of polymer modified asphalt emulsion, mineral aggregate, mineral filler, water, and other additives, properly proportioned, mixed, and spread on a paved surface. Microsurfacing differs from slurry seal in that it is usually applied at more than a single stone thickness. Also, it has special emulsifiers for more rapid setting and, higher stiffness; it may be used for rut filling in stable pavements.
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| Quote of the Week
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"Definiteness of purpose is the starting point of all achievement."
W. Clement Stone
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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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