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SAVE THE DATE!CalAPA 'Day at the Races' at Del Mar Race TrackSaturday, July 16Del Mar, CA Registration opens soon! *SAVE THE DATE!Annual CalAPA Golf Tournament set for Thursday, Sept. 22 in Industry Hills Details soon! *SAVE THE DATE!Fall Asphalt Pavement Conference & Equipment Expo Oct. 26 & 27 in Sacramento. Contact Sophie You of CalAPA at (916) 791-5044 for sponsorship and exhibitor opportunities.
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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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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. |
 | Road funding, technical information at the forefront at CalAPA Spring Asphalt Pavement Conference & Equipment Expo in Ontario
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When the governor's transportation secretary stepped to the microphone last week at CalAPA's asphalt industry conference in Ontario, he had bad news and worse news.
Nearly everyone was aware of the bad news -- there's not nearly enough money available to fix deteriorating roads in California. But the worse news is that the California Transportation Commission may cut even more money -- a lot more -- for road-improvement projects.
The somber remarks April 21 by California State Transportation
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| | California State Transportation Secretary Brian Kelly addresses the Spring Asphalt Pavement Conference April 21 in Ontario. |
Secretary Brian Kelly underscored the increasingly tense environment at the Capitol, where three competing road-funding proposals are stuck in neutral while roads get worse and worse.
Kelly outlined the high points of the Brown administration's road-funding plan, which has a "fix it first" emphasis, accountability provisions, and billions in new revenue through increases in fuel taxes and other fees. Elements of the $3.7 billion plan is featured in the governor's 2016-17 proposed budget that is currently being evaluated by the Legislature. Two other bills in the Legislature also include elements of the governor's plan but contain higher funding levels. The annual increase in funding of the three proposals ranges from $3.7 billion to more than $7 billion.
At the same time, Kelly noted that the California Transportation Commission (CTC) is facing the prospect of hacking more than $750 million from the state's multi-year transportation improvement plan due to dwindling transportation funds. The CTC staff report with the recommended cuts was released on Friday, and will be considered by the commission at its meeting May 18 and 19 in Stockton.
"I am hopeful something will get done," Kelly told the audience. "I think these cuts are avoidable."
Earlier in the conference, Caltrans Chief Deputy Director Kome
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| | Caltrans Chief Deputy Director Kome Ajise, left, chats with CalAPA member Stephen Matich at the conference. |
Ajise detailed the investments needed to keep the state's roadway system in a good state of repair. It is estimated that the state must invest more than $7 billion per year on transportation system maintenance, but currently only receives about $2 billion per year in funding, largely due to antiquated road-funding formulas that have not kept up with inflation.
Ajise stressed the importance of agency and industry partners speaking with one voice on the transportation system protection issue.
"When we talk about funding, it takes a partnership," he said, adding that the public must be confident that "we are good stewards" of any dollars devoted to transportation. A vocal contingent of legislators want assurances that existing transportation dollars are used effectively, and not diverted to other purposes, before supporting additional funding.
The two-day conference, attended by about 220 agency and industry representatives, also included numerous technical presentations and panel discussions on subjects ranging from pavement smoothness, texture, preservation techniques and mix design, hot asphalt binder safety and more. Click HERE to view presentations delivered at the event.
Photos from the event can be viewed on our Facebook page HERE. CalAPA thanks the many event sponsors and exhibitors who have made the conference possible. A list of conference sponsors and exhibitors is HERE.
For those who missed the conference, take note: The Fall Asphalt Pavement Conference & Equipment Expo will take place Oct. 26-27 in Sacramento. Contact Sophie You of CalAPA at (916) 791-5044 for details or to reserve exhibition space.
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| | The outdoor equipment expo was a popular feature of the Spring Asphalt Pavement Conference in Ontario. |
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| CTC releases ominous report calling for historic cuts in state transportation improvement plan
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The California Transportation Commission released a staff report Friday that recommends more than $750 million worth of projects be hacked from the state's multi-year transportation improvement plan due to dwindling transportation funds.
Will Kempton, the former Caltrans director who recently returned as executive director of Transportation California, an advocacy group, reacted to the CTC report by releasing the following
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| | Will Kempton speaking at a CalAPA event in 2014. |
statement: "Three years ago we began sounding the alarm that continued under-funding in the state's transportation program for our streets, roads and highways would lead to severe cuts in critically needed projects in every region of the state. These massive cuts provide stark evidence that this day has arrived. The action pending before the California Transportation Commission constitutes the worst cuts in the State Transportation Improvement Program since the creation of the STIP funding structure nearly 20 years ago."
A link to the full CTC staff report is HERE.
Foreshadowing the grim news from the CTC, California State Transportation Secretary Brian Kelly told a CalAPA conference on Thursday that the cuts were "avoidable" if the Legislature acts.
State Sen. Jim Beall, D-San Jose, chairman of the Senate Transportation & Housing Committee, released amendments last week to his comprehensive transportation funding bill that was introduced last year in a special session of the Legislature devoted to transportation.
Beall's bill, SBX1 1 is one of two comprehensive funding proposals introduced into the Legislature this session, the second being AB1591 authored Assemblyman Jim Frazier, D-Oakley, chairman of the Assembly Transportation Committee.
Kelly sat down for an exclusive interview on transportation funding with CalAPA's California Asphalt magazine, which can be viewed HERE. Frazier also weighed in with his own interview with California Asphalt magazine HERE.
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| | A delegation from CalAPA meet with state Sen. Jim Beall last year to discuss transportation funding. |
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| Members in the news: Business publication names Holt of California one of 'healthiest employers' in the region
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CalAPA associate member firm Holt of California was recently named one of the region's healthiest employers by the Sacramento Business Journal.
The Caterpillar dealer, which has about 600 employees, was  recognized for its strong leadership support, health-risk assessments, biometric screenings, free personal health coaching, fitness challenge, weight-loss programs and integration with safety programs.
In an article about the program in the April 22 edition of the business publication, the company offered the following advice to other firms seeking to boost employee health and well-being: "Executive leadership support and investment is the key. Wellness must be infused into the company culture, not just be operating in the periphery."
For more information about the company, click HERE.
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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.
BREAK: The process by which the globules of asphalt in an asphalt emulsion flocculate and coalesce to become separated from the water. The color of the emulsion will change from brown to black during the breaking process.
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| Quote of the Week
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"When everything seems to be going against you, remember that the airplane takes off against the wind, not with it."
Henry Ford |
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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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