Utah Asphalt Pavement Association Executive Director Reed Ryan has been hired to lead the Asphalt Pavement Alliance, a national pooled-fund market-share initiative, it was announced last week.

"Many of you already know Reed from his nearly 12-year leadership of the Utah Asphalt Pavement Association as Executive Director," National Asphalt Pavement Association CEO Audrey Copeland wrote in an e-mailed announcement to stakeholders Jan. 5. "Reed has been a close partner of the APA while representing the SAPAs as an officer for several years, and most recently serving as the 2023 SAPA Chair I’m confident that his extensive knowledge of the industry and passion for the future and vision of APA will benefit us all."

Ryan holds an undergraduate degree in political science and a graduate degree from the George Washington University Law School. After a career that included working on Capitol Hill, Ryan was hired as the UAPA executive director upon its formation in 2012, and has dramatically grown the association in prominence and influence since then. He was voted by his peers to became an officer of the State Asphalt Pavement Associations, Inc. organization, and ascended to chairman of the organization in 2023. He will be based in Utah but travel extensively for the position. UAPA is expected to advertise for his replacement later this Spring. Ryan was prominently featured in a report on Artificial Intelligence that appeared earlier this year in California Asphalt, the official magazine of the California Asphalt Pavement Association. That article can be viewed on-line HERE.

The Asphalt Pavement Alliance is jointly funded by NAPA, the Asphalt Institute and state asphalt pavement associations, including CalAPA. The APA's mission states that it is a trusted resource that establishes asphalt as the pavement of choice by detailing proven advantages of asphalt pavement in the areas of safety, value, performance and the environment. You can learn more about the Asphalt Pavement Alliance HERE.

Ryan is an invited speaker to the CalAPA Spring Asphalt Pavement Conference and Equipment Expo, which will take place March 7-8 in Ontario. Details on that event are HERE.

The CalAPA Environmental Committee reminds members that three California Air Resources Board (CARB) regulations that may impact asphalt industry fleets have upcoming deadlines.

The Clean Truck Check, a new program, which applies to all non-gasoline vehicles with a Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) greater than 14,000 pounds, has a reporting requirement deadline of Jan. 31. More information on the CARB Clean Truck Check Program is available HERE.

The Advanced Clean Fleets Regulation, which applies to fleets with 50 or more vehicles with a GVWR greater than 8,500 pounds, has a reporting requirement deadline of Feb. 1. More information on the CARB Advanced Clean Fleets program is available HERE.

The Off-road Diesel Regulation, recently amended, has new requirements which took effect on Jan. 1 with reporting deadlines of March 1, 2024. For more information on the CARB Off-road Diesel Regulation, click HERE.

Longtime San Jose Mercury News transportation writer Gary Richards, a member of the CalAPA Hall of Fame, passed away last month, the newspaper announced. He was 72.

Richards was widely known and respected in journalism and transportation circles for his insightful and clear-eyed reporting on transportation issues and as a tireless advocate for long-suffering commuters throughout the San Francisco Bay Area. He died Dec. 17 after a long battle with degenerative muscle and nerve disease. Reporting to the very end, his final "Mr. Roadshow" column was published the day he died.

"Our roads are safer, and there's a good chance your commute is smoother, thanks to his Mr. Roadshow column," said Sarah Dussault, senior editor of the Bay Area News Group, which includes the Mercury News and other publications. His "Mr. Roadshow" column for the newspaper first appeared on Sept. 23, 1991.

Richards was inducted into the CalAPA "Hall of Fame" as an "Honorary Member" in 2017 recognizing his many years advocating for improving transportation, particularly the quality of pavements that carry millions of Californians around the state each day.

In a letter to the editor published Dec. 22 in the Mercury News, CalAPA Executive Director Russell Snyder wrote the following:

"Long-suffering commuters everywhere lost one of their most effective champions with the passing of Gary Richards. I first got to know Gary when I was a Public Information Officer for Caltrans in the 1990s. His knowledge and pointed questions always kept us on our toes, and I was so impressed with him I invited him to attend a training class of all Caltrans PIOs to help them better understand how to get the media timely and accurate information to be accountable to taxpayers and transportation system users. Getting a call from Gary always made my heart skip a beat, but I knew I could count on his fairness and professionalism. Years later I was pleased to continue to be a technical resource to him on asphalt-related issues. Recently our association inducted him into our Hall of Fame, the first media person so honored in our 70-year history."

Due to health reasons, Richards was unable to travel to accept his Hall of Fame award in person. However, he was featured in a Q&A-style interview that was published in the CalAPA "California Asphalt" magazine, which is on-line HERE. Richards is survived by his wife, Jan, his daughter, Anne, his son, Matt, and grandson, Oliver. A memorial service is tentatively planned for February.

Seats are still available for three popular CalAPA technical training classes that will be held this week in Ontarion and West Sacramento..

"Asphalt Forensics" will be held on Wednesday, Jan. 10 from 8 a.m. to noon at CalAPA's offices, 1550 Harbor Blvd, Suite 120 in West Sacramento. The class holds the key to understanding what happened to asphalt pavements and why. It is taught by nationally known asphalt pavement consultant Tim Murphy, who has taught similar sessions around the United States. Registration for the class must be completed in advance and on line HERE.

"Asphalt Pavement 101," taught by former Caltrans materials engineer and asphalt association executive Roger Smith, will be held on Thursday, Jan. 11 from 8 a.m. to noon at the DoubleTree Hotel, 222 N. Vineyard Ave. in Ontario. The class is a good overall review of all things asphalt, touching on how asphalt pavements are designed, constructed and maintained. It is an excellent class for those new to the industry as well as experienced personnel needing a refresher on recent developments. On-line registration for the class is HERE.

CalAPA will also hold its popular "Quality Asphalt Paving" class at the same location in Ontario on Thursday, Jan. 11 from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. This class is more focused on field personnel and is taught by Pete Lambert, a longtime paving superintendent and one-time pavement company co-owner. The class is a "boots on the ground" view of what makes for a quality paving job, and is good for paving crews, inspectors and anyone else interested in how proper construction practices will result in asphalt pavements that last for many years. On-line registration for the Jan. 11 "Quality Asphalt Paving" class is HERE.

The classes help meet the professional education requirements for achieving the CalAPA "Quality Paving Certificate," which is the gold standard for paving excellence in the asphalt paving industry in California. You can learn more about the Quality Paving Certificate HERE.

For more information on CalAPA's technical training offerings, click HERE. Contact Sophie You at (916) 791-5044 if you would like to host a class at your facility.

The Asphalt Institute, a CalAPA partner based in Lexington, Ky., is advertising to fill the position of regional engineer covering the Western United States. The regional engineer can be based in California, Arizona, Nevada, Oregon or Washington.

A full job description, including educational and professional experience requirements, can be found HERE.

Preliminary inquiries may be directed to Danny Gierhart, Deputy Director of Engineering (dgierhart@asphaltinstitute.org) or by phone at (405) 210-7421.

Submissions should be sent by email to AI’s Human Resource Manager, Crystal O’Brien (cobrien@asphaltinstitute.org) and include a current resume and cover letter.

Longtime Asphalt Institute Regional Engineer Bob Humer will be inducted into the CalAPA "Hall of Fame" this Friday, Jan. 12 at the CalAPA Annual Dinner in Los Angeles, recognizing his many years of service to the industry. Details about that event are HERE.

In a story that appeared in last week's newsletter on the retirement of Tom Ostrom from Caltrans, the first name of his replacement was reported incorrectly. His name is Rich Foley.

Each week we highlight a word, acronym or other term commonly used in the asphalt pavement industry in California.

PREVENTIVE MAINTENANCE: A planned treatment on a road in good condition that is intended to preserve the system retard future deterioration, prolong service life and delay the need for rehabilitation.

Each week we highlight a key point or best practice of interest to asphalt paving crews, inspectors and others working in the field. We welcome suggestions. More tips can be found in our "Asphalt Parking Lot Construction Checklist" HERE. Information on the CalAPA "Quality Paving Certificate" program is HERE.

PROJECT REVIEW: Every paving project should start with a detailed review of the project's contract, plans, and specifications. Any questions arising from this review should be directed to the design firm's engineers.

Each week we highlight a term that is specific to climate-change issues related to the asphalt pavement industry. This feature is intended to raise awareness of the asphalt industry's climate-change initiatives and the specialized terminology that goes with them. More information on "The Road Forward" asphalt industry climate initiative can be found HERE.

PERPETUAL PAVEMENT: Long-lasting structural design and construction of asphalt. Also known as "long-life asphalt pavement" in California.

"Questions provide the key to unlocking our unlimited potential."

– Anthony Robbins

We hope you enjoy CalAPA's Asphalt Insider newsletter. We are committed to providing you with the most up-to-date information on technical issues, regulation, news, analysis, events and trends in California that is of interest to the asphalt pavement industry and our various agency partners. To subscribe to the newsletter, click HERE. For comments, questions or to suggest a story idea, click HERE.

Sincerely,

Russell W. Snyder, CAE

Executive Director

California Asphalt Pavement Association (CalAPA)®