This month we were happy to see Governor Ron DeSantis's proposed budget address the needs of Florida's Highway System. $2.5 Billion is proposed for highway construction, and $1 Billion is proposed for resurfacing. We encourage the legislature to adopt this portion of the budget in the next few months. Florida's best-in-the-nation pavements facilitate the growth in population and wealth that we have seen and expect to continue to see. And seeing as this money returns an estimated 400% and, of course, is funded totally by users, this is just good policy.
There are other issues ACAF will be advocating for this year (M-COREs, Work Zone Safety, Pavement Type Selection, etc.) and you can follow along on our website. We will also continue to closely monitor asphalt pavement projects let by the DOT. |
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This month we have also opened applications for the Florida Asphalt Pavement Awards. Unlike previous years, the process is now completely online. Applications are due on March 1st and we have already received several, so please send in your best work for evaluation.
Last year Preferred Materials Inc. won all three of our coveted Statewide awards, and industry spectators are already in hot dispute as to whether or not this success can be maintained. As noted in the first paragraph of this newsletter (and frankly anywhere I can work it in), Florida has the best pavements in the country, so these winners genuinely are the best-in-class projects of our industry. We are looking forward to riding them.
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It's also scholarship season. Last year our program distributed $17,000 to incoming college students. These scholarships are based on merit and interest in the Asphalt Industry and are open to anyone getting ready to attend college or trade school. So feel free to forward this to any future road builder you may know. Applications are due April 1st, but if these students are anything like I was back then, I would tell them the due date is a few days earlier than it really is. |
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Webinars & Virtual Training
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The governor's announcement on Twitter reads: "Florida's ability to grow and prosper is a result of having one of the best transportation systems in the country. In the #FloridaLeads budget, we will continue that trend through significant investments for Floridians and the millions of tourists coming to the state."
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Paving equipment has come a long way in the past decade as manufacturers continue to improve their products’ features and capabilities in order to ensure optimal production speed and pavement quality. But changes have also targeted the paver operator and operation. Source: ForConstructionPros
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The Florida Department of Transportation’s (FDOT) macroeconomic analysis regarding the state’s transportation projects determined the efforts would yield an average of $4 of benefits for every dollar invested.
Source: Transportation Today
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In December, total construction starts for Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties rose 6 percent, year-over-year, to $802 million.
Source: The Real Deal
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Countries must put more women into leadership roles to build a stronger post-pandemic world, a top U.N. official said on Monday as data showed women could be waiting more than a century to see equality at the highest political echelons.
Source: Reuters
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Joe Biden is now President and Democrats have gained a slim majority in the Senate along with the party's control of the House. Does that mean that this is finally the time for Congress to pass a big, bold infrastructure spending bill that can help boost the economy?
Source: CNN
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With the whirlwind election we just witnessed, now could not be a more critical time for us to join together from both sides of the aisle to get a big infrastructure bill passed. Learn more.
By Tommy Ball, Regional Vice-President, Alta Equipment Company
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Duval Asphalt worked with Asphalt Testing Solutions & Engineering to apply the FAA requirements from mix design to production to placement to testing on a recent project at Fernandina Municipal Airport.
Photo credit: Duval Asphalt Products
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Watch this inside look at some of Anderson Columbia Co's history and their mining division.
Photo credit: Anderson Columbia Co
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