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The California Asphalt Pavement Association
Vol. 19, Issue 33 || Aug. 17, 2026
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Greetings!
This weekly report contains news and information of interest to the asphalt pavement industry, customers and agency partners in California. Please feel free to distribute this newsletter to others who may be interested in asphalt pavements. To subscribe to the newsletter click HERE. To provide feedback or story ideas click HERE. Having difficulty viewing this newsletter? View as Webpage
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Leadership change announced at the University of California Pavement Research Center | | |
Established in 1948, what is now known as the University of California Pavement Research Center has provided important research to Caltrans and the construction industry to advance high-quality, durable and sustainable pavements.
Last week it was announced that longtime UCPRC Director John T. Harvey would be stepping down from the post, and would be replaced by Somayeh Nassiri (pictured). As an indicator of the high regard the world-renowned UCPRC is held by the asphalt industry in California, the previous director of the center, Carl Monismith, is in the CalAPA Hall of Fame, and the Board of Directors of CalAPA voted unanimously in June to extend the same honor to Harvey as an "Honorary Member."
"I have really enjoyed working with the asphalt industry and CalAPA over my career, and look forward to continuing that partnership as I move to a part-time role supporting the new leadership at UCPRC, and also through the City and County Improvement Center where I will be continuing for the foreseeable future," Harvey told Asphalt Insider. "I am particularly looking forward to continuing to work on implementation of balanced mix design, which was the subject of my thesis in 1992! We need to put the ball in the back of the net!"
Harvey has delivered technical presentations on asphalt pavement research at numerous CalAPA technical events, and the association has supported several graduate researchers at UCD over the years. CalAPA members have supported the work of the UCPRC through lending expertise as well as providing equipment, manpower and materials for pavement test sections placed on the Davis facility.
"I have really enjoyed working in the environment of the Pavement Materials Partnering Committee and supporting Caltrans and industry with data and analysis," Harvey added. "I almost quit the pavement industry in the mid-1990s because I didn't see much changing, and the increasing pace of innovation through collaboration has been what keeps me getting up each morning excited about participating in that."
Nassiri said she is looking forward to the challenge of taking over the leadership of the UCPRC and continuing its legacy of producing practical research that benefits agency and industry alike.
“I am very excited about this chapter in my career and determined to build on the strong foundation already in place at UCPRC and continue delivering impactful research," she told Asphalt Inisder. "We are committed to producing implementable research that ultimately leads to better, longer-lasting asphalt pavements and roads for Californians.
“Having worked with both DOTs and industry, doing research as a university faculty member for 12 years now, I have gotten to understand both perspectives and appreciate that each has its priorities, budgets, spending plans, capabilities, and resources," she added. "The best research is the research that informs both the public agencies that specify the work and industry practitioners who produce and construct it, helping establish practical requirements, so that data from the lab and the field turns into practice that ultimately aligns both parties and benefits the state. I am looking forward to continuing to do that.”
Construction industry leaders commended Harvey for his many contributions to better pavements.
“The expertise and insight that Dr. John Harvey freely shared with the asphalt industry will be greatly missed,” said Phil Reader, Technical Services Manager for the George Reed Co. and a CalAPA officer as well as a leader in the joint Caltrans-industry Pavement & Materials Partnering Committee. “We are deeply grateful for the UCPRC’s dedication and stewardship in improving asphalt quality throughout the state. Dr. Harvey’s leadership and commitment has led to significant advancements through his academic research, setting a standard for excellence that will be part of his enduring legacy. Dr. Harvey’s guidance has inspired many, and his absence will be deeply felt by all of us who have worked alongside him. We wish him all the best in his well-deserved retirement and thank him sincerely for his invaluable contributions.”
The official announcement about the leadership change at the UCPRC is HERE. The UCPRC website is HERE. Harvey's official bio is HERE. Nassiri's official bio is HERE. A Q&A with Harvey that appeared in California Asphalt magazine, an official publication of CalAPA, is HERE.
| | Dr. John Harvey of the UCPRC (standing) poses a question at a recent CalAPA asphalt pavement conference. Harvey presented at numerous CalAPA asphalt conferences on the latest research about asphalt pavements. | | Dr. John Harvey (left) chats with Andrew Onoja, a Nigerian transportation official, on a break during a CalAPA asphalt conference in Sacramento. Onoja earned a master's degree from UC Davis ithis year and is currently finishing up research on Reclaimed Asphalt Pavments (RAP). Ian Broddrick is center. | | Attending the Spring Asphalt Pavement Conference & Equipment Expo earlier this year in Pomona were, from left. Dr. Adam Hand from the University of Nevada, Reno; Dr. John Harvey with the UCPRC and Erik Updyke representing the City & County Pavement Improvement Center. | |
Services set for Aug. 31 in Santa Ana for asphalt industry legend Juan Forster | |
Funeral services are scheduled for Monday, Aug. 31 at 11:30 a.m. in Santa Ana for legendary asphalt industry leader Juan Forster, who passed away on Tuesday after a lengthy illness.
The services will take place at Fairhaven Memorial Park and Mortuary, 1701 Fairhaven Ave. in Santa Ana, according to Dan Forster. The memorial park website is HERE. The phone number is (714) 633-1442.
Forster was a longtime leader in the asphalt industry and is a member of the California Asphalt Pavement Association "Hall of Fame." He was CEO of Huntway refining for many years, and participated in asphalt association events for many years, even after his retirement.
His pointed questioning of then-Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom, a declared candidate for governor, at the 2014 CalAPA Annual Dinner at the Jonathan Club in Los Angeles was the stuff of legend. Newsom leaned into the questions, and to show there were no hard feelings later toured a Vulcan Materials asphalt plant in Southern California in a visit arranged by CalAPA.
"Juan was a special guy," said longtime friend and colleague Len Nawrocki, retired from Valero and also a Hall of Fame member. "No one advocated for our industry any harder than he did."
Forster started off his professional career at Caltrans, which was then known as the Department of Public Works, Division of Highways. He graduated from Cal State Los Angeles in 1959 with a degree in civil engineering, and worked for a time for the County of Ventura before moving on to the private sector. His first stop was the Missile City Rock Co. in Lompoc, and later worked for Local Asphalt Co. in Santa Paula.
The liquid asphalt side of the industry beckoned, and he joined the Douglas Oil Co., a Conoco subsidiary, before leaving to form a partnership with Bob and Wally Hunt to build and operate asphalt refineries in Wilmington and, later, in Benicia. He was President and CEO of Huntway until it was sold to Valero in 1999 and he retired, although he stayed active in association events. He has been married to his wife, Carolyn, for more than 60 years, and the couple has three children, seven grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
Last year CalAPA members paid tribute to Forster at a special Contractor Dinner held at the Dal Rae restaurant in Pico Rivera, where Forster regaled the attendees with tales of asphalt industry derring-do, and how he once was a tennis partner to a young actor named Robert Redford. A link to a California Asphalt magazine story about that event is HERE.
| | Juan Forster (right) joins other CalAPA "Hall of Fame" members Len Nawrocki (left) and Carlos Hernandez at a CalAPA Annual Dinner at the Jonathan Club in Los Angeles. | | Juan Forster regaled attendees at a CalAPA Contractor Dinner event last year with tales of his friendship with actor Robert Redford, a tennis partner in his youth in Santa Monica. | | Juan Forster speaks at a Contractors Dinner at the Dal Rae restaurant in Pico Rivera. A "Life Member" of the CalAPA Hall of Fame, he stayed active with the association well after his retirement. | |
CalAPA fleet exhibitor, Ken Grody Ford, to host annual 'Fleet Solutions Expo' Sept. 15 in Buena Park | |
For those who didn't get enough of an equipment and truck fix at CalAPA's Spring Conference & Equipment Expo in Pomona earlier this year, you have another chance.
Ken Grody Ford is hosting their annual Fleet Solutions Expo at the Buena Park Mall on Tuesday Sept. 15 in Buena Park. The expo will bring together commercial equipment vendors, equipment fleet regulators, and fleet operators from across the state.
For the managers of equipment fleets, the expo provides a one-stop shop to discover the latest equipment for increased production efficiency while providing learning opportunities to manage fleets. Industry experts in equipment innovations will participate in this annual event and share their knowledge and experience on how vehicle related technologies can improve construction and production efficiency.
The expertise available at the Expo includes people knowledgeable about the latest air quality regulations from the California Air Resources Board (CARB) and the regional air quality management districts, such as the South Coast Air Quality Management (SCAQMD). Representatives from both agencies will be on hand to share the latest in regulations and best practices to help communities improve air quality. Safety will also be a centerpiece of the event. Representatives from the California Highway Patrol will also provide presentations and answer questions.
For additional information on this event, please visit the event website HERE or contact Brandon Milar of CalAPA at BMilar@calapa.net.
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Each week we highlight a word, acronym or other term commonly used in the asphalt pavement industry in California.
COAL TAR SEAL: Coal tar sealer shields asphalt surfaces from the damaging elements of weather and protects against the harmful effects of chemicals and petroleum products. Coal Tar shall meet Federal specification R-P355e and ASTM Specification D-3320.
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Paving Pointer of the Week | |
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.
SITE PREPARATION: If overlaying an existing or milled surface, has the surface been cleaned/swept and given a full "tack coat" (a bonding agent between the two surfaces)? What is the specified coverage rate for the prime/tack coat? Is the application uniform? Has the material been given enough time to "break" (evaporate the water)?
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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. A recent CalAPA magazine story on the topic is HERE.
LANDFILL-FREE: At least 90% of operational waste is reused, recycled or converted to energy.
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Caltrans Statewide Crude Oil Price Index | |
Editor's Note: As a convenience to our readers, Asphalt Insider reports the most current Caltrans "Statewide Crude Oil Price Index" posting. The department posts this monthly on its public website HERE. The index is used to calculate payment adjustments for paving asphalt under special provisions section "Payment Adjustments for Price Index Fluctuations" in those projects containing the section. The department posts the index on or about the first business day of the month using the daily Brent crude oil prices from the previous month as reported by Business Insider. Inquiries about the index should be directed to Caltrans at: Oil.Index@dot.ca.gov .
August 2026: $455.4 ($/ton)
Last month: $457.2
1 year ago: $375.2
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"You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with."
– Jim Rohn
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We hope you enjoy CalAPA's Asphalt Insider newsletter, widely regarded as the most influential publication of its type in California. We are committed to providing you with the most up-to-date information on technical issues, regulation, news, analysis, people, 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. We are committed to promptly notifying our readers of any errors in this publication. Please click on the comment link above to alert the editor of any errors or omissions.
Sincerely,
Russell W. Snyder, CAE
Executive Director
The California Asphalt Pavement Association (CalAPA)®
| | The "Asphalt Insider" is an official publication of the California Asphalt Pavement Association. For more information or to inquire about membership, call (916) 791-5044, or click HERE to contact us. Copyright © 2026 California Asphalt Pavement Association -- All Rights Reserved. The CalAPA name (No. 5,621,794) and logo (No. 5,621,795) are registered trademarks with the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office. | | | | |
