Registration is now open for one of the most prestigious asphalt industry events of the year, the CalAPA Annual Meeting and Awards Dinner, which will take place on Thursday, Jan. 15 at the opulent Jonathan Club in downtown Los Angeles. On-line registration is HERE.

In addition to the installation of association officers for 2026, the elegant dinner will feature the induction of longtime industry leader Rene Vercruyssen with Knife River into the association's "Hall of Fame." Other program speakers will be announced later.

The annual tradition is popular with members and spouses alike. Space is limited, so early registration is strongly encouraged. The event website also has details about lodging options, parking, and the all important dress code (business attire), which is strictly enforced by the Jonathan Club.

For information on this event, or for sponsorship opportunities, please contact Sophie You of CalAPA at 916-791-5044. To view photos from the 2025 CalAPA Annual Dinner, click HERE to visit the association's Facebook page.

Many years ago an award-winning reporter and columnist for the now defunct Los Angeles Herald-Examiner newspaper, John Schwada, shared with a colleague how he viewed his job covering Los Angeles City Hall. “If you pulled in someone from off the street and they watched the proceedings for a few minutes, what would they be interested in? What would they think?”

Had that proverbial “someone from off the street” been sitting in Los Angeles City Hall last Tuesday listening to the Budget & Finance Committee we think they might take note of the following report on road repairs (or the lack of road repairs) in the city.

First, some background. In 2024 Los Angeles City voters passed Measure HLA, shorthand for “Healthy Streets Los Angeles.” The initiative, which passed by a wide margin, promised to hold the city accountable for implementing its long-term plan to make streets safer by adding more infrastructure to protect transit riders, cyclists and pedestrians. The trouble is, the measure contained no new funding for the changes, which were estimated to cost about $3.1 billion. Critics lambasted it a "road-diet" fiasco. Then, as now, the city is grappling with major budget deficits, and the bill is coming due. At this juncture it should also be noted that the City of Los Angeles, Bureau of Street Services, maintains the nation’s largest municipal street network at 23,000 lane miles, plus 800 miles of alleys.

We now join the committee hearing in progress:

Councilman Bob Blumenfield: Interpreting Measure HLA as applying only to resurfacing and not for large asphalt repairs. I obviously raise this question to raise the issue and wanted to get your takes on this, and where we’re going with this.

Rose Karagezyan, Division Manager, Financial Management, Bureau of Street Services: Good afternoon. Rose Karagezyan. In terms of the resurfacing program, let me give you the metrics, which is what you are asking for, correct?

Blumenfield: I couldn’t hear you. Say that again. And a similar question, the same kind of thing, is how many lane miles is HLA of other bike lanes and other infrastructure have been installed this year, if any?

Karagezyan: So, these are not HLA, these are the metrics for Street Services. So in terms of resurfacing, slurry and concrete panels, we have 562 lane miles that we plan on completing this year, and we’ve completed 165. In terms of large asphalt repairs, the plan is for 1,000 sites to be completed, and we have completed 327 sites as of last month, and that number will continue to go up.

Blumenfield: Right, and are we talking about slurry, and not resurfacing? Actual resurfacing?

Karagezyan: Um, the resurfacing program, we are planning on doing that in the last month of the fiscal year. At this point we have not done any resurfacing projects.

Blumenfield: Could you repeat that? You say you’ve done no resurfacing yet? You’re going to do that in the last month of the year?

Karagezyan: Correct.

Blumenfield: But you have done a certain amount of slurry.

Karagezyan: Correct. So 164 lane-miles of slurry, um, as well as 327 sites for large asphalt repairs. So since we have pivoted to large asphalt repairs, we have already completed 327 sites. In terms of the lane miles, that is (unintelligible). So, that was as of last month. So as of now, we’ve also, like I said, this is a moving target, so the number of sites has gone up to 435 already, as of this month, because it’s been a month since our last report, and that’s close to 32 lane miles.

Blumenfield: So the concern, of course, is, I know it’s budget and not to point fingers at anybody, but we haven’t done any actual resurfacing this year, just the slurry and the lane miles, from the asphalt repair, which is understandable given our budget, but problematic, you know, if this is the new normal. We can’t survive this way as a city, even if we do a few miles in the last month. I’m not sure why we’re pushing it to the last month, but that’s concerning. And I also want to understand the relationship with HLA. So does HLA only apply to the full resurfacing, or when we do these slurrys or asphalt repairs are there any HLA requirements?

Kevin Minne, Assistant General Manager, City of Los Angeles Department of Transportation: Good afternoon. Kevin Minn, assistant general manager, Department of Transportation. As far as I understand it, it only applies to full resurfacing. Slurry and large asphalt repairs would not be a trigger for HLA requirements.

Blumenfield: So … since we haven’t done any resurfacing, we haven’t done any HLA-mandated bike lanes or other infrastructure this year either, is that accurate?

Minne: I believe that’s accurate. We’ll double-check, but I don’t believe we’ve done any actual HLA-related bike lanes or infrastructure this year.

Blumenfield: Which is also concerning in terms of how we go about this. I realize a lot of this is budget issues, and we don’t have the budget that we need, but I raise these questions because it’s just not sustainable. We have to do resurfacing, and we have to do the HLA improvements, the bike lanes and the infrastructure, so I feel like since the last budget we’ve been sort of limping along but given that we’re not seeing new funds come in I don’t understand how we’re going to turn this around, and I raise this as a red flag, not that I have the answer to it, but I do want to see it turned around. I do want us to have resurfacing. Do you all have any insights, am I reading this wrong, or if there is light at the end of the tunnel, please enlighten me.

Councilwoman Eunisses Hernandez: Correct me if I’m wrong, but it’s my understanding that that the reason why we can’t do resurfacing as quickly as we would like to is, per the City Attorney, we have to do the ramps before, and so we can’t resurface until we do the ramps, and we are very delayed in doing the ramps because we don’t have enough ramp teams, and so it’s one bottleneck leads to another delay to another delay. But that’s one of the reasons why resurfacing can’t happen at regular speed.

Blumenfield: Right. That’s why we’re in this problem here, because we have to do the ramps, we have to do the HLA stuff, and we sort of stick our head in the sand doing slurry and large asphalt repair and sort of avoid these other requirements. But I raise it because it’s not a sustainable strategy. It’s a head-in-the-sand strategy waiting for money, but I don’t see any more money on the horizon so we have to figure something out.”

We now return to our regular programming.

Back in 2014 CalAPA’s association magazine, California Asphalt, exposed the rift between the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and pavement maintenance and rehabilitation, pitting U.S. Department of Justice lawyers against Federal Highway Administration engineers. One federal official at the time remarked ruefully that “It’s obvious to us that the FHWA got rolled by the DOJ.” A link to that issue is HERE.

Fast-forward to today, and the anti-road forces have further constrained road repairs, which in many municipalities like Los Angeles have slowed to a fraction of what is needed to keep them in reasonable shape.

Meanwhile, a Los Angeles city proposal to sell asphalt from the two city-owned asphalt plants on the commercial market continues to fly under the radar at 200 N. Spring Street, as reported previously HERE by Asphalt Insider. Here’s hoping that policymakers will recognize the conflict between finite resources, HLA restrictions and fixing L.A. pavements and, indeed, “figure something out.”

To learn more about the HLA measure, click HERE. A link to the City of Los Angeles mobility plan is HERE.

A special quality-themed issue of CalAPA's association magazine, "California Asphalt," is now available on-line. The issue features a deep dive into a new Caltrans method for delivering pavement maintenance projects known as "Job Order Contracting." The link to the issue is HERE.

The issue also includes reports on various association events, including the annual charity golf tournament and a CalAPA-hosted national conference of state asphalt association executives that was held in Monterey.

In addition, the issue features a report from Washington, D.C. where asphalt interests held meetings with members of Congress and staff on road funding and other topics under the shadow of a partial federal government shutdown. The issue also spotlights Steve Ward with Pavement Recycling Systems, who recently announced his retirement. The CalAPA board member and Legislative Committee Chair was feted by colleagues, elected officials and agency personnel alike.

"California Asphalt" magazine, the Journal of the California Asphalt Pavement Association, is published six times per year and distributed to CalAPA members, as well as agency personnel and others interested in asphalt pavements. It contains in-depth reporting and analysis of the issues, trends and people impacting the asphalt pavement industry in California that can be found nowhere else. For an archive of past issues, as well as advertising information, click HERE. For editorial or advertising inquiries, contact Kerry Hoover of Construction Marketing Services at (909) 772-3121. 

Tuesday, Nov. 11 is Veterans Day. CalAPA offices will be open, but that doesn't mean we won't be recognizing our veterans. One veteran, who served his country with distinction, is Steve Ward, a CalAPA Board Member and longtime Legislative Committee member, who announced his retirement earlier this year. He is profiled in the current issue of "California Asphalt," the official association magazine. Many other veterans have found success in our industry, including those who have led CalAPA gatherings in the Pledge of Allegiance at the Annual Dinner and Southern California Contractors Dinners. Those include Carlos Hernandez and Len Nawrocki, both members of the CalAPA Hall of Fame, to name just two.

Sometimes those who serve our country also make the ultimate sacrifice, which we commemorate on Memorial Day, but it is also fitting to remember them all year long. One of those is Sgt. 1st Class James Leslie Moreland, a Green Beret who was listed as missing in action on Feb. 7, 1968 following a fierce firefight while defending the American-operated Lang Vei Special Forces camp in Quang Tri Province, South Vietnam. He was listed as MIA for 43 years, until his remains were finally recovered, identified through DNA testing, and returned to his home state of Alabama.

We know this because of Kathy Strong of Walnut Creek. She has led a one-woman crusade to honor Moreland's memory by having a commemorative brick placed at an appropriate memorial in all 50 states. The 50th brick was placed last week at a ceremony in Anne Arundel County, Md. The County Executive, Steuart L. Pittman, presented Strong an "Executive Citation" on behalf of the residents of his county for her "unwavering commitment to honoring our military veterans and fallen service members."

But what was her connection to Moreland? When she was 12 she received a Christmas gift of a stainless steel bracelet that bore his name, part of a campaign to remember all those missing in action from the Vietnam War. She wore it for decades, and even refused to take it off when she needed surgery on an injured wrist. Over the years, she conducted research about Moreland to piece together his story, including gathering military reports and speaking with soldiers who served with him. That inspired her to honor him in all 50 states with some sort of tribute, usually a commemorative brick at a war memorial. When Moreland's remains were recovered and returned home in 2011 to a hero's welcome, she connected with his family who agreed to have her bracelet buried with him. It was the first time the bracelet was off her wrist in 40 years. Her memorial quest began the following year, at her own expense, and finally was completed last week.

"I just want to know that, long after I'm gone, he'll always be remembered," she told a local newspaper recently. "I want to make sure that, on Memorial Day, no matter what state you live in, you can go and visit his brick and honor him."

Moreland was 22 when he was killed. He was posthumously awarded a Purple Heart and a Silver Star for valor. Moreland's name is also embossed on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C., alongside the names of 58,000 of his fellow servicemen and servicewomen who died in that conflict. HIs family remembers, and thanks to the dedication of Kathy Strong from California, we thought you should remember him as well.

It's that time of year again -- time to take CalAPA's annual

"Better-Worse" survey.

Now in its 16th year, the annual survey gauges the mood of

Asphalt Insider readers about the upcoming year, and also asks

readers to share thoughts on challenges they face. The survey

takes about 1 minute to complete and can be accessed HERE.

The deadline to participate is Nov. 21. A story on the results of

last year's "Better-Worse" survey appeared on Page 20 of the

association's annual forecast issue of California Asphalt

magazine HERE.

A year ago respondents were slightly more optimistic about the year ahead than the year prior. Those who take the survey are also asked to state the No. 1 challenge they face at work.

Results from this survey will be included in a future issue of Asphalt Insider. Data from the survey

will also be included in an upcoming issue of California's official magazine, California Asphalt, as

well as the comprehensive 2026 Asphalt Market Forecast for California, which is published annually

and is an exclusive benefit of CalAPA membership. To learn how to access this and other CalAPA

member benefits, click HERE or contact CalAPA at (916) 791-5044.

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

EROSION: Removal and transportation of soil by the action of water or wind.

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.

RECORD RETENTION AFTER PROJECT COMPLETION: Take a final photograph of the site for your records and retain all records from the project including: copies of all truck delivery tickets and record of all the temperature recordings and compaction readings you took during the project.

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.

ADAPTION: Changing behaviors or systems to reduce negative impacts.

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 .

November 2025: $344.1 ($/ton)

"It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the great task remaining before us—that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion."

– Abraham Lincoln (from the Gettysburg Address)

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, people, events and trends in California that is of interest to the asphalt pavement industry and our various agency partners. Please note: This publication is 100% human-produced with 100% original content, and is only possible due to the generous support of CalAPA members. 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)®