A special environment-themed issue of CalAPA's association magazine, "California Asphalt," is now available on-line. The issue features a deep dive into the promise, practical considerations and politics of carbon capture and what it means for the asphalt pavement industry. The link to the issue is HERE.

With the State of California setting ambitious climate goals, including achieving "net-zero" carbon emissions by 2045 (a national asphalt pavement industry goal is by 2050), the industry is assessing what steps would need to be taken now to get there. The magazine issue features an assessment of the current state of carbon capture and sequestration for the asphalt industry, practical considerations at the plant, and a profile of how one contractor is incorporating carbon credits into paving jobs. The exclusive coverage builds on a special "decarbonization" issue the association published last year focusing on industry-agency collaboration on the topic. That issue is on-line HERE.

The 2025 environmental edition also features an exclusive interview with Dr. Meredith Bauer of the San Francisco Bay Area Air District, who is heading up an ambitious overhaul of the district's air quality permit processes. The CalAPA Environmental Committee has identified permit delays as one of its top priorities in recent years in its engagement with the air district.

The issue also profiles longtime CalAPA paving contractor member Century Paving, and the association's annual "Day at the Races" networking event that took place on opening weekend of the thoroughbred racing season at Del Mar.

"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. 

Although the election to replace Gov. Gavin Newsom is more than a year away, candidates are already working hard to line up support, meet voters and outline policy platforms.

One of those candidates, former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa (pictured recently with CalAPA Executive Director Russell Snyder), already has pavement bonafides, having overseen one of the largest street maintenance operations in the nation when he was mayor. But it is another connection he has to transportation, namely Caltrans, that no other candidate can match.

Villaraigosa's mother, Natalia Delgado, was a longtime Caltrans employee in Los Angeles, a fact not widely known, even within Caltrans.

Delgado retired from the department in 1988 after working for the department for 25 years, and passed away in 1991 at the age of 62. She was widely admired as noted by an obituary that ran in the Catlrans District 7 employee newsletter. The story can be accessed HERE. She mentored many fellow Caltrans employees, particularly women, and was credited with establishing the Caltrans Women Advisory Committee.

Villaraigosa has remarked many times how large his mom loomed in his life, raising him and his three siblings largely by herself. "She never gave up on me," he recently told Asphalt Insider. Her funeral in 1991 was attended by many political luminaries, another indication of how much she was revered.

Asphalt Insider extends its gratitude to Colleen Park of the Caltrans District 7 Public Information Office for retrieving the article about Delgado from the district's archives.

The California Energy Commission, meeting Friday, postponed action on a proposal to penalize petroleum companies operating in California that it deems are too profitable. It is the latest in a series of actions by the Newsom administration to soften its position on the fossil fuels industry in the wake of announcements by two prominent refiners that they plan on ceasing operations in California in the coming months, triggering fears of soaring prices at the pump.

The CEC was put in charge of implementing a profit-targeting law passed by the Legislature in a special session called by Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom in 2022. Since then, concerns about California's highest-in-the-nation pump prices soaring past $8 per gallon has given the administration and others pause.

The draft resolution seeking the pause on implementation of the law, which the Energy Commission approved on Friday, is HERE.

In recent weeks Newsom has softened his anti-petroleum rhetoric. In a recent press conference he noted, "We are all the beneficiaries of oil and gas." In April, he sent a letter to the vice chair of the CEC, Siva Gunda, requesting that the CEC "redouble the state's efforts to work closely with refiners" to ensure a stable supply of fuels, and to also ensure that "refiners continue to see the value in serving the California market."

Despite being one of the largest fuel markets in the country, California remains a "fuel island" largely because of prescriptive regulations that require the specialized formulations of fuel to help reduce air pollution. The closure of the refineries could mean California's in-state refining capacity could be reduced by 20%, setting up the potential for driving up pump prices. The last governor to fumble energy policy, Democrat Gray Davis, was recalled by voters in 2003. Political observers note that Newsom, who clearly harbors presidential ambitions, is looking to avoid a similar energy crisis as his final term in office winds down.

The CEC's "Petroleum Watch" webpage is HERE. The webpage for the Western States Petroleum Association, which produces fact sheets about pump prices and energy security, is HERE.

Back by popular demand, the CalAPA Southern California Contractor’s Committee invites CalAPA members to a special contractor-focused dinner Oct. 8 at the legendary Dal Rae restaurant in Pico Rivera. It will be another memorable evening of delicious food and drink, solid-gold networking and sharing of timely information that is essential to the success of any paving contractor. Details and on-line registration is HERE.

The evening program will include a "technical tidbit," risk-management tips and an association update that will focus heavily on the asphalt market, trends, threats and opportunities. A special tribute to a legendary industry figure will be announced later.

All this takes place at the legendary Dal Rae restaurant, which originally opened in 1958 and is home to arguably the best steak in Southern California. The Dal Rae was recently inducted into the Los Angeles Times Restaurant "Hall of Fame." The entry noted that "L.A. is blessed with many throwback restaurants; Dal Rae's savoir faire and exuberance distinguish it from the pack."

Information about other CalAPA events can be found on the association's on-line calendar HERE.

CalAPA offices will be closed on Monday, Sept. 1, in observance of the Labor Day Holiday. The offices will reopen on Tuesday, Sept. 2 during regular business hours.

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

GRAVEL: A coarse granular material (usually larger than 1/4 inch in diameter) resulting from the natural erosion and disintegration of rock. Crushed gravel is the result of artificial crushing with most fragments having at least one face resulting from fracture.

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)?

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.

INTERGOVERNMENTAL PANEL ON CLIMATE CHANGE: Organization assessing scientific and

technical literature on climate change.

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 2025: $375.2 ($/ton)

"The construction engineer may reach the conclusion that if the materials of the Earth were created to serve a variety of purposes, the specialized needs of the highway engineer is one of the least of these."

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– Francis N. Hveem

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. 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)®