U.S. Rep. Kevin Kiley, R-CA, got an up-close view of asphalt industry facilities last week at the invitation of Kenco Engineering President Brian Hanshoe, a longtime member of CalAPA and the National Asphalt Pavement Association.

Handshoe (pictured on the left with Kiley) extended the invitation to the congressman, newly appointed to the House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee as well as the subcommittee on highways, as a way to show the congressman an up-close view of the kind of work, and local jobs, that are linked to infrastructure investments. About 95% of paved surfaces in California and surfaced with asphalt, including highways, local streets, airfields, port and rail facilities, bike paths, parking lots and other transportation infrastructure.

Kiley, accompanied by his field deputy, Edward Heidig, was led through Kenco Engineering’s manufacturing facility in Roseville where he was shown various metal shaping and welding operations that Kenco utilizes to manufacture and distribute customized wear parts used by asphalt plants and other construction companies nationwide.

Kiley later toured a nearby asphalt plant operated by Vulcan Materials, to see how those wear parts are utilized in Vulcan’s asphalt production and recycling operations. Both facilities are located in Kiley's 3rd Congressional District.

Kiley came away impressed by everything he saw, and the workers he met during the visits.

“Touring facilities like these in my district, and seeing the direct connection between infrastructure investments, jobs, our economy and our quality of life, will inform my work on the House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee,” Kiley told Asphalt Insider later. “I was impressed by the innovative work being done by skilled workers at both facilities, as well as the commitment to safety, recycling and protecting the environment.”

The congressman’s office later posted photos of the tour on his social media accounts.

Handshoe, a veteran of many interactions with state and federal elected officials via CalAPA and NAPA, said he thought the tour “went fantastic.”



“Congressman Kiley found our visit fascinating, and based on his position on the House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee, this fit very well with helping him understand our industry and the nuances of his new position.”

Handshoe appreciated the coordination among all the parties that led up to the tour and the educational forum it provided. “When he understands is job better, that will help our industry as well.”

The NAPA Political Action Committee was one of the supporters of the event. CalAPA members support federal advocacy activities via contributions to national pooled funds and other support, such as hosting plant tours. To learn more about CalAPA’s advocacy program, click HERE.

Every three years the California Department of Transportation commissions a study of the construction market as it develops Federal Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) goals.

According to Caltrans, the "Disparity Study" is designed to determine whether a government entity engages in exclusionary practices in solicitation and award of contracts to minority, women-owned and disadvantaged business enterprises. The goals are designed to provide a financial incentive to bidders to utilize DBE firms in public works projects.

As part of the study, produced by a consultant, BBC Research & Consulting, a series of information sessions have been scheduled for study authors to provide draft results of the DBE goal and methodology, and to solicit input from interested parties. The department is specifically targeting input from prime contractors, DBEs, Small Business Enterprises (SBEs), Disabled Veteran Business Enterprises (DVBEs, Minority/Women-owned Business Enterprises (M/WBEs) and micro businesses.

The "virtual" sessions will be take place on Nov. 7 at 9:30 a.m. and also 5:30 p.m., Nov. 12 at 9:30 a.m. and also 5:30 p.m., and Nov. 19 at 9:30 a.m. and also 5:30 p.m. The virtual sessions will be held via the "Zoom" web platform with a phone-in option. To register for one or more of the sessions, click HERE.

More information about the study can be found HERE. Questions should be directed to Edwin Bragado of Caltrans at (916) 907-2155, or via e=mail at: Edwin.Bragado@dot.ca.gov .

Take a break from the daily grind to enjoy a couple of brief videos produced by CalAPA member Construction Marketing Services / CMS Media Pros on recent CalAPA-supported events that continue to be talked about today.

The association's popular "Day at the Races" event held at Del Mar features lots of fun photos of the colorful event from the luxury skybox high above the thoroughbred horse racing action. Who knows? You might just recognize someone in one of the photos. That video is HERE.

Another video provides a nice snapshot of a CalAPA-supported asphalt workshop held at Cal State Chico and also on-site by CalAPA member Knife River. During the workshop college-aged students were exposed to information about asphalt and the various careers that can be pursued in the industry. That video is HERE.

The growing CalAPA YouTube channel has new content being added all the time. To view and subscribe, click HERE.

There's no major ballot initiatives like 2018's Proposition 6, to repeal gas taxes devoted to transportation (it was defeated), or Prop. 69, to amend the state Constitution to protect transportation dollars from being diverted to other purposes (it passed).

But the Nov. 5 general election ballot does contain a smattering of measures that could impact the asphalt industry in indirect ways, such as Proposition 4, which includes bonds for various clean water and infrastructure protection projects, or lowering of the voter-approval threshold of some local housing or public infrastructure measures (Proposition 5). And then there is Proposition 2, which authorizes bonds for school construction, with some funds devoted to construction industry-favored vocational educational education facilities. In other words, there are plenty of pocketbook reasons to vote this year.

Nationally, control of the U.S. House of Representatives is widely anticipated to be determined by a handful of "toss-up" House races in California, with millions of dollars already pumped into those campaigns by Republican and Democratic congressional committees. The outcomes are unlikely to be decided on Election Day.

Although the last day to register to vote in California was Oct. 21, eligible citizens who missed the deadline can complete the "same day" voter registration process through Election Day at their local county elections office or any in-person voting location within their county.

For more information about the Nov. 5 General Election, including voting guides, polling places and results, the Secretary of State website is HERE.

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

SLAG: The air-cooled, non-metallic byproduct of a blast furnace operation consisting essentially of silicates and alumino-silicates of lime and other bases that is developed simultaneously with iron in a blast furnace. Naturally it is only available in those localities where pig iron is produced. Crushed slag weighs about 80 pounds per cubic foot.

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.

COMPACTION: Check pavement temperature before compaction begins. Don't rely solely on an

infrared temperature gauge. Have a probe thermometer on hand to check the internal

temperature of the mat. The ability to achieve proper compaction requires a mat temperature of

175 degrees or greater. Do not let roller operators park equipment on the fresh mat while

compaction is ongoing.

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.

CARBONATION: Permanent sequestration of carbon dioxide.

"The day you decide to do it is your lucky day."



– Japanese proverb

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.

Sincerely,

Russell W. Snyder, CAE

Executive Director

The California Asphalt Pavement Association (CalAPA)®