New TRB Committee To Coordinate Superpave Implementation Efforts

Efforts by States, the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO), and the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) to forge ahead with implementation of the Superpave mix design system have received a boost with the formation of the new Transportation Research Board (TRB) Superpave Committee. The future of Superpave implementation was in doubt with the passage of the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century last year, which failed to provide sufficient funds for FHWA to continue many ongoing, nor initiate many planned, Superpave development and deployment projects.

Many of those projects will now be funded through the State-sponsored National Cooperative Highway Research Program. FHWA is also continuing to use previously appropriated funds to support Superpave implementation. The new Superpave Committee will monitor and help coordinate these varied activities.

The committee will advise AASHTO and FHWA on implementation and research tasks, conduct program reviews, and monitor financial needs for work remaining to be done. The committee's recommendations will be released in regular reports to AASHTO and FHWA.

The committee, which held its first meeting in March, plans to meet twice annually. Between meetings, "it will work closely with such groups as FHWA’s Superpave Technology Delivery Team and the AASHTO Superpave Lead States Team, as well as partners like the National Asphalt Pavement Association and the Asphalt Institute," says Neil Hawks, the TRB staff representative to the committee.

Joe Mickes, recently retired as chief engineer of the Missouri Highway and Transportation Department, is serving as chairman of the committee. Other members represent State and local governments, industry, and academia (see sidebar). FHWA, AASHTO, the National Asphalt Pavement Association, and other organizations will also provide liaisons to the committee.

For more information, contact Neil Hawks at TRB, 202-334-1430 (fax: 202-334-3471; email: nhawks@nas.edu).

Martin Barker City of Albuquerque Public Works Department

Wade Betenson Utah Department of Transportation (DOT)

Frank Danchetz Georgia DOT

Fred Fehsenfeld Heritage Research Group

Eric Harm Illinois DOT

Dallas Little Texas Transportation Institute

Don Lucas Indiana DOT

Paul Mack New York State DOT, and leader of the Superpave Lead States team

Joe Mahoney University of Washington

Charles Marek Vulcan Materials Company

John Metcalf Louisiana State University

Joe Mickes Missouri Highway and Transportation Department (retired) (chairman)

Gale Page Florida DOT

Charles Potts APAC, Inc.

Douglas Rose Maryland State Highway Administration

Byron Ruth University of Florida