Transition Plan-Executive Summary

BACKGROUND

Superpave was one of seven technology groups under the Strategic Highway Research Program (SHRP). The States collectively spend more than $10 billion annually to pave the nations highways with hot mix asphalt (HMA). Significant improvement in HMA performance can save users both time and money. Superpave (Superior Performing Asphalt Pavements) was developed as system that gives highway engineers and contractors the tools the need to design pavements specifically for the environment and traffic loads experienced in service.

From 1993 through 1996, the States began to see the potential benefits of this research. This led the AASHTO Task Force on SHRP Implementation to continue implementation work under the Lead State Program. The purpose of the Lead State program was to share collective team member expertise on a formal basis with other States interested in taking advantage of the research.

The core of the Lead State Team for Superpave included the professional staff of states, agencies, and private industry involved in the early implementation efforts. This team included:

• DOT - New York (Team Facilitation), Utah, Maryland, Texas, Indiana, Florida
• FHWA - Maryland Division and Office of Technology Applications
• Private Industry - Koch Materials, Navajo Western Asphalt Co., Advance Testing, Mathy Construction Co., Heritage Research Group, Staker Paving, Asphalt Contractor Association of Florida, Materials Test Lab., Inc.
• Academia - University of California, Berkeley

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Since completion of the research, implementation results have been dramatic. In 1999, the States awarded more than 3,000 Superpave projects, nearly ten times more than just two years previous and representing 46% of the market share. In 2001, the Superpave share of the market is expected to exceed 80%.

The Lead States Team could not have done an accomplishment of this magnitude alone. The FHWA, through its Office of Technology Applications provided the critical and central institution needed to facilitate national implementation. Among others, these included Expert Task Groups (ETGs), the Superpave Technology Delivery Team, the Superpave Centers, Mobile Asphalt Laboratories, and the National Pooled Fund Equipment Purchase.

Unfortunately, in passing the 1998 Surface Transportation Act, Congress did not provide sufficient funding to FHWA to support the Superpave System. At the urging of the Task Force, AASHTO created a new funding and management system, now know as the TRB Superpave Committee. The TRB Committee is charged with providing advice and assistance on the conduct of the Superpave deployment and development program to both AASHTO and the FHWA. The ETGs have been reconstituted and now report to the TRB Committee.

The TRB Committee has developed a 2005 plan for the completion of Superpave implementation. The Plan addresses critical elements of the technology that still remain - understanding and specifying modified binders, identifying and implementing a simple performance tester, developing mix performance prediction models, and developing a fully operable performance-related construction specification.

TRANSITION ISSUES

While many of the institutional and funding mechanisms needed to bring Superpave to its full maturity are now in place, more remains to be done. The TRB Superpave Committee will guide the remaining work and be supported by all the historic partnering institutions. These include AASHTO, FHWA, TRB, Industry and Academia. The TRB Committee consists of approximately sixteen leaders from the States, FHWA, industry, and academia. Three ETGs report to the Committee - Mix/Aggregate, Binder, and Communications and Training.

The Lead State Team has developed a twelve-step plan that would help to maximize the Superpave investment. They include:

1. Continued support for the AASHTO SHRP Implementation Coordinator position
2. Continued support for the TRB Superpave Committee and the ETGs
3. Continued support for the predictive elements of the Superpave procedures
4. Better measurement of in-place performance of Superpave
5. Support Superpave Centers financially, possibly through pool funds
6. Outreach to DOT executive managers
7. Definitive and continuous source of Superpave information
8. Encourage Superpave Centers to become technical expertise resources.
9. Encourage FHWA to develop Superpave expertise in the Resource Centers.
10. Encourage FHWA to continue Superpave technical coordination
11. Support the new AASHTO Steering Group for Technology Deployment
12. Engage the Local Transportation Assistance Program, and other industry associations to provide Superpave implementation support through training and outreach programs.

CONCLUSION

Clearly, Superpave has become the industry standards for HMA. It is truly a complement to a unified industry that a product such as hot-mix asphalt could undergo such a dramatic change in less than seven years. The Superpave Lead States Program was a very important element of this strategy. Through the TRB Committee, the ETGs, and the Superpave Centers, the States will have a critical say in finishing the work.

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