Low Carbon Transportation Materials Grants Resources
FHWA’s LCTM program is sharing a range of resources for interested parties as they begin to explore lower carbon materials and products and consider how they contribute to the expected outcomes of the program. Check this website periodically as updates are added.
Resource Topics
Program Implementation
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Low Embodied Carbon Materials
This technical brief provides an overview of low embodied carbon (LEC) materials, including the key components for identifying LEC materials. -
What is the EPA Interim Determination?
This technical brief provides an overview of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Interim Determination issued on December 22, 2022. -
EPA Interim Determination Informational Video
In this video, an EPA specialist provides an overview of the EPA Interim Determination issued on December 22, 2022. -
Development and Use of Embodied Carbon Benchmarks for Setting GWP Thresholds for LCTM
This guidance document provides technical considerations for two options that grant recipients can use to identify or develop global warming potential (GWP) threshold values in accordance with the EPA Interim Determination for qualifying materials and products for the LCTM Program. It also details FHWA’s engagement with industry to identify industry average information. EPA Energy Star Disclosure Fact Sheet
This technical document provides an overview of the Energy Star Performance Score required by the EPA Interim Determination issued on December 22, 2022.-
EPA Energy Star Program Informational Video
In this video, an EPA specialist provides an overview of the Energy Star Performance Score requirement from the EPA Interim Determination issued on December 22, 2022. -
Sustainable Pavements Center Cooperative Agreement (SPPCC) LCTM Program Technical Support Documents
The SPPCC has prepared the following documents to support FHWA LCTM Program eligible recipients identify eligible activities and develop grant applications. There are no program requirements for eligible recipients to use these documents.-
Goals and Co-Benefits of Implementing a Low Carbon Transportation Materials Program
This document highlights the benefits of implementing an LCTM program. -
Pathways for Implementing the Use of Low Carbon Transportation Materials
This document identifies key activities for implementing LCTM programs with a range of goals and scopes.
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Sustainability
- Sustainable Pavements - From Aspirational to Attainable Video
This video highlights the benefits of quantifying the environmental impacts of materials used in transportation infrastructure such as sustainable pavements.
- FHWA Environmental Product Declarations (EPD) Webpage
The webpage provides information such as technical documents and webinar recordings for understanding what is an EPD, how to read an EPD, and current practices for using EPDs to quantify low-carbon materials.
Concrete (and cement)
Guide for Reducing the Cradle-to-Gate Embodied Carbon Emissions of Paving Concrete This Guide is intended to help State highway agencies (SHAs) and contractors become more acquainted with strategies to specify and design concrete mixtures with lower embodied carbon emissions.
- FHWA's Portland Limestone Cement TechNote
This technote is designed to help State highway agencies (SHAs) and contractors become more acquainted with technical and background information regarding Portland limestone cement (PLC) and to promote its successful application nationwide. The document provides information regarding the history, specifications, sustainability, manufacture, engineering principles, and performance of PLC. In addition, the document presents successful case studies and best practices for implementing PLC.
- Portland-Limestone Cement after 10 Years in the Field
This reference is intended to review experience with this product over the past 10 years regarding the following: 1. Acceptance of the product by specifying agencies 2. Growth in production 3. Performance in the field
- Use of Harvested Fly Ash in Highway Infrastructure
The reference describes the characteristics of harvested coal fly ash and identify considerations for its use in highway infrastructure. The document is intended for highway agency and contractor engineers.
- Use of Recycled Concrete Aggregate in Concrete Paving Mixtures
This reference describes the use of recycled concrete aggregate (RCA) in concrete paving mixtures and identifies considerations for its use in highway infrastructure. The document is intended for highway agency and contractor engineers.
- Performance-Engineered Mixtures Final Report
This Performance-Engineered Concrete Paving Mixtures Transportation Pooled Fund—TPF-5(368)—brought newer concrete pavement technologies to state agencies and assisted states in the adoption of specifications and test methods that will help them deliver on the promise of concrete durability.
- PEM Evolution: Then and Now
This document provides the background of PEM; outlines the accomplishments, key findings, and implementation of TPF-5(368); and provides a look at what is current with PEM regarding construction practices.
- Optimized Concrete Mixture Proportioning Spreadsheet
Spreadsheet tool to help design concrete mixtures that optimize binder content.
- Sustainable Concrete Pavements A Manual of Practice
This document provides a broad background of how sustainability applies to concrete pavements. It touches on design considerations, material selection considerations, construction, and recycling that are likely specifically applicable the material systems likely to be encountered in the Low Carbon Materials Program.
Asphalt Mix
- Balanced Asphalt Mix Design: Eight Tasks for Implementation
This Technical Brief provides an overview regarding the details of BMD and implementation efforts. It was developed from virtual site visits and interviews of seven early adopter State DOTs.
- Adjustment of Asphalt Mix Design/Job Mix Formula to Satisfy Mechanical Test Properties
This Technical Brief summarizes information related to practices and suggestions being used by industry for asphalt mixture adjustments to get acceptable test results to meet Balance Mix Design (BMD) specifications set forth by agencies. This was achieved through interviews with eight individuals with vast experience on BMD. General considerations for making adjustments and for improving rutting or cracking resistance are summarized.
- Warm Mix Asphalt Technologies
Technologies are available that allow a reduction in the temperatures at which asphalt mixtures are produced and placed. These technologies have been labeled Warm Mix Asphalt (WMA)