Publication Number: FHWA-SA-96-017
Date: June/July 1996

AASHTO Endorses Superpave Centers

At its April meeting in San Antonio, the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) passed a resolution encouraging its member States to support the Superpave regional centers. The resolution was initiated by the AASHTO Task Force on SHRP Implementation and was passed by the Standing Committee on Highways.

The resolution reads (in part) as follows:

...

Whereas, the AASHTO Task Force on SHRP Implementation believes it is essential that the States assume ownership of and participate in the center in their respective region,

Whereas, each Superpave center's steering committee will establish the operating budget for the center and determine the level of funding support needed from each State participating in the center, and

Whereas, FHWA has determined that the support of the regional Superpave centers is in the national interest and represents a national priority and has authorized the States to use 100 percent State planning and research funds to participate in funding the operational budget of their respective Superpave center,

Now therefore be it resolved that the AASHTO Standing Committee on Highways supports and encourages each State to participate in their regional Superpave center through funding support, through participating in the oversight of the center's operations, and through supplying loaned staff in order for this nation's highways in every region to benefit from the maximum possible advancement of the Superpave system.

The five regional Superpave centers are located in Alabama, Indiana, Nevada, Pennsylvania, and Texas. Their responsibilities include conducting ruggedness testing on the Superpave protocols and providing training in their application.

"Each Superpave center is challenged to explore and build on the existing knowledge base," says Bob Templeton, chairperson of the Task Force on SHRP Implementation and assistant executive director for the Texas Department of Transportation's field operations. "By proving or improving the test procedures and performance prediction analyses developed under SHRP, the Superpave centers have an opportunity to substantially advance the state of the art of asphalt paving.

"These advancements will lead to significant reductions in maintenance and construction costs. That, in turn, will lead to more efficient use of highway budgets, fewer traffic interruptions caused by maintenance and construction work, and less exposure of travelers and crews to work zone risks. It's a true win for everybody."

For more information, contact Haleem Tahir at 301-975-6704 (301-330-1956).

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