Hot Mix Asphalt Technology - March/April 2008 - (Page 9)

CHAIRMAN’S COMMENTARY T he dues that NAPA members pay are an investment. The return on that investment may be hard to calculate in terms of dollars, but nevertheless it is very real. If I were to put on my hat as an investor and do the due diligence, my first question would be, “What are the biggest risks and issues for NAPA?” I would also ask, “What is NAPA doing to address those risks?” As NAPA’s 2008 Chairman, I believe I am in a good position to answer those questions. First and foremost among the risks is infrastructure funding. Funding is the lifeblood of the hotmix industry, and there are signiﬁcant challenges. The nation has neither a clear vision for infrastructure nor the political will to fund current needs. While highways, streets, and roads are of primary importance to our industry, there needs to be a focus on total transportation infrastructure investment for the next decade and beyond. America’s airports are at capacity, railroads are inefﬁcient and have massive investment needs, ports are jammed with cargo sitting interminably, and we all know about trafﬁc jams in urban areas. Some studies indicate total transportation gridlock by the year 2020. We need a short-term 2020 infrastructure vision as well as a long-term vision for 2050. Direct involvement needed All politics are local. Direct involvement by owners and employees will be vital in the upcoming reauthorization of the highway bill. To help its members become citizenlobbyists, NAPA sponsors events such as the upcoming Legislative Fly-In, May 20-21 in Washington, D.C. NAPA also has two new publi- cations, Roadmap to Reauthorization and A New Transportation Commitment for America. As NAPA Chairman, I ask that every member of NAPA begin a grassroots effort to effectively lobby for passage of this act. Lending urgency to our quest is an anticipated shortfall of about $5 billion in the last year of the SAFETEA-LU legislation. Another potential risk to the industry is the cost and availability of liquid asphalt. NAPA is addressing this issue in a very practical way. NAPA’s vision is that the greatest potential for long-term cost containment is increasing the percentage of recycled material in pavement mixes. The association has an ambitious program of education and advocacy to further this strategy. Asphalt is already America’s most recycled product; NAPA stands for maximizing the way the reclaimed material is used so that we are realizing all the cost savings that we can. In addition, NAPA has spearheaded many technological developments to beneﬁt the industry. One example is warm-mix asphalt. There is a potentially enormous return on a small investment here. NAPA recently developed a best practices guide and created a Warm-Mix Asphalt Forum for suppliers and producer-contractors. This Forum will gather at NAPA’s Midyear Meeting in Colorado Springs, July 27-30. Also, FHWA and NAPA will be sponsoring an International Conference on Warm-Mix Asphalt in Nashville, November 11-13. For an association to provide a solid return on investment for its members, it must show leadership and vision. It also must be a powerful engine for communication and education. As an investor/member, I By Mac Badgett NAPA: A Solid Investment believe that NAPA provides a tremendous rate of return on investment, and I look forward to serving as Chairman for the coming year. HMAT Mac Badgett is the Sr. Vice President of Construction Materials Group for Vulcan Materials Company in Birmingham, Ala. He is the 2008 Chairman of the National Asphalt Pavement Association. Hot Mix Asphalt Technology – MARCH/APRIL 2008 • 9

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Hot Mix Asphalt Technology - March/April 2008

Hot Mix Asphalt Technology - March/April 2008 Contents Chairman’s Commentary Industry News Top-notch Teams Overcome Obstacles to Build the Nation’s Finest Roads Ecological Award Winners: Environmentally Sound, Neighbor Friendly Safety Award Winners: Rewards, Reminders and Technology Roadway Safety Program Trains Workers Preventing Back-overs Is Serious Business Driving Through Work Zones: Be Careful! San Diego Uses Porous Asphalt Lots for Stormwater Management Legislative Messages Tools for the Trade Calendar of Events Index of Advertisers Advertiser.com NAPA Roadmap to CONEXPO-CON/AGG

Hot Mix Asphalt Technology - March/April 2008

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