California Pavement Preservation Center

(530) 898-5981

The State of California, Department of Transportation (Caltrans) established the California Pavement Preservation Center at California State University, Chico in July 2006 and fully funded the Center in January 2007. Dr. Hicks, came on board in February 2007 as the Technical Director. In January 2009 Dr. Hicks stepped down and Dr. Mary Stroup-Gardiner was hired as the Technical Director. She stepped down as Director on December 2009. Dr. DingXin Cheng is now Director of the Pavement Preservation Center.

The purpose of the Center is to provide pavement preservation services to public agencies and industry. Unique services include developing educational programs in pavement preservation, providing training and staff development opportunities, providing needed technical assistance to public agencies and industry, and managing/conducting research and outreach assistance.

The Center cooperates and enhances the proposed four-year Bachelor of Science degree in Concrete Industry Management that is offered by the College of Engineering, Computer Science, and Construction Management.  Laboratory facilities and technical services are shared.

The Center works closely with the Pavement Preservation Task Group (PPTG), a statewide volunteer group consisting of members from Caltrans, Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), industry, various public agencies and academia to help promote pavement cost-effective preservation. The PPTG is a partnering platform that includes all the organizations involved in pavement preservation in California.

CP2 CENTER PATRONS

Western Emulsions, Inc.

Telfer Companies

Colas

PMI Technology

MeadWestvaco

Pavement Recycling Systems

Paramount Petroleum

GraniteRock

Knife River Inc

CP2 CENTER SPONSORS

American Public Works Association - Northern California Chapter

Telfer Companies

Asphalt Interlayer Association

Climate Action Leader

MISSION STATEMENT

To serve as a leader in a partnered effort between government, industry and academia participants to advance and improve pavement preservation practices through education, innovation, applied and practical research, technology transfer, and implementation.  This includes developing and advancing innovative approaches to pavement preservation.

Specific objectives of the Center include:

• Serve as a technical resource for pavement preservation activities within the State of California
• Educate others about the benefits of pavement preservation in partnership with public agencies and industry. This would involve educational programs at the California State University, Chico as well as distance learning opportunities
• Enhance pavement preservation knowledge through research and training
• Advise and assist others in establishing a pavement preservation program

CENTER HISTORY

One of the stated goals of the Caltrans Pavement Program Steering Committee (PPSC) for 2006 was to establish a pavement preservation center. This center addresses critical pavement preservation issues, as well as asset and pavement management needs. There is an essential need to focus on pavement preservation to preserve the existing highway infrastructure and to proactively increase its longevity, serviceability and safety. The Center addresses the goals of preservation, safety, service and innovation. It provides essential guidance to the Department and the Division of Maintenance to support the goals of Caltrans 5-Year Maintenance Plan as required by Senate Bill (SB) 1098. This is in line with the Program Level-Action Plan (PLAP) strategic goals. The needed assistance includes providing technical bases for the use of appropriate pavement preservation strategies that can result in extending pavement life (SHOPP avoidance), and in determining the optimum timing and efficiency of strategies, as well as provide effective cost control methods and sound asset management. The Center promotes partnerships and strengthens the Department's goals in pursing ways to enhance safety and stewardship.

Caltrans officially announced the opening of the California Pavement Preservation Center to be located at California State University, Chico at the Annual Meeting of AEMA-ISSA-ARRA in Palm Springs in February 2006. Caltrans stated that the Center is able to provide unique help for those in need of related pavement preservation services by offering 1) expertise and exposure to national and international knowledge, 2) fast-track technology transfer, training and deployment of pavement preservation innovations, 3) timely solutions to pavement preservation issues, 4) solutions to overcome agency challenges and business practices, 5) solid working relationships and partnerships with industry, academia and other public agencies, and 6) credible technical advice and consultations on pavement preservation issues.

The major benefits for a pavement preservation center are as follows:

 

• Provides readily accessible expertise and knowledge to provide timely solutions in line with the Caltrans 5-Year Maintenance Plan
• Acts as credible third party
• Promotes the deployment of innovation and technology transfer - thinking "outside the box"
• Streamlines the contracting and the business practices for pavement preservation guidance
• Enhances safety by promoting proper and durable strategies that result in a decreased exposure to traffic by workers, and less hazards to the motorist public
• Increases efficiency with the use of the proper timing of strategies and quantifying performance and cost of pavement preservation strategies for "SHOPP cost avoidance"
• Acts as a persistent advocate for the goals of preservation, innovation, safety and serviceability
• Provides measurable accomplishments
• Acts as a good steward of resources - works with partners

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Innovation Database Web Site

The First International Conference on Pavement Preservation

PPTG Home Page

The conference was held on April 3-5, 2010. All presentations are available on the conference website.

Rock Products Committee

California Pavement Preservation Centers

Cal Poly Pomona

California State University, Long Beach

Memorandums of Understanding have been signed with CSU Long Beach and Cal Poly Pomona for their participation as satellite center locations in Southern California. CSU Chico, CSU Long Beach, and Cal Poly Pomona have a number of mutual research interests and academic objectives in the area of pavement preservation. Their cooperative collaboration will provide a wider range of benefits and areas of expertise that will be mutually beneficial in meeting the overall Center objectives goals.