Caltrans Director Toks Omishakin, who recently marked two years overseeing the massive state transportation agency, sat down for a candid and wide-ranging interview with CalAPA last week in Sacramento to share his insights on Caltrans priorities, challenges and future direction.

“We’re becoming a more people-centric organization," Omishakin said in the interview, an expanded version of which will appear in an upcoming issue of California Asphalt, the official CalAPA magazine. "We are going to keep as our core focus the delivery of transportation solutions for the state, but though the lens of making sure we are focused on people. If we are going to do that, at the top of that list for people is safety, climate action and equity."

Omishakin spoke at length about the Caltrans mission, project delivery, climate change, equity issues and the the difficulty of managing during the COVID-19 pandemic, among other topics. Addressing concerns expressed by some in the construction industry that Caltrans is being pulled in too many directions and is being distracted from its core mission of maintaining and enhancing the state's transportation network, Omishakin said that is not the case.

“Some people perceive that, because we want to be more environmentally focused, more people focused, that we’re saying that there’s no longer going to be any more construction work," he said. "Far from it. There’s going to be a whole lot of construction work.”

On the subject of climate change and various efforts the Newsom administration is pursuing with a goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions, Omishakin acknowledged the important role the asphalt industry plays in that effort. Asphalt covers about 95% of paved surfaces in California, according to the Federal Highway Administration, and is the world's most recycled material. Caltrans is the largest consumer of asphalt in the state, and its specifications are influential far beyond its 500-mile freeway and highway system.

“The materials component of the industry is huge," Omishakin said. "Being able to help us there, partner with us there, will pay a lot of dividends for the state in the long run."

Omishakin acknowledged the difficulty inherent in pushing innovation and change in any large organization, but said he was committed to helping Caltrans move forward. Caltrans has an annual budget of $15 billion and more than 22,000 employees.

"Economic sectors and industries evolve," he said, "and ours is going through an evolution right now over the last few years to understand more broadly what our responsibilities are beyond just the delivery of transportation infrastructure. I think it’s a good evolution we are going through."

He said, ultimately, his department can fulfill its mission of improving transportation in California and addressing climate goals. He expressed appreciation for the collaboration between his department and the construction industry on a number of fronts, including emergency response, project delivery, and technical knowledge sharing. He cited a recent California Asphalt magazine story profiling a successful emergency response effort on Highway 1 in Big Sur as an example of a successful agency-industry collaboration. That issue can be viewed on-line HERE.

"Evolving in how we think about transportation differently is only going to enhance the quality of life for the people of this state," he said. "We appreciate the partnership from the industry."

The full interview will appear in the next issue of California Asphalt magazine, which should hit mailboxes next month. An archive of past issues of the magazine can be found HERE.

CalAPA members and agency personnel are invited to participate in a Nov. 3 informational webinar on Warm Mix Asphalt (WMA) technology, new developments and best practices. Advanced registration is required to participate. Additional information and the on-line sign-up page is HERE.

The CalAPA Los Angeles Technical Committee of industry and agency representatives is the primary host for this free webinar, which is designed to be interactive and includes ample time for questions and answers.

As the season changes from fall to winter, contractors increasingly consider the use of WMA technologies to improve cold weather construction. Contractors, Caltrans and other agencies throughout the state have used WMA to improve pavement construction for over a decade. This session will provide a comprehensive overview of the current state of WMA, the proven benefits of WMA, and how to maximize these benefits as the industry moves toward a more sustainable future.

The presenters for the webinar are Trey Wurst, Product Development Engineer, and Cameron Richardson, Technical Marketing Manager, for CalAPA member firm Ingevity. Electronic copies of their PowerPoint presentation and any other educational materials will be made available to all participants.

Tom Pyle, a familiar face to the asphalt industry from his position as chief of the Caltrans Office of Asphalt Pavement, has been promoted to the top pavement engineer position for the department, it was announced last week. His first day on the job is today (Monday, Nov. 1).

"I am pleased to announce the selection of Tom Pyle as the State Pavement Engineer, Deputy Division Chief, within the Division of Maintenance," Division of Maintenance Chief Sergio Aceves said in an internal e-mail announcement sent Oct. 26. Aceves previously served in the position before being promoted to oversee all maintenance activities for the department.

"In this role, Tom will manage the four offices that comprise the Pavement Program," Aceves wrote. "Two of these offices are Asphalt Pavement and Concrete Pavement (offices), which write specifications for their respective pavement types and partner with industry in the Pavement and Materials Partnering Committee. The other two offices, Pavement Programming and Pavement Management, are responsible for working with the districts to program pavement repair projects and maintain the pavement management system, respectively. Tom will also manage and lead improvements to pavements by working closely with the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), universities, other divisions, and the many paving industries, all of which have cutting edge and creative ideas for increasing pavement performance and life."

Pyle had previously served temporarily overseeing the office. That acting position was most recently held for most of this year by Shaila Chowdhury.

"I would also like to thank Shaila Chowdhury, who has acted in the State Pavement Engineer position for the last eight months," Aceves wrote. "Shaila has done an excellent job and her assistance and leadership is appreciated. Shaila will return to her role as Deputy Division Chief in the Division of Environmental Analysis on November 1st."

Pyle, a 1986 graduate of Sacramento State University with a degree in Civil Engineering, was hired by Caltrans into the Central Design division, helping deliver pavement projects throughout the state. In 2000, he transferred to Translab as Chief of the Office of Rigid Pavement and Structural Concrete, where his office supported construction of concrete pavements and bridges, statewide. From 2006 to 2008, he worked at CalEPA addressing sustainability improvements and greenhouse gas reduction efforts. In 2009, he transferred to the Pavement Program where his well-known passion for pavements began to take hold. For the past decade he has guest lectured at various universities on sustainability and pavements. Prior to his promotion, he managed the Office of Asphalt Pavement where he worked with the asphalt pavement team to support design and construction of the ubiquitous material.

His prominent role in a Caltrans-industry effort to completely re-write the Caltrans pavement smoothness specifications earned him recognition in 2019 from the Caltrans executive leadership and a spot on the list of Top 10 Asphalt Insider stories that same year. A story about the smoothness specification recognition is HERE. Last month he was a featured speaker at the CalAPA Fall Asphalt Pavement Conference in Sacramento, and his remarks were well-received by conference attendees.

"The Caltrans Pavement Program can only advance new technology with close partnership to paving industries and those researching new ideas," Pyle told Asphalt Insider last week. "I am looking forward to piloting pavement advancements that increase sustainability and extend service life. I’m really looking forward to work with so many inside and outside Caltrans who are passionate about pavements. There is so much to learn and even more to accomplish."

Chowdrey, although a relatively new face to the asphalt industry, nonetheless impressed in her interim stint as acting Deputy Division Chief over the pavements program and as a leader in the joint Caltrans-industry Pavement & Materials Partnering Committee (PMPC) that develops changes to specifications, test methods, construction procedures and innovations.

"I had the most rewarding experience working with the Caltrans pavement team and industry the last few months," she told Asphalt Insider last week. "We have a great team of dedicated professionals both from industry and Caltrans in PMPC and I am grateful to have had the opportunity to serve the team. I am also very glad that PMPC will be in good hands under Tom’s leadership and we will continue to make progress together."

A few spots are still available for the CalAPA Southern California Contractor Dinner Nov. 9 in Pico Rivera that includes a tribute to longtime industry legend Carlos Hernandez. Advanced registration for this member-only event is required.

The event, sponsored by the Southern California Contractors Committee, marks the return to the popular Dal Rae restaurant in Pico Rivera, home to some of the most delicious food in the Los Angeles area.

In addition to a tribute to Hernandez, a former CalAPA chairman and member of the association's Hall of Fame, the dinner will also feature a presentation by new CalAPA members Public Works Compliance Advisers, on avoiding labor difficulties while performing public works projects. Details and on-line registration for the dinner is HERE.

With the exception of golf events, this will mark the first in-person indoor event organized by the Southern California Contractor Committee since the COVID-19 pandemic arrived in California in early 2020. The event is being planned by CalAPA and the venue with all COVID-19-related safety protocols in place as required by Los Angeles County health officials. All attendees are requested to wear masks to be admitted to the event, and attendees will be asked to show proof of COVID-19 vaccination or a recent negative COVID-19 test.

For more information, please visit the event website HERE, or contact CalAPA Regional Director Bill Knopf at (442) 400-9697.

ASPHALT JOINT FILLER: An asphaltic product used for filling cracks and joints in pavement and other structures.

Each week we highlight a key point or best practice of interest to asphalt paving crews, inspectors and others working in the field. We welcome suggestions. More tips can be found in our Asphalt Parking Lot Construction Checklist HERE.

COMPACTION/DENSITY: The plans and specifications should specify how density is tested.

The inspector needs to monitor the specified compaction density with a gauge to ensure that

final target densities are achieved. Regular visual inspection of the mat during compaction is

also required: look for segregation, indentations, properly sealed joints, and under-compacted

areas.

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Sincerely,

Executive Director

California Asphalt Pavement Association (CalAPA)®