California Construction Trucking Association (CCTA)

An industry in need of continued cooperation

Good News for our industry, AB 812 (Ma) a CalCIMA sponsored bill beginning 2014 that, “shall increase the allowable amount of recycled asphalt pavement (RAP) to 40% for hot mix asphalt mixes.” The bill passed out of committee unopposed on Jan. 9, with a 14-0 vote. Most importantly, there were 32 members at the hearing, representing 24 different companies including our own Betty Plowman that testified in support of the bill! It was a very impressive display. We believe the turnout quashed any thought of Caltrans opposition from legislators. The bill author Assembly member Pro Tem, Fiona Ma, was very thankful for the support – and she personally counted and thanked each person that testified. 

Impressively too, the turnout was from a wide array of CalCIMA membership and related industry, including producers and associates, Southern and Northern California, with connections to both concrete and asphalt. It was truly a unified industry effort. While the bill now primarily sets a 40% RAP goal, it has also been a vehicle to get Caltrans to move more rapidly on concrete recycling standards too.

Since Caltrans is no longer opposing this effort and with the strong vote from the Assembly Transportation Committee, the bill should have good momentum now as its goes through the Legislature. We will keep everyone apprised on developments.  

The other organizations testifying in support of the bill were the CA. Asphalt Pavement Assoc., AGC, SCCA, EUCA, our association, and even the State Council of Laborers.

Charley Rea from CalCIMA sent me this email message after the hearing, “Betty & Lee, thank you for your support of AB 812 yesterday. Believe me; it made a really strong statement to have so many industry supporters there. The show of solidarity gave the issue and industry a lot of credibility in front of this legislative committee. Thank you particularly for talking to Dan Logue before the vote.  He spoke in glowing terms about the bill – a first for Logue and Ma to be in support of anything together!  Thanks, again.”   

And Some More Good legislative News 

The State Route 33 truck ban bill, AB 538 (Williams), thankfully failed to get out of the Assembly Trans Committee.  The Committee’s analysis was particularly unfavorable, stating: Traffic accident data on SR 33 does not indicate that a truck-length restriction is warranted.  Consequently, it is not clear what the basis is for singling out SR 33 from the other over 2,800 miles of state highway that also cannot geometrically accommodate KPRA lengths greater than 30 feet. If the Legislature is to deem SR 33 as unsafe for KPRA lengths over 30 feet by imposing restrictions, despite the lack of supporting accident data, then shouldn't all routes deemed inadequate for longer trucks be likewise restricted?  The Williams companion bill AB 537 has not come up yet. Both NIMBY, anti-enviroment bills can expect massive opposition.