As owners and operators of the nation’s surface transportation infrastructure, state departments of transportation (DOTs) are striving to design and build longer-lasting and more cost-effective asphalt pavements that meet a higher level of sustainability, safety, and user satisfaction for the public. To achieve this goal, state DOTs continue to seek and adopt innovative technologies and optimized practices for designing, constructing, and preserving asphalt pavements. These innovative technologies and practices are often developed from collaborative research efforts supported by state DOTs, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), and industry.

The Consortium for Asphalt Pavement Research and Implementation (CAPRI) is a voluntary consortium of flexible pavement stakeholders open to all state, local, and federal highway agencies, industry associations, individual companies, academic institutions, and research organizations. With the momentum that has been built over the past 4 years with the first CAPRI, stakeholders wish to continue the mission through a second solicitation of CAPRI (e.g., CAPRI-2) study. CAPRI-2 will continue to identify and address national priority research and implementation needs for asphalt pavements that state DOTs face today and will in the future. This second study will also aim to foster the development of practical innovations and practices.?

The primary objectives of the study are: (1.) to provide technical guidance on current and evolving specifications for asphalt materials; (2) to develop asphalt pavement research needs; (3.) to conduct small-scale studies to address knowledge gaps or explore new topics, and (4.) to foster the implementation of practical research findings to help improve the performance, sustainability, value, and safety of asphalt pavements. CAPRI serves as a key resource to the AASHTO Committee on Materials and Pavements, state DOTs, FHWA, and industry.

Activities related to CAPRI goals will be developed through semi-annual meetings rotated among participating organizations. CAPRI meetings serve as a forum to facilitate knowledge sharing among participants. Outcomes of CAPRI meetings include technical guidance articles on high-profile issues, and research needs statements (RNSs) that are made public through the CAPRI website.

CAPRI meetings include presentations on research of national significance and facilitated discussions to cover steps and resources needed to overcome obstacles in the way of implementation. Participation in CAPRI meetings naturally fosters technology transfer and networking among stakeholders to aid in the advancement of asphalt pavement performance and lower life cycle costs.

Forum for Stakeholder Engagement: CAPRI meetings provide a needed forum for discussion and consensus-building on issues with current asphalt-related standards. Open discussions and sharing of information facilitate the communication of concerns and potential solutions, which, with collaboration and recognized champions, help move standards and practices forward to ultimately improve pavements.

Developing Research Needs: CAPRI meetings build consensus on short-term and long-term research needs and priorities and identify the appropriate source(s) of funding for specific projects. Sources of funding may include NCHRP, FHWA, pooled fund projects supported by several state DOTs (such as the Test Track and MnROAD experiments), allied organizations (e.g. American Trucking Association), and individual companies and agencies. Some needs may be addressed with small-scale studies funded directly by CAPRI.

Small-Scale Research Studies: Selected and prioritized short-term research studies are funded through CAPRI to address gaps or missing steps in the path to implementation, gather additional information needed to assess the magnitude of perceived problems, and/or explore new technologies. This may include studies to synthesize current practices, case studies, interlaboratory studies, limited-scope laboratory experiments, or other research studies as directed by the consortium. CAPRI has established processes to select and execute small-scale research studies.

Fostering Implementation: The consortium works to facilitate the deployment of research findings through activities such as workshops, refining, and shepherding standards, demonstration project assistance, etc. A portion of the funding for CAPRI is budgeted for implementation activities selected by the consortium

As with the current CAPRI pooled-fund project, the Alabama Department of Transportation will host CAPRI-2. The National Center for Asphalt Technology (NCAT) at Auburn University manages the consortium in accordance with CAPRI bylaws, including consortium accounting, budgeting, soliciting participants, coordinating CAPRI meeting arrangements, travel reimbursements, managing the CAPRI website, preparing progress reports, and subcontracting studies and deployment activities to outside organizations.

Funding for CAPRI comes from all participating organizations and utilizes two accounting processes. Participating public agencies may utilize the Transportation Pooled Fund process by contributing the base funding of $10,000 per year. Travel for one agency representative to participate in semi-annual meetings will be reimbursed from the pooled fund account. Agencies may have additional non-voting representatives participate in the semi-annual meetings at an additional $4,000 per person per year.

Agencies may also contribute additional funds, beyond the base contribution, for other specific research, training, and implementation activities that meet their needs. These activities may be funded and overseen by an individual state or a group of states that have the same needs.

The second, parallel accounting process, managed through Auburn University, handles funds from non-agency organizations and academic institutions. Annual dues for non-public organizations are $6,000 per year. Each participating organization has a single voting representative. Travel expenses for non-public organization participants are NOT reimbursed through CAPRI.

Website for additional information: www.capriasphalt.us