www.acpa.org Quarter 1, 2022 17 THE INFLUX OF FUNDING FROM THE INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENT AND JOBS ACT (IIJA) provides a predictable source and amount of funding over the next five years, enabling state agencies to better plan projects needed in their communities. At the same time, the need for resilient, sustainable pavements that are environmentally sound as well as fiscally prudent impacts planning decisions. Life cycle cost analysis and life cycle assessment methodologies allow engineers, designers, and policymakers to account for economic and environmental costs over the lifetime of a project. Innovative technologies and improvements in the manufacture of cement positions the concrete pavement industry to fit the sustainability, resiliency, and fiscal requirements that will be demanded of pavements in the future. While state and local agencies may consider environmental impacts, they have not always topped the list of factors evaluated, said Leif Wathne, P.E., ACPA’s Executive Vice President. “Cost is usually the primary factor becausemost agencies have decision frameworks driven by cost.” Other factors affecting design decisions include type and volume of traffic, familiarity with pavement material, environmental conditions, type of P A V E M E N T S U S T A I N A B I L I T Y continues on page 18 » Changing How Pavement Design Decisions Are Made Resilience and Sustainability Take Spotlight as Need for Long-Lasting Pavements Increases By Sheryl S. Jackson
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy Nzc3ODM=