KINGS & QUEENS OF THE ROAD
Joint Training & Certification Program: CSU Long Beach + San José State with Caltrans
The need for a skilled workforce in road engineering and construction continues to grow with California's population. To ensure that this workforce is building highways that will stand the test of time and weather, Caltrans established the
Joint Training and Certification Program (JTCP) in partnership with CSU Long Beach and San José State, using training materials developed by CSULB's College of Engineering,
California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo and the University of Nevada, Reno.
The program provides compulsory training for technicians who sample or test road materials on any Caltrans project, as well as other industry professionals.
Since its inaugural classes in February 2018, the JTCP has certified nearly 800 Caltrans and industry personnel and continues to administer the
three-day classes at CSULB and SJSU.
"Industry professionals have been looking forward to establishing a program like this for more than 20 years," says
Shadi Saadeh, Ph.D., program manager for the JTCP and director for the National Center for Transportation, Green Technology, and Education (TransGET) at CSULB. Skilled technicians are key to building roads that will meet the highest standards for quality, durability and safety, adds Dr. Saadeh.
So what are they testing for, exactly? In order for California's highways to stand up to wear and tear, they must be made with materials that meet industry standards, from the sands, soils and gravels (known as
aggregates) to the asphalt and cement binders used in paving.
Technicians perform a variety of tests to determine the strength and moisture levels of the aggregate, whether the asphalt is binding the way it's supposed to, and the density of the paving and how it behaves at different temperatures. Correctly made roads with the right materials not only save the state money on future repairs, they prevent drivers from road condition-related accidents.
During a road construction project, both the contractor and Caltrans may test the same materials. If they come up with different results, Caltrans can stop work and more tests can be conducted. These steps can add further delay to a project and escalate costs, says Russell Snyder, executive director for the California Asphalt Pavement Association (CalAPA), a nonprofit trade association representing the asphalt pavement industry.
The JTCP seeks to reduce these types of conflicts by training Caltrans and private industry personnel together to establish consistent testing methods across California. More efficient and high-quality road construction ultimately benefits taxpayers, of course.
"The JTCP is a perfect example of a successful public-private collaboration," says Snyder. "It was a natural fit for Caltrans and the construction industry to leverage the expertise of the CSU to develop an educational program that ensures all technicians are competent and consistent, which is essential to helping maintain a modern transportation system in the most efficient and effective manner possible."