Paver Industry Courts Senator, Transportation Bill Provision

Senator David Vitter (R-LA, center) attended a permeable paver briefing and demonstration in Louisiana in support of the industry's inclusion into federal policy.

The Interlocking Concrete Pavement Institute (ICPI) and more than 30 leading concrete paver executives in Louisiana hosted a briefing and product demonstration earlier this month for U.S. Senator David Vitter (R-LA), in the shadow of upcoming legislative negotiations on a key transportation bill.

Vitter is a member of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, the committee responsible for developing the Senate's version of the Transportation Reauthorization Bill. The Senate approved the two-year, $109 billion infrastructure bill in March by a 74-22 vote, but the bill stalled in the House. A five-year, $260 billion bill from the House transportation committee never reached a House vote either, compelling Congress to approve a 90-day stopgap bill that extends funding for current road and infrastructure projects through June 30th. This is the ninth such extension since the last long-term transportation bill expired in 2009.

The House and Senate began negotiations in conference two weeks ago to consolidate House and Senate proposals into something palatable enough to earn approval from Congress and the Oval Office. ICPI hopes that bipartisan support for transportation and infrastructure funding will get the bill through before November, and sidestep any election-year grandstanding.

''ICPI hosted the event for Senator Vitter, in large part to thank the Senator for his crucial work in adding a permeable pavements provision in the Senate version of the Transportation Reauthorization Bill,'' ICPI Chairman-elect David Pitre said.

The provision in question was drafted by ICPI, and would authorize the Secretary of Transportation to conduct technology transfer programs to facilitate the use of permeable pavers and encourage their adoption by state and municipal governments. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood released a letter May 18 largely supporting the Senate bill, though there was no specific mention of the paver provision in the document.

ICPI performed a simulated ASTM surface infiltration test at the event, demonstrating the utility of permeable pavements in allowing stormwater infiltration, an especially important benefit to New Orleans and Louisiana hardscapes. ICPI also briefed the Senator on other concrete paver benefits, including their capability for rapid repairs and applications for green construction and landscaping.

Vitter pledged to do all he could to shepherd the permeable pavements provision into the final House-Senate version of the Transportation Reauthorization bill. The Louisiana event may forecast the integration of concrete permeable pavers into federal public policy.