Bill Would Nearly Double Federal Gasoline Tax

Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-Ore.) is introducing legislation that would nearly double the 18.4-cents-per-gallon federal gas tax that is traditionally used to pay for federal transportation projects. 

Blumenauer's bill would increase the gas tax by 15 cents, matching a proposal that was included in the 2011 Simpson-Bowles budget reform recommendations. 

The legislation would result in drivers paying an extra 33.4 cents per gallon on their purchases, in addition to state taxes. 

Transportation advocates have pushed for a gas tax increase to close an approximately $20 billion shortfall in infrastructure funding that has developed as cars have grown more fuel efficient.

The current tax of 18.4 cents per gallon brings in about $35 billion per year. The last transportation bill that was passed by Congress included approximately $54 billion in funding per year, which transportation advocates said was barely enough to cover the repair needs of the current U.S. infrastructure system. 

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November UAPA Newsletter Executive Director's Message

Happy Thanksgiving!  Along with Joe, I want to thank all of you for making UAPA so great.  If I may, however, I want to jump the gun a bit and look ahead to next year to alert you to a few things that will continue to make the association that much better moving forward into 2014.

After a lot of work this summer by a dues structure task group, and with approval from our board, there will be some changes to the dues structure for the association.  UAPA’s year, for ease in accounting, etc., will now move to match the actual calendar year that we are in – whereas before UAPA ran from April to April each year, the association will now operate within the calendar year from January to December.  This will allow our members, where beneficial, to pay renewal dues at the end of the current year for membership in the upcoming year.  Concurrently, the proration of dues for joining UAPA during the year will also change to match this move.  There will also be a slight increase in dues for members to help match the needs and demands of our growing association and its commitments.  As the Charter Agreement for the association expires, these changes, taken as a collective, should help to place our organization on the firm footing it needs to move forward for the foreseeable future.

As the Charter Agreement expires, elections will also take place to elect the next Board of Directors for UAPA.  These elections will take place in January and allow us to install new officers at the first ever Annual Meeting for the Utah Asphalt Pavement Association, which will be held in conjunction with the Utah Asphalt Conference in February.  While at that same meeting, we will review the accomplishments of the association over the past year and present our shared vision for the association over the year to come – I hope you will join us there! 

Change can be difficult, but I am personally looking forward to all the good things that will be happening for UAPA in 2014.  Our work is certainly not done, so please feel free to reach out to me (reed@utahasphalt.org) if you have an interest in serving in any capacity either on the board or as a chair/member on one of our committees.  Change is coming to UAPA, but with the strength of our members and the support of our industry, 2014 will be a great year for this association!

                                                                        -W. Reed Ryan

                                                                        Executive Director

                                                                        The Utah Asphalt Pavement Association  

November UAPA Newsletter President's Message

HAPPY THANKSGIVING FROM UAPA!

With the Thanksgiving season upon us during the month of November, I just want to take a moment to thank all of the people that make UAPA what it is today.  We have come a long way in just two short years!  We are now close to fifty members strong and roughly represent over seventy-five percent of the asphalt pavement industry in Utah. 

As we give thanks this week, UAPA has much to be grateful for even as greater challenges lie ahead.  I am confident that this association will meet those challenges head on and even exceed our own expectations in the coming year.  As you will read in the message from our Executive Director, there are changes on the horizon for UAPA.  A lot of thought and work has been done to make those changes a reality.  More work will be required to ensure the success of this organization.  I encourage you to get involved in any way that you can.  There is committee work to be done, a major conference to plan, and we are moving forward to the construction season that now awaits us in 2014.

Above all, however, please know how grateful our Board and our Executive Committee are for the work that has already been done.  We are the first state asphalt pavement association to be organized, founded, and now fully operational in over twenty-five years!  That alone says something about the great state, community, and industry within which we all work.  Thank you for helping UAPA become a reality.  I look forward to working with you in 2014 and seeing you at the Utah Asphalt Conference in February.

-Joe Johnson

Kilgore Companies

UAPA President