Presentation delivered by Tom Pyle, Caltrans, and Don Mathews, Pavement Recycling Systems, at the CalAPA Fall Asphalt Pavement Conference Oct. 24-25, 2018 in Sacramento, Calif.

1. Smoothness Specifications Moving Forward
Don Matthews, PE
Pavement Recycling Systems, Inc.
Tom Pyle, PE
Caltrans

2. Why we are here…
• Smoothness is important to
Caltrans
• Continuous improvement
process
• Reduce claims
• Improve California's
pavement

3. The revised specification re-write
effort is a collaboration between
Caltrans and Industry
1. Agreed on fundamental
improvements needed
2. Agreed on concept for spec
layout and design
3. Partnered on writing of the
specification
4. Joint Industry and Caltrans
concurrent review
5. Joint resolution of comments

4. Data Driven Changes

5. Performance based
• Most projects will incentivize
paving
• Full Pay has opened up to a
wider scope
• Options for corrections
• Each 0.1 mile is managed
independently

6. Caltrans Expectations
• Maximum smoothness
improvements to every project
• Pay incentives for considerable
improvements
• Full pay is now a wider window
• There will be considerably less
pre-paving grinding and
• Pavement will achieve higher
smoothness though continuous
percent improvement of
projects
• Less claims

7. Specifications Effected and how
Section 36
• Smoothness quality control plan
• Reference points
• Verification testing of contractors
• Conflict resolution
Section 39
• Contractor runs the data
• State runs the Quality Assurance
• Opportunity driven (Discussed later)
• Incentives/Disincentives
• New Data entry sheets to mange every 0.1 mile
Section 40
• Leave outs such as tight ramps
• Considerations for inlays where the shoulder and existing pavement are rough
• Incentives and disincentives
• New Data Entry sheets to manage every 0.1 mile

8. All roads will be smoother and begin a change
towards shifting California’s roads to among the
smoothest in the country
1. The smoothness ride goals will
be continuously shifting toward
a better ride
2. Incentives will encourage
contractors to achieve better
results
3. Better planned projects will
lead to less claims

9. THE NEW ASPHALT SMOOTHNESS
SPECIFICATION
Subject to Change for Both Content and
Terminology

10. NEW CONSTRUCTION
Use the Target HMA 60 MRI Pay Adjustment Table
Target 60 Pay Adjustment
MRIseg(in/mi) Pay Adjustment/0.1 mi Corrective Action
≤ 45.00 + $900.00 None
45.01 – 55.00 + ((55.00 – MRIseg) x $90.00) None
55.01 - 65.00 Full Pay None
65.01 – 80.00 - ((MRIseg – 65.00) x $190.00) Optional
> 80.00 Not Applicable Mandatory
No Areas of Localized Roughness (ALR) Over 160
in/mi

11. COLD IN-PLACE RECYCLING (CIR)
EXISTING SPEC (NOT DISCUSSED YET)
CIR Finished Surface -
Must have MRI Below 90 in/mi
ALRs Less than 240 in/mi
HMA Overlay Finished Surface -
Use the Target HMA 60 Pay Adjustment Table
ALRs Less than 160 in/mi

12. FOR CONSTRUCTION ON EXISTING
PAVEMENT SURFACES
Based On:
Number of Smoothness Opportunities
Inertial Profile of the Existing Pavement (MRI of Each Existing
Segment)
Any Prepaving Corrections (Bid Items)

13. For An Existing Surface - How a Designer May Look At It
Below Line Should Get Smoothness Wanted
Above the Line Can Put in Bid Items for Prepaving Corrections

14. Dig Outs (Bid by Square Yard and Ton?)
or Leveling Course (Bid by Ton)
Used To Repair Severely Distressed Areas
Locations Should Be Shown on The Plan
STRUCTURAL REPAIRS

15. SURFACE PROFILING FULL WIDTH
CORRECTIONS
Diamond Grinding or Micro Mill the Entire Pavement Surface
Full Width and Not Required to Be Done in the Same Shift of Paving
Locations Shown on the Plan (Bid By Square Yard)
Should be Used in Large Areas Requiring Profile Corrections
Key: Is Considered a Full Smoothness Opportunity in All MRI Segments
Corrected

16. PREPAVING PARTIAL WIDTH CORRECTIONS
Should Be Used When a Smaller Percentage of 0.10 Mile MRI Sections Need
Correction
Bid By 0.10 Mile Segments

17. PREPAVING PARTIAL WIDTH CORRECTIONS
Corrected at Contractors Option:
• Diamond Grinding or Micro Milling Where Contractor Considers Necessary
e.g. Wheel Paths or Cold Planer/Paver Referencing Locations
• Or Maybe Contractor Can Get Final Surface By Using 3D Automatic Machine
Guidance
• Or An Alternative Proposal By Contractor and Approved by the Engineer
Key:
True Performance – Segments Corrected Must Comply with Final HMA
Smoothness Requirements i.e No Percent Improvement

18. 1) Mark the Start and End of the Paving with Semi Permanent
Reference Points (Including any Leave Outs such as Bridges)
2) Inertial Profile the Existing Asphalt Concrete Surface Before
Performing Any Work. Label as EXIST Inertial Profile Data File
3) Notify the Engineer if EXIST MRI Results Vary More Than 10 Percent
From the Prebid MRI
STEP BY STEP OF THE SPECIFICATION

19. 4) Are There Structural Repairs?
Yes –
Make The Structural Repairs and Inertial Profile Again (Label as
BASELINE Data File)
MRI0 is the lower MRI value from the EXIST and BASELINE profiles
for Each 0.1 Mile Segment
No –
Go To Next Step

20. 5) Is There Surface Profiling Full Width Segment Corrections?
Yes –
Conduct Surface Profiling in Areas Shown on Plans
Contractor Can Measure and Additionally Correct Any Areas They
Deem Necessary
Corrected Surface Does Not Need To Be Profiled
MRI0 is the EXIST Profile for Each 0.1 Mile Segment Prior to Surfacing
Profiling
Adds a Smoothness Opportunity in the Areas Corrected
No –
Go To Next Step

21. 6) Are There Prepaving Partial Width Segment Corrections?
Yes –
Contractor Completes Proposed Corrections in 0.10 Mile Segment
Contractor Can Measure and Additionally Correct Any Areas Deemed
Necessary
Corrected Surface Does Not Need To Be Profiled
MRI0 Does Not Apply
For Final HMA => 0.30’ Use Target 60 Pay Adjustment Table
For Final HMA < 0.30’ Use Target 75 Pay Adjustment Table
No –
Go To Next Step

22. A) HMA => 0.30 and MRI0 <165 in/mi
7) Determine What Pay Adjustment Table To Use
B) HMA < 0.30 and MRI0 <135 in/mi
Does Not Meet A or B Go To C – Percent Improvement
No ALR over
160 in/mi

23. 1 opportunity: MRIt = 0.3 x MRIo + 35 (or 60 MRI whichever is greater)
2 opportunities: MRIt = 0.09 x MRIo + 45.5 (or 60 MRI whichever is greater)
• Single Lift of Asphalt (Overlay)
Note: Number of opportunities is based on the maximum number
of lifts the layer can be broken into:
Maximum Nominal Aggregate Size
Lift Thickness
• Micro Milling or Cold planing Not in the Same Shift as the
Paving (Surface Profiling Full Width Segment Correction
Qualifies Here)
• Mill and Fill in the Same Shift
What is an Opportunity?
Calculate Target MRI of Finished HMA Based Upon MRI0
C) % Improvement

24. C) % Improvement
Payment adjustment
per 0.10 mile per lane
=> 0.30’
Payment adjustment per
0.10 mile per lane
< 0.30’
Corrective Grinding
PoT ≤ 75% $900.00 $450.00 May only grind ALR
75% < PoT < 90% $900.00 - ((PoT –
75.00) x $60.00
$450.00 - (PoT-75.00) x
$30.00
May only grind ALR
90% < PoT < 110% Full Pay ($0.00) Full Pay ($0.00) May only grind ALR
110% < PoT < 125% -(PoT – 110.00) x
($190.00)
-(PoT – 110.00) x
($135.00)
Corrective grinding
permitted
If MRISEG ≤ 90 in/mi and
PoT > 125%
-(PoT-110.00) x
($190.00)
-(PoT-110.00) x
($135.00)
Corrective grinding
permitted
If MRISEG > 90 in/mi and
PoT > 125%
Not Applicable Not Applicable Mandatory Correction
PoT = (MRISEG / MRIt ) x 100%
ALRmax = 2.1x MRI or 160 in/mi, Whichever is Greater

25. Example 0.10 Mill and Fill (Where Design Did Not Include Prepaving Corrections)
All 0.10 mile sections above 135 MRI Baseline – Target % Improvement
All 0.10 mile sections at or below 135 MRI Baseline – Target 75 MRI
Target MRI is 83.6 in/mi
Incentives Begin At 75.2
Disincentives Begin At 92.0

26. Open Grade Friction Course (OGFC)
On New HMA –
Essentially Make As Good or Better Than Underlying Final HMA (Where
Incentives/Disincentives Apply) Or Penalty Applies
On Milled Surface –
Mill and Fill of the OGFC – Use Target 75 Pay Adjustment Table
On Existing Surface –
Use % Improvement

27. What’s Next: NSSP, Guidelines and Training
• Post NSSPs (36, 39, 40) by Nov 2
• Guidelines have been drafted for Design and Construction. They will
be finished after the spec is complete. Target is late November
• Training will begin in early December Caltrans. CalAPA is also going to
start training very soon

28. Refine, Refine, Refine
We need data from projects!
Did you find an improvement?
Are the limits appropriate?
Are the targets working?

29. Thank you!