Ty Johnson
(He/Him)
As seen in:
National Asphalt Pavement Association,
The News & Observer,
Indy Week,
The Brownsville Herald,
Harlingen Valley Morning Star,
MyRGV,
Generations Today,
Technician,
The Free Press (Kinston, NC),
Goldsboro News-Argus
Covers:
Infrastructure, transportation, planning, & policy development.
journalist chasing the 90s
Articles by Ty Johnson
NAPA, FAA extend partnership to advance airfield asphalt pavement research
NAPA and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) are extending their partnership to advance the performance, safety and durability of asphalt pavements at the nation’s airports through a new five-year cooperative agreement. Airfield pavements face demands that differ significantly from highways, including heavier loads, higher tire pressures and unique operational requirements.
Technology discussions emerge at Midyear
NAPA Midyear attendees discussed artificial intelligence, technology, and implementation during programming this week in Columbus. OpenAsphalt API: Building the Industry’s Data Standard explored lessons learned from other construction materials and Europe to reduce data duplication while increasing the usefulness of the data. Panelists in the first workshop of the event shared how a new data standard can allow for a shared rulebook across systems that can streamline quality reporting.
Dunn & won - National Asphalt Pavement Association - Microsite
NAPA presented the 2025 Ray Brown Airport Asphalt Pavement Award to Dunn Construction Co. Inc. of Birmingham, Ala., for their work on Taxiway H Connector at the Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport (BHM) in Birmingham, Ala. “Airports are vital to the nation’s infrastructure and require uncompromising precision,” said NAPA 2025 Chairman Pat Nelson.
New operational tip shows how burner tuning can cut emissions, costs
As asphalt producers face increasing demand for lower emission construction materials, operational efficiency is becoming more important than ever. NAPA’s newest Operational Tip,¬†Asphalt Mix Plants: Burner Tuning, demonstrates how a simple maintenance practice can deliver measurable environmental and financial benefits. The case study highlights how Construction Partners Inc.
T&I Committee releases BUILD America 250 Act
Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Sam Graves (R-MO) and the Committee’s Ranking Member Rick Larsen (D-WA) released a long-awaited bipartisan transportation reauthorization bill that invests in America’s roads, bridges, transit, rail transportation, and highway and motor carrier safety programs.
Exclusive Midyear sponsorship offers available
There is still time for your brand to leverage the asphalt pavement industry’s most anticipated meeting of the summer! The NAPA 2026 Midyear Meeting is set for July 14-17, but there are still exclusive, high-visibility sponsorship opportunities available: Welcome Gesture (Exclusive) Welcome meeting attendees to the Hilton Columbus Downtown as they arrive with a Hospitality sponsorship that puts your company logo on signage throughout the concourse.
NAPA endorses bipartisan bill to streamline permitting process
NAPA has endorsed bipartisan piece of legislation in Congress that would streamline project permitting, marking the association’s latest push—following recent support for the SPEED and PERMIT Acts—to advance long-overdue reforms and enable asphalt pavement producers and contractors to do what they do best: build and maintain our nation’s roads.
Spring magazine highlights NAPA Awards, enhanced safety in Echelon paving
The latest issue of NAPA Quarterly includes articles exploring the top-scoring asphalt pavement projects in the nation as well as a profile of the newest leader of the Board of Directors. Payne + Dolan’s big year winning the Sheldon G. Hayes Award and the Environmental Leadership Award. 2026 Chair Jay Lemon’s family legacy of NAPA participation looms large as he helms the same Board his father chaired.
Asphalt again leads America’s recycling effort
NAPA members once again demonstrated that sustainability is core to how the asphalt pavement industry operates. Results from the 2024 Recycled Materials and Warm Mix Usage Asphalt Industry Survey show producers reused more than 101 million tons of reclaimed asphalt pavement that year, returning over 99 percent of old asphalt to productive use; keeping asphalt America’s most recycled material.
CONEXPO education opportunities include asphalt sessions
Education sessions during the 2026 CONEXPO/CON-AGG trade show in Las Vegas will include speakers from across the construction industry as laborers, engineers, and executives all come together to learn more about best practices. There will be more than a dozen sessions devoted solely to asphalt pavements, with NAPA presenting several programs featuring staff and members.
SPEED Act passes House
The House has passed the SPEED Act, sponsored by Natural Resources Committee Chairman Bruce Westerman, with bipartisan support. The bill cleared the chamber by a 221–196 vote, with 11 Democrats joining nearly all Republicans. Despite its passage, the bill faced notable drama. Reps. Andy Harris (R-MD) and Jeff Van Drew (R-NJ) introduced an amendment that would allow a future Trump administration to block offshore wind developments.
Sales open for 2027 World of Asphalt in NOLA
This premier trade show, happening March 15-17 in New Orleans, Louisiana, will unite the asphalt, aggregates, and pavement maintenance sectors in one of America’s most vibrant cities. World of Asphalt and AGG1 will bring together professionals, thought leaders, and innovators from across the country. Attendees can expect outstanding opportunities for networking and education at the 2027 show.
Rieth-Riley partners with Strong Vets to support job-seekers
This article appears in the Fall 2025 print edition of NAPA Quarterly. Subscribe here. Born into a military family, young Michael Pitz was reminded of the opportunity to serve when his career National Guardsman father returned home at the end of each workday. “Seeing him coming home every day in uniform was my biggest inspiration,” Pitz said.
Paving for Quality: The Larry H. Lemon Award
This article appears in the Fall 2025 print edition of NAPA Quarterly. Subscribe here. Winners of NAPA’s Larry H. Lemon Quality in Construction Award earn the distinction for excellence in construction of an asphalt pavement using less than 50,000 tons of asphalt. The 2024 winners received their award during the association’s Annual Meeting. The Larry H.
AIEI webinar series starts Nov. 6
AIEI (Asphalt, Innovate, Enlighten, Implement) experts will explore upcoming changes to asphalt binder specifications in a series of webinars kicking off Nov. 6 and wrapping up the first week of December. Understanding Revisions to the PG Asphalt Binder Specification is designed for professionals seeking concise, research-based insights into upcoming changes to the Superpave Performance Graded asphalt binder specifications.
Tilcon Earns Back-to-Back Environmental Leadership Awards
At Tilcon Connecticut, a CRH company, sustainability and social responsibility aren’t a one-time achievement – they’re a way of doing business. For the second consecutive year, the company earned the Environmental Leadership Award (ELA), this time for its initiatives at its North Branford site. For Roger Simoes, Asphalt Manager and second-generation Tilcon employee, the recognition is deeply meaningful. “We’re really proud of the fact that we’ve received the award two years in a row,” Simoes said.
New EPD Feature Allows Subscribers to Easily Privatize Data
Asphalt mix producers who use NAPA’s Emerald Eco-Label (EEL) tool to publish and manage their environmental product declarations (EPDs) now have even more ways to customize who can access that data. A new EEL feature allows account owners to denote whether published EPD data is available to the public or reserved only for potential customers.
Make your IMPACT in Savannah
The best and brightest among NAPA members’ emerging leaders will gather this September in Savannah for the 2025 IMPACT Leadership Conference. Host hotel The Desoto, located just 12 miles from the Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport, will serve as the backdrop for three days of learning, networking, and growing for up-and-coming leaders from across the asphalt pavement industry. The Leadership Conference kicks off with visit to an asphalt mix plant on Monday, Sept.
National Work Zone Awareness Week kicks off Monday
Warmer temperatures mean it’s paving season across the United States, with thousands of roadside workers set to work on road projects, maybe even in your neighborhood. Each April, National Work Zone Awareness Week (NWZAW) aims to increase public awareness of work zones and the crews that count on motorists to lower their speed, obey signage, and stay focused while passing work zones.
Near-Hits & NAPA Care
AFTER A CLOSE CALL, VINCE HAFELI ISSUES A CHECK. AND A CHALLENGE. Looking back, Ajax Paving Industries of Florida’s Vince Hafeli said he just remembers how grateful he was to sit in the emergency room with his employee a few hours after the incident on Oct. 22. A similar work zone intrusion about a year earlier had claimed a life, and Hafeli was all too aware of how the consequences could have been much more than one injury.
Lindy Lands No. 6
This content first appeared in the Spring 2025 print edition of NAPA Quarterly. Subscribe here. Pennsylvania’s Interstate 90 connects Ohio and New York, running alongside Lake Erie. LINDY PAVING INC. SR 90 Section A30 In Erie County, Pennsylvania Reconstruction of seven miles of Interstate 90 in northeastern Pennsylvania. PROJECT COMPLETION DATE Sept.
Work zone safety takes center stage during T&I hearing
On Feb. 12, the House Committee on Transportation & Infrastructure (T&I) Subcommittee on Highways and Transit continued its work on the Committee’s stakeholder engagement process with a hearing titled America Builds: A Review of Programs to Address Roadway Safety.The focus of the hearing was a general review of safety related programs that have been authorized in prior legislation as well as an overview of the safety challenges ahead on America’s highway system.
Senate confirms Duffy as DOT Secretary
Sean Duffy was confirmed to be the 20th Secretary of the Department of Transportation by a 77-22 vote in the Senate on Tuesday, Jan. 28. The bipartisan support for Duffy’s nomination comes as no surprise, he has been praised by colleagues on both sides of the political aisle for his leadership during his time in Congress from 2011 to 2019 representing Wisconsin’s 7th District. During his confirmation hearing, Sen.
Celebrate America Recycles Day with asphalt
Every day is America Recycles Day for asphalt pavement. That’s because asphalt is the nation’s most recycled product. How do we know? NAPA works with the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), to quantify the use of recycling technologies through an annual survey. The full report includes state-by-state breakdowns of recycled materials usage.
Sophomore Year
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Leading By Example
NAPA Vice President for Engineering, Research, and Technology Richard Willis was in a familiar position. Not only was he back on campus at Auburn University, this time to give a keynote address as part of the National Center for Asphalt Technology (NCAT) Test Track Conference, but he was in front of a lecture hall with all eyes on him.
Perpetual Pavement Conference session to examine 23 years of research at NCAT
When it comes to Perpetual Pavements, the Test Track at Auburn University has quite the track record. The asphalt proving grounds at the National Center for Asphalt Technology (NCAT) have been operating since 2000, meaning the Test Track has been chronicling pavement performance for more than two decades.
TRB plans asphalt carbon footprint webinar for Aug. 6
The Transportation Research Board (TRB) will host a webinar on Tuesday, Aug. 6 at 1 p.m. ET that will share actionable strategies for agencies, contractors, and industry stakeholders aiming to reduce greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) for asphalt and pavement production. The webinar, Day-to-Day Practices to Reduce the Carbon Footprint of Asphalt, is sponsored by TRB’s Standing Technical Committee on Asphalt Pavement Construction and Rehabilitation.
Ajax Paving of Florida’s Hafeli to chair ACAF
Dr. Vince Hafeli, President at Ajax Paving Industries of Florida, LLC, was named Chairman of the Asphalt Contractors Association of Florida Board of Directors at the ACAF Convention in June. Hafeli is a member of the NAPA Board of Directors and serves as the Southeast Region Advisory Chair for the association.
IMPACT, Hill Day D.C. events set for September
This September, the IMPACT Leadership Group Conference, will co-locate with Hill Day, the road construction materials industry’s collective advocacy effort in Washington. IMPACT, NAPA’s premier group for emerging leaders in the asphalt pavement industry, will bring networking and thought leadership to the nation’s capital Sept. 24-25, while Hill Day takes the focus on road construction to Capitol Hill Sept. 25-26.
Duval Asphalt donates paving services to adult learning center
Duval Asphalt is committed to providing support and services to organizations in our community. Pine Castle Adult Learning Center was in great need of new asphalt in areas of its 10-acre campus. Duval Asphalt assessed the aging pavement and made the decision to donate the services to provide new, safe, smooth asphalt for the center. After the existing pavement was milled up, new base was installed and Duval Asphalt’s crews removed and replaced damaged asphalt in five areas.
NCAT set for thick lift asphalt paving webinar July 18
The National Center for Asphalt Technology (NCAT) at Auburn University will host the next installment of its “From Research to Implementation” webinar series on July 18 at 11 a.m. ET. Howard Anderson, asphalt engineer for the Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT), and Luke Peterson of Ingevity will lead the discussion on their experiences paving up to eight inches thick in a single pass and explain future uses of the technique. Admission to the webinar is free for Test Track sponsors.
On the Road to Research
Industry leaders set a goal to raise $3 million for graduate students at the National Center for Asphalt Technology (NCAT) at Auburn University. That goal led to the creation of the Road Scholars program, a collaboration between the NAPA Research and Education Foundation (NAPAREF) and NCAT that aims to support students in pavement studies as they complete their graduate programs on the way to joining the roadbuilding workforce.
T&I hearing with Buttigieg explores Highway Trust Fund alternatives, IIJA delays
Department of Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg faced a range of questions from members of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee during a June 27 hearing titled Oversight of the Department of Transportation’s Policies and Programs and Fiscal Year 2025 Budget Request.
NAPA, industry preparing for proposed heat illness standard
The Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is proposing a rule to protect workers that, if finalized, would establish the nation’s first-ever federal safety standard addressing excessive heat in the workplace. Over the past two years, NAPA has developed and distributed heat illness prevention industry guidance, including a template for companies to develop their Heat Illness Prevention Program.
CPI’s Sunbelt hosts Rep. Collins for tour of plant, job site
U.S. Rep. Mike Collins (R-Ga.) visited Construction Partners Inc.’s Auburn, Georgia asphalt plant and also stopped by a roadside job site as part of a tour of the Sunbelt Asphalt Surfaces, Inc. facilities. NAPA staff were on hand to support CPI during the congressional visit, which brought a member of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure to the company’s newest asphalt mix plant.
Supreme Court continues skepticism of federal agency authority
Decided almost a year later under different statutory interpretation, the U.S. Supreme Court again questioned the authority of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on June 28. In the most recent case, the Supreme Court overturned its own 1984 finding, called the “Chevron Doctrine,” which had allowed EPA’s interpretation of environmental statue when Congress had not directly addressed the question.
Emissions & Fuel Savings Using WMA at Reduced Asphalt Mixture Production Temperatures
As the asphalt pavement industry looks for ways to reduce the carbon footprint during mixture production, Warm Mix Asphalt (WMA) is an existing technology which can be used in conjunction with reduced asphalt mixture production temperatures to assist mix producers reach net zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2050. Although WMA is correctly viewed as a solution to the GHG emissions focus, there is limited data characterizing the reductions in emissions and fuel consumption.
NMDOT Introduces Work Zone Safety Mascot
To kick off National Work Zone Awareness Week in mid-April, the New Mexico Department of Transportation (NMDOT) introduced its newest team member: Zippy the Roadrunner. Zippy is dedicated to promoting work zone safety across the state and aims to raise awareness around work zone safety while educating drivers and sharing messages about the importance of staying safe in work zones.
Hey NAPA & the New Age of Tools
This article appears in the Summer 2024 print edition of NAPA Quarterly. Subscribe here. In the nerve center of an asphalt plant, while tons of mix are produced and shipped, a seasoned operator is ready at the controls. But this isn’t your typical day at the plant. The tool they wield isn’t a service manual or a trusted reference document — it’s Hey NAPA, an AI chatbot purpose-built for asphalt professionals.
Runway Success: Allan Myers Earns Ray Brown Airport Award
One of the oldest inland cities in the country, Lancaster, Penn., is set between Philadelphia and Harrisburg, but it’s not only the town’s proximity to major cities that makes its airport the third busiest in the state. Originally included in William Penn’s namesake woods, the town today is best known for being a main hub within Pennsylvania Dutch Country, where Amish and Mennonite families keep their community-focused traditions alive.
In The Lead - National Asphalt Pavement Association - Microsite
NAPA staff compiled answers from across its committee leadership as well as members of the National Center for Asphalt Technology (NCAT) Board of Directors for In The Lead, a NAPA Quarterly series on thought leadership. I got involved from the standpoint of we are connected to the asphalt producers and contractors with Duval. One of the objectives of ATS is to be able to help any contractor out there. So I always want to know what’s going on.
EPA Toxic Release Inventory info due July 1
EPA’s Toxic Release Inventory (TRI) information, if required at your facility, is due July 1. A cursory review of the EPA’s database indicates that less than 10 percent of all asphalt pavement mix production facilities need to submit. The majority of mix facilities either do not exceed criteria personnel employee counts or such facilities utilize greater than 50 percent of produced mix for their internal paving business.
NCAT webinar on June 20 will examine Test Track findings
The National Center for Asphalt Technology (NCAT) will host the next installment of its “From Research to Implementation” webinar series June 20. NCAT’s Nam Tran, Ben Bowers, Fan Yin, and Tom Harman will discuss findings from the 2021-2024 research cycle at the NCAT Test Track, its eighth such cycle. Admission to the webinar is free for Test Track sponsors. Others pay $25.
Submit Diamond applications by June 30 to save
NAPA’s Diamond Commendation application window is open through Nov. 15, but those who submit their applications before June 30 can save $50 on the self-assessment. The Diamond Commendation Program recognizes and celebrates excellence in asphalt plant operations, terminal operations, asphalt production, and paving. The cost to submit is $375 per application through June 30. After that, the rate increases to $425 per application.
Bhatt testifies in FHWA oversight hearing
On June 5, Federal Highway (FHWA) Administrator Shailen Bhatt testified before the U.S. Senate Committee on Environment & Public Works during a hearing on FHWA budget and oversight. Senators on the committee, which is chaired by Sen. Tom Carper (D-Del.), asked Bhatt a range of questions during the two-hour hearing.
Act now to secure your spot at Midyear in Brooklyn
The NAPA 2024 Midyear Meeting will take place July 21-24 at the New York Marriott at the Brooklyn Bridge. Professionals from across the asphalt pavement industry will gather in NYC for networking, educational sessions, and committee meetings where participants will plan the industry’s future, but the NAPA hotel room block is expected to sell out, so those interested in attending are encouraged to make their reservations before June 21.
NAPA to host June 19 webinar on airfield asphalt binder
The Airport Asphalt Pavement Technology Program (AAPTP) commissioned a project to develop additional guidance on binder grade selection and the development of a tool to aid practitioners and those results will be presented in a June 19 webinar. The webinar, Guidance for Asphalt Binder Grade Selection at Airfields, will also launch a new tool for airfield asphalt binder selection.
Warm-mix webinar set for June 14
NAPA subject matter experts will discuss the results of a 2022 survey on warm-mix asphalt in a June 14 webinar, Survey Findings: Use of Warm-Mix Asphalt & Barriers to Widespread Adoption. NAPA’s Director of Pavement Engineering & Innovation Jean-Paul Fort & Director of Pavement Engineering & Technical Support Brett Williams will lead the 90-minute webinar, which is set to begin at 12:30 p.m. ET.
Recycled materials webinar set for June 13
NAPA speakers will present findings from the 13th Annual Asphalt Pavement Industry Survey on Recycled Asphalt Materials, focusing on reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP) and reclaimed asphalt shingles (RAS) use in the 2022 construction season during a June 13 webinar. NAPA’s Director of Pavement Engineering & Innovation Jean-Paul Fort & Director of Pavement Engineering & Technical Support Brett Williams will lead the 90-minute webinar set to begin at 12:30 p.m. ET.
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