The Association continues to work with MDOT to present training programs on CPM pavement seal treatments to the Regions on a rotating basis ever two to three years. A revised and re-formatted program was developed for the 2007-08 series and then tailored to the needs of the development and delivery staff of the particular Region.

MDOT Region and C & T staff, along with MRPA, jointly presented the seminars to the Metro, Bay, Southwest and Grand Regions. New this year was the inclusion of the MRPA contractor members in the seminars. The attendance at the four seminars was 140 MDOT staff and 32 MRPA contractor staff.

The Association has expanded its training seminars to include the engineers and other staff from the cities, counties and their consultants.

In October MRPA partnered with the County Road Association of Michigan (CRAM) on a seminar for county engineers/consultants and other staff who are responsible for the project scoping, design and/or construction of preventive maintenance treatments. There was an excellent turnout of 61 people from 28 counties plus 10 MRPA contractor members.

A new MRPA program entitled Best Construction Practices for Chip Seal in Michigan was developed by the Association this year. There were 86 superintendents, foreman, equipment operators, and others from 54 cities and counties that participated in the March seminar. Co-sponsors of the seminar were the County Road Association of Michigan, American Public Works Association-Michigan Chapter and the Michigan Municipal League.

In response to a request from the Grayling TSC the Association presented a workshop entitled Best Construction Practices for Chip Seals in Michigan to 12 MDOT delivery staff from the Grayling and Alpena TSC’s plus one of the Region construction engineers. MRPA representatives from Superior Chip Seal and Maintenance, Fahrner Asphalt Sealers and Terry Asphalt Materials participated in the workshop presentation and discussion. Our feedback from MDOT indicates that this workshop was very helpful on their 2008 chip seal and Fibermat projects

In July MRPA held its quarterly partnering meeting with MDOT C & T staff and representatives from the Region engineers and FHWA.

In August task forces of MDOT and MRPA completed revisions to the CPM pavement seal special provisions for 2009 projects, including new spec.’s for rumble strips.

MRPA has also submitted its recommendations for revisions of sections 505 through 508 of the Standard Specifications for Construction to the Department’s 2010 Spec. Book Committee.

The Michigan Construction Quality Partnership (CQP) has hired Red Vector of Tampa, Florida to serve as the administrator for the CQP program. Red Vector has been providing similar services for the Florida DOT for several years. This is a significant step forward in the development of this program.

The purpose of CQP is to improve the quality of training and certifying of all individuals, agencies and companies who are involved in the design and construction of the transportation system in Michigan.

In 2007 MDOT conducted six trial CQP projects, including one each of crack seal, chip seal and micro surfacing. There were project specific training requirements for both the MDOT and contractors staff prior to construction. The evaluations of the six projects showed significant improvement in the quality of construction.

The Construction Quality Partnership (CQP) was initiated by industry, in partnership with the Michigan Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration, County Road Association of Michigan and Michigan Municipal League in 2006. Association CQP partners are the Michigan Infrastructure and Transportation Association, Michigan Concrete Paving Association, Asphalt Paving Association of Michigan, Michigan Road Preservation Association and American Council of Engineering Companies-Michigan Chapter.