Environmental considerations, as well as other aspects of sustainable development, should be a key consideration in pavement type selection, according to Gerald F. Voigt, P.E., President and CEO of the American Concrete Pavement Association.

Voigt made the remarks in formal testimony to the U.S. House of Representatives' Subcommittee on Technology & Innovation (Committee on Science and Technology), which held a hearing recently on the topic of sustainable, energy-efficient infrastructure. Voigt's remarks emphasized environmental considerations, but he also underscored the need to address other aspects of sustainability, too. ¹

The subcommittee, chaired by Rep. David Wu (D-Ore.), is examining current sustainable practices and research initiatives, while also assessing what can be done to make greater use of sustainable technology in the nation's surface transportation infrastructure, according to information supplied on the Subcommittee's website.

Voigt called for a decision framework or other mechanism to be created to both guide and enable states in incorporating sustainability into pavement specification.

"There are institutional and technical challenges that impede a more widespread use of sustainable and energy efficient pavements," he said, adding, "It is our contention that