(a) Except as provided in subdivision (d), the Department of Transportation shall require the use of crumb rubber in lieu of other materials at the following levels for state highway construction or repair projects that use asphalt as a construction material:

1. (1) On and after January 1, 2007, the Department of Transportation shall use, on an annual average, not less than 6.62 pounds of CRM per metric ton of the total amount of asphalt paving materials used.
2. (2) On and after January 1, 2010, the Department of Transportation shall use, on an annual average, not less than 8.27 pounds of CRM per metric ton of the total amount of asphalt paving materials used.
3. (3) On and after January 1, 2013, the Department of Transportation shall use, on an annual average, not less than 11.58 pounds of CRM per metric ton of the total amount of asphalt paving materials used.

(b)

1. (1) The annual average use of crumb rubber required in subdivision (a) shall be achieved on a statewide basis and shall not require the use of asphalt containing crumb rubber in each individual project or in a place where it is not feasible to use that material.
2. (2) On and after January 1, 2007, and before January 1, 2015, not less than 50 percent of the asphalt pavement used to comply with the requirements of subdivision (a) shall be rubberized asphalt concrete.
3. (3) On and after January 1, 2015, the Department of Transportation may use any material meeting the definition of asphalt containing crumb rubber, with respect to product type or specification, to comply with the requirements of subdivision (a).

(c)

1. (1) The Secretary of the Transportation Agency shall, on or before January 1 of each year, prepare an analysis comparing the cost differential between asphalt containing crumb rubber and conventional asphalt. The analysis shall include the cost of the quantity of asphalt product needed per lane mile paved and, at a minimum, shall include all of the following:

   1. (A) The lifespan and duration of the asphalt materials.
   2. (B) The maintenance cost of the asphalt materials and other potential cost savings to the department, including, but not limited to, reduced soundwall construction costs resulting from noise reduction qualities of rubberized asphalt concrete.
   3. (C) The difference between each type or specification of asphalt containing crumb rubber, considering the cost-effectiveness of each type or specification separately in comparison to the cost-effectiveness of conventional asphalt paving materials.
2. (2) Notwithstanding subdivision (a), if, after completing the analysis required by paragraph (1), the secretary determines that the cost of asphalt containing crumb rubber exceeds the cost of conventional asphalt, the Department of Transportation shall continue to meet the requirement specified in paragraph (1) of subdivision (a), and shall not implement the requirement specified in paragraph (2) of subdivision (a). If the secretary determines, pursuant to an analysis prepared pursuant to paragraph (1), that the cost of asphalt containing crumb rubber does not exceed the cost of conventional asphalt, the Department of Transportation shall implement paragraph (2) of subdivision (a) within one year of that determination, but not before January 1, 2010.
3. (3) Notwithstanding subdivision (a), if the Department of Transportation delays the implementation of paragraph (2) of subdivision (a), the Department of Transportation shall not implement the requirement of paragraph (3) of subdivision (a) until three years after the date the department implements paragraph (2) of subdivision (a).

(g) For purposes of this section the following definitions shall apply:

1. (1) “Asphalt containing crumb rubber” means any asphalt pavement construction, rehabilitation, or maintenance material that contains reclaimed tire rubber and that is specified for use by the Department of Transportation.
2. (2) “Crumb rubber” or “CRM” has the same meaning as defined in Section 42801.7.
3. (3) “Rubberized asphalt concrete” or “RAC” means a paving material that uses an asphalt rubber binder containing an amount of reclaimed tire rubber that is 15 percent or more by weight of the total blend, and that meets other specifications for both the physical properties of asphalt rubber and the application of asphalt rubber, as defined in the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) Standard Specification for Asphalt-Rubber Binder.