NCPP began as a collective vision of nationally recognized practitioners, policymakers and the beneficiaries of sound pavement management practices. With the completion of the interstate system and the states' major road networks, a common desire arose among American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) , the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and the Foundation for Pavement Preservation (FP² to advance the knowledge, technology and practices of cost effectively preserving pavement networks in good condition.

Most governmental agencies recognize the importance of preserving the enormous investment ($1.75 trillion) to construct the nation's highways. NCPP was established to foster and sustain a national advocacy for pavement preservation at the state and local levels. A national focus will better assure essential federal and state funding is available for this effort, the costs of which are estimated to be very high. In September 2002, AASHTO published a report which assessed the funding needs for the nation's highways from 2004 to 2009. The report stated that the annual cost over that five year period will be $92 billion to just maintain the status quo, while $125 billion will be required to achieve significant improvement. Between 1999 and 2000, the combined highway expenditures for all purposes at all levels of government, increased a remarkable 71% from $75 billion to $128 billion. But, of the $128 billion, $64.6 billion was for capital improvement, leaving a considerable shortfall for preservation needs.

Past national funding legislation, via Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act (ISTEA) and Transportation Efficiency Act - 21st century (TEA-21), permitted a major policy change by allowing the use of federal-aid for preservation through preventive maintenance treatments. This authorization has provided the financial inducement for several states to initiate proactive approaches to preservation by treating pavements in good and fair condition to prolong their lives and defer the need for expensive major rehabilitation or reconstruction.

Pavement preservation is the application of engineering and fiscal management using cost-effective treatments and existing funds to control the future condition of pavement networks. Pavement preservation concepts stretch the period of life a pavement remains in serviceable condition for the traveling public. The benefit is an improved and stable condition level at a lower unit cost per lane mile.

Established in July 2003, the National Center for Pavement Preservation is a quasi-government entity affiliated with Michigan State University (MSU). The Foundation for Pavement Preservation and MSU agreed to establish the NCPP after start-up funding was secured (see sponsors).

The decision to form a national Center has had the resounding support and endorsement of AASHTO, which annually has passed three policy support resolutions. AASHTO considers the principles of pavement preservation as the key means toward improving the nation's highways at minimal cost with NCPP taking a leadership role in the effort.