Three Florida transportation agencies were jointly awarded the 2019 Toll Excellence Award for Social Responsibility by the International Bridge, Tunnel and Turnpike Association (IBTTA).
The agencies – the Central Florida Expressway Authority, Florida Department of Transportation, and Florida’s Turnpike Enterprise – were honored for their work helping to protect the wildlife and other natural resources surrounding the Wekiva River during the construction of the 25-mile Wekiva Parkway. The Wekiva River is a National Wild and Scenic River and Outstanding Florida Waterway.
“Central Florida Expressway Authority, Florida Department of Transportation – District Five and Florida’s Turnpike Enterprise have been selected for their work together on the development and construction of the $1.6 billion Wekiva Parkway, helping to alleviate congestion, handle increased traffic volumes – while protecting the area’s wildlife and natural resources,” Patrick Jones, executive director and CEO of IBTTA, said. “Each award winner has taken on a tough transportation challenge and worked with partners to find a practical solution. We’re incredibly proud of the work they’ve done to represent our industry. On behalf of the transportation community, we congratulate these three Florida transportation agencies on this well-deserved recognition.”
The 2019 Toll Excellence Awards will be presented during IBTTA’s 87th Annual Meeting and Exhibition in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Sept. 15-17.
“The Wekiva Parkway has always been about so much more than just finishing Central Florida’s beltway. Everyone from the community, the environmentalists and our regional leaders were adamant that this major transportation initiative had to be done in a way that helped protect the environment. And the thousands of citizens we heard from made it abundantly clear the expressway needed to have that “parkway feel” – to blend in with the rural surroundings. The agency partners were dedicated in making this happen – and this award reinforces that accomplishment,” Laura Kelley, executive director at the Central Florida Expressway Authority (CFX), said.
The $1.6 billion Wekiva River project is the first all-electronic tolling corridor in Central Florida, meaning there are no cash booths. CFX and FDOT bought 3,400 acres of conservation land that was previously slated for development, built 1.5 miles of wildlife bridges to replace two small tunnels, elevated the parkway to reduce vehicle collisions with wildlife, and limited the number of interchanges in the environmentally sensitive area.
IBTTA’s Toll Excellence Awards highlight the best projects, innovations, and solutions from the international tolling industry.