A total of eight projects across five states – Alaska, California, Idaho, Texas and Washington – earned national recognition through the 2022 America’s Transportation Awards this week, and accolades for their respective departments of transportation (DOTs).
The awards are meant to recognize efforts by state DOTs and the affiliated projects that help to improve their communities, whether from operations excellence, best use of technology and innovation, or quality of life and community development. They are sponsored by AASHTO, AAA and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, and begin with a regional competition space out by size: small projects costing up to $25 million, medium costing between $25 million and $200 million, and large consisting of projects worth more than $200 million.
“State DOTs are overwhelmingly focused on innovative solutions to address the transportation issues of today and tomorrow, meeting challenges involving climate change, equity, resiliency, and safety,” Jim Tymon, executive director of the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, said. “The America’s Transportation Awards program shows just how they’re doing that. Whether on foot, in a vehicle, on two wheels, or by rail or transit, state DOTs are continuing to advance a safe, multimodal transportation system.”
The American West saw 12 states nominate 22 projects, which the sponsors narrowed down to five states and their eight winning projects. These included:
- Alaska Department of Transportation & Public Facilities — Kivalina Evacuation and School Site Access (Quality of Life/Community Development, Medium category)
- California Department of Transportation — 360 Tours (Best Use of Technology & Innovation, Small category)
- Idaho Transportation Department — Fastlane: Conquering Corridor Challenges (Operations Excellence, Small category)
- Texas Department of Transportation — US 281 North Expansion, Segment 1 (Quality of Life/Community Development, Large category)
- Texas Department of Transportation — Lowest Stemmons Project (Operations Excellence, Medium category)
- Washington State DOT — Active Transportation Plan 2020 and Beyond (Quality of Life/Community Development, Small category)
- Washington State DOT — Mukilteo Multimodal Ferry Terminal (Quality of Life/Community Development, Medium category)
- Washington State DOT — I-5 Steilacoom-DuPont Rd to Thorne Lane – Corridor Improvements (Operations Excellence, Large category)
The three highest-scoring projects from this regional list will go on to compete in a Top 12 list of projects from throughout the nation, which gain the opportunity at a Grand Prize of $10,000 each, donated to a charity of scholarship of the state DOT’s choice. They will also compete through a public voting event known as the People’s Choice Award.