The U.S. Department of Transportation recently announced the nine winners the Modernizing National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) challenge.
The challenge is part of a broader effort to make the NEPA review process easier to navigate without sacrificing the disclosure and vetting process. Each winner receives $50,000.
“The NEPA process was designed to ensure that the public has an opportunity to be informed and engaged in decisions affecting transportation projects in their communities,” Christopher Coes, assistant secretary for transportation policy, said. “We are pleased to highlight the recipients selected through this challenge that have used technology innovations to improve engagement and efficiency in the NEPA review process.”
Submissions were judged by a technical evaluation team, and winning projects include geospatial and 3D viewing features, forms for public content, interactive sites and project maps, and translation tools.
Winners including their project sponsors, where applicable, are Las Vegas for the Nevada Stewart Avenue Complete Streets Project, the Nevada Department of Transportation for the Downtown Access Project, the Metropolitan Council of Minneapolis-St. Paul for the Metro Blue Line Extension Project, the North Carolina Department of Transportation for the I-440 & Blue Ridge Road Improvements Project, and Pond & Co. with the Georgia Department of Transportation for the SR 22/Sparta Highway NE at SR 24 Intersection Project.