State department of transportation projects in California, Alaska, Idaho, Texas, and Washington earned regional recognition in the 2022 America’s Transportation Awards competition.
“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,” said Jim Tymon, executive director of the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, which sponsors the competition. “The America’s Transportation Awards program shows just how they’re doing that.”
The five states emerged as winners in the Western region, where 12 states nominated 22 projects.
They compete against projects of their own size: “Small” (up to $25 million), “Medium” (between $25 million and $200 million), and “Large” (more than $200 million).
Caltrans was a winner in the Small category for Best Use of Technology.
Caltrans found a new way to connect with customers on current and upcoming projects through a $250,000 public engagement tool.
During the pandemic, Caltrans strategies for engaging with internal and external stakeholders changed dramatically. With limited opportunities for face-to-face meetings, the department found it challenging to communicate its intent on numerous issues.
Caltrans’ 360 Tours addressed that problem, while taking public engagement to the next level. The agency’s interactive, web-based interface allows stakeholders to explore a construction project using virtual reality.
The system works without specialized software or skills.
Visitors to the website can “zoom in” to areas of interest and view simulations of impacts like sea-level rise on existing or future roadways. Demonstrating these things visually opens up the process for non-English speaking users, creating more equitable engagement.
The three highest-scoring projects from each regional competition earn a place on a “Top 12” list of projects that will compete for the national grand prize — selected by an independent panel of industry judges — and the People’s Choice Award, chosen by the public through online voting. Those top national winners each receive $10,000 cash awards to be donated to a charity or scholarship of the state DOT’s choosing.
The 12 finalists will be announced and online voting for the People’s Choice Award will begin in September. The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials will reveal winners for the People’s Choice Award and the grand prize in October at its annual meeting in Orlando.