WASHINGTON— Transportation projects in Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia earned regional recognition in the America’s Transportation Awards for utilizing groundbreaking technology, making communities safer, and expanding transportation options to surrounding communities.

“The people who planned, engineered and built these projects deserve recognition for the positive impacts they have provided through these investments in local communities,” said Patrick McKenna, director of the Missouri Department of Transportation and the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials 2019-2020 president. “Their work represents a dedication to connecting people and improving local economies while implementing creative solutions.”

In the America’s Transportation Awards competition sponsored by AASHTO, AAA, and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, state DOTs compete in three categories: Quality of Life/Community Development; Best Use of Technology and Innovation; and Operations Excellence. Each category is also designated by budget size: small (less than $25 million), medium ($25 million to $200 million), and large (more than $200 million). Projects are judged within their region.

In the Southern region, seven states nominated 17 projects. The top Southern region projects are:

Georgia Department of Transportation — Columbus Riverwalk (Quality of Life/Community Development – Small category)

North Carolina Department of Transportation —Surf City Bridge Replacement (Quality of Life/Community Development – Medium category)

Virginia Department of Transportation— I-81 Corridor Operations Expansion Program—2019 Activities (Operations Excellence – Small category)

Florida Department of Transportation— S.R. 82 Widening Project (Operations Excellence – Medium category)

South Carolina Department of Transportation—Interstate 85/385 Gateway (Operations Excellence – Large category)

North Carolina Department of Transportation— Drones: North Carolina’s Future of Healthcare Logistics (Best Use of Technology & Innovation – Small category)

Florida Department of Transportation — SunTrax Phase 1 (Best Use of Technology & Innovation – Medium category)

North Carolina Department of Transportation — Marc Basnight Bridge/Herbert C. Bonner Bridge Replacement (Best Use of Technology & Innovation – Large category)

More on the America’s Transportation Awards categories:

• Community Development/Quality of Life – Recognizes projects that provide significant benefits to the communities in which they are located, especially in the form of economic growth and the well-being of citizens;
• Best Use of Technology – Recognizes the use new technology and/or creative solutions implemented by a state DOT
• Operations Excellence – Recognizes projects that deliver a more reliable, well-functioning, and/or safer transportation system through operational solutions

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 general public through online voting. These 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 August. National award winners will be announced later this year. Visit https://americastransportationawards.org/ to learn more about this year’s nominees and to view the awards presentation.