State DOT 2011 Environmental Excellence Awards
5 State DOTs Win FHWA 2011 Environmental Excellence Awards
The Federal Highway Administration recently announced the winners of its 2011 Environmental Excellence Awards.
"These winning entries were selected because they build partnerships, meet environmental challenges creatively, enhance interagency coordination in ways which go beyond environmental 'business as usual,' and achieve environmental excellence," Federal Highway Administrator Victor Mendez said in a statement.
Among the winners were these projects sponsored by state departments of transportation in the following categories:
Context-Sensitive Solutions: The New York State Department of Transportation won for the New York Route 347 Project, which is projected to improve safety by lowering the speed limit, making all crosswalks more visible to drivers, and designating pedestrian and bicyclist rights of way.
Cultural and Historical Resources: The Illinois Department of Transportation won for the New Mississippi River Bridge Project, which will result in the construction of the first bridge in 40 years to connect downtown St. Louis and southwestern Illinois. Work on this bridge project exposed historic residential areas and began the one of the biggest archeological excavations along the Mississippi River.
Ecosystems, Habitat, and Wildlife: The Washington State Department of Transportation won for its Washington Connected Landscapes Project: Statewide Analysis, which will reduce time and costs of environmental permitting by identifying ways to allow for habitat connectivity in the state. The analysis used habitat and movement needs for 16 species, identified networks of high integrity, and created maps of the biggest blocks and best linkages.
Environmental Leadership: Paul Wagner of the Washington State DOT won for spending the last 20 years committed to protecting the environment, work that has assisted WSDOT to better address ecological concerns in the transportation project-delivery process.
Environmental Research: The North Carolina Department of Transportation won for its partnership with the state's Division of Water quality to create the GIS-based Wetland and Stream Predictive Models by using light detection and ranging-derived topographic data, which allows for reliable identification of wetland and stream locations, saving time and money.
Streamlining: The Washington State DOT won for its I-90 Snoqualmie Pass East Project, which navigated through many environmental challenges by collaborating with federal, state, and local organizations in how best to operate through a high-altitude mountain pass. WSDOT's efforts allowed the project to address ecological concerns from the very beginning.
Recycling and Reuse: The North Carolina DOT won for its Wilkes County Rest Area, which reduced construction waste by 91% and used recycled materials to build much of the site, including a visitors center made of 30% post-consumer recycled content. Trees that had stood on the site were turned into log benches along a nature trail, and recycling collection bins were installed at the rest area.
Wetlands, Watersheds, and Water Quality: The Delaware Department of Transportation won for its newly constructed Russell W. Peterson Urban Wildlife Refuge, which reversed environmental damage along the Christina River near Wilmington created by industrial and commercial development as well as the construction of Interstate 95. DelDOT has helped to encourage the return of native animals and plant species to that area by repairing dikes, stabalizing shorlines, and improving water circulation.
A full list of this year's award winners is available at bit.ly/fhwaenviro.
Questions regarding this article may be directed to editor@aashtojournal.org.
The Federal Highway Administration recently announced the winners of its 2011 Environmental Excellence Awards.
"These winning entries were selected because they build partnerships, meet environmental challenges creatively, enhance interagency coordination in ways which go beyond environmental 'business as usual,' and achieve environmental excellence," Federal Highway Administrator Victor Mendez said in a statement.
Among the winners were these projects sponsored by state departments of transportation in the following categories:
Context-Sensitive Solutions: The New York State Department of Transportation won for the New York Route 347 Project, which is projected to improve safety by lowering the speed limit, making all crosswalks more visible to drivers, and designating pedestrian and bicyclist rights of way.
Cultural and Historical Resources: The Illinois Department of Transportation won for the New Mississippi River Bridge Project, which will result in the construction of the first bridge in 40 years to connect downtown St. Louis and southwestern Illinois. Work on this bridge project exposed historic residential areas and began the one of the biggest archeological excavations along the Mississippi River.
Ecosystems, Habitat, and Wildlife: The Washington State Department of Transportation won for its Washington Connected Landscapes Project: Statewide Analysis, which will reduce time and costs of environmental permitting by identifying ways to allow for habitat connectivity in the state. The analysis used habitat and movement needs for 16 species, identified networks of high integrity, and created maps of the biggest blocks and best linkages.
Environmental Leadership: Paul Wagner of the Washington State DOT won for spending the last 20 years committed to protecting the environment, work that has assisted WSDOT to better address ecological concerns in the transportation project-delivery process.
Environmental Research: The North Carolina Department of Transportation won for its partnership with the state's Division of Water quality to create the GIS-based Wetland and Stream Predictive Models by using light detection and ranging-derived topographic data, which allows for reliable identification of wetland and stream locations, saving time and money.
Streamlining: The Washington State DOT won for its I-90 Snoqualmie Pass East Project, which navigated through many environmental challenges by collaborating with federal, state, and local organizations in how best to operate through a high-altitude mountain pass. WSDOT's efforts allowed the project to address ecological concerns from the very beginning.
Recycling and Reuse: The North Carolina DOT won for its Wilkes County Rest Area, which reduced construction waste by 91% and used recycled materials to build much of the site, including a visitors center made of 30% post-consumer recycled content. Trees that had stood on the site were turned into log benches along a nature trail, and recycling collection bins were installed at the rest area.
Wetlands, Watersheds, and Water Quality: The Delaware Department of Transportation won for its newly constructed Russell W. Peterson Urban Wildlife Refuge, which reversed environmental damage along the Christina River near Wilmington created by industrial and commercial development as well as the construction of Interstate 95. DelDOT has helped to encourage the return of native animals and plant species to that area by repairing dikes, stabalizing shorlines, and improving water circulation.
A full list of this year's award winners is available at bit.ly/fhwaenviro.
Questions regarding this article may be directed to editor@aashtojournal.org.
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