Mid-American State DOTs Win Awards for Transportation Projects

A host of transportation projects in Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio, and Wisconsin earned regional recognition in the 2020 America’s Transportation Awards competition that boost mobility, save lives, and improve the overall quality of life for their communities.

Patrick McKenna. Photo by Cathy Morrison/Missouri DOT

“The people who planned, engineered and built these projects deserve recognition for the positive impacts they have provided through these investments in local communities,” explained Patrick McKenna, director of the Missouri Department of Transportation and the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials 2019-2020 president, in a statement.

“Their work represents a dedication to connecting people and improving local economies while implementing creative solutions,” he said.

In the America’s Transportation Awards competition – sponsored by AASHTO, AAA, and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce – state departments of transportation compete in three categories: Quality of Life/Community Development; Best Use of Technology and Innovation; and Operations Excellence.

Photo by the Ohio DOT

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).

In the Midwest region, seven states nominated 17 projects. The top Mid-America region projects are:

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.

Those top national winners each receive $10,000 cash awards that will be donated to a charity or scholarship of their choosing.

Online voting for the People’s Choice Award began in August, with the top 12 national award winners to be announced later this year.

Related articles