2009 Excellence in Transportation Call for Entries
Is your organization proud of a particular transportation project? Does it merit a prestigious award? If so, nominate it for an “Excellence in Transportation (EIT) Award.”
The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) is seeking nominations for 2009 EIT Awards. Now in its 23rd year, the awards honor the best transportation project across the state. The Excellence in Transportation competition is conducted annually by Caltrans to recognize excellence in transportation design, construction, traffic operations, maintenance, planning, and improvements throughout California.
Deadline for Entries: Thursday, November 13, 2008
Applications must be received by the Caltrans Awards Coordinator by 5:00 p.m. Thursday, November 13, 2008. All entries submitted by Caltrans districts and programs must be reviewed and approved for submittal by that district or program director.
Recognition and Awards:
One award will be given in each category. Award plaques will consist of one plaque for each entity identified on the entry form. A total of four entities may be identified as partners in a project. Individuals (maximum 10 certificates per project) contributing to a winning project will receive certificates of recognition. These may include other Caltrans districts, regions and programs, state, federal or local government partners, consultants, and private sector enterprises and its employees.
Eligibility:
Caltrans districts and corporate programs, local agencies and others, including their consultants and contractors, may enter any project located in California designed or constructed by that agency, firm, or person(s). The entry must be a public transportation improvement or new project completed in the last three calendar years inclusive of the current year, and presently in use. Projects submitted in previous competitions may be resubmitted if completed during the aforementioned time span. Winning projects from previous years are ineligible. A project may be entered in one category only.
Entries must consist of the following:
- Application using font size 11 or larger and not to exceed 2 pages
- Six collated sets of the entry and narrative. Please do not staple or enclose in plastic sleeves. You may paper clip each set.
- A list of persons contributing to the winner project (no more than 10).
- A total of four (landscaped) 8”x10” color photos of professional quality (no digital printouts) displaying two different views of the project – two photos of each project view. DO NOT enclose photos in plastic sleeves; DO place cardboard stays around photos to protect during mailing.
- Label each print with project title, location, award category and name of entrant. Do not print directly on photo. Use label that has been marked prior to adhering to the back of the photo.
- If using Caltrans photos, identifying data assigned by photo lab must appear on back of photos.
- Submit no more than the required number of prints. Collages of smaller pictures may be submitted in the format of 8”x10” prints.
- All materials entered become the property of Caltrans and will not be returned.
- All pictures taken by photographers other than Caltrans staff photographers must include a signed photographer’s release giving. Caltrans the right to use and reproduce the photos in any manner without exception or additional charge.
Judging:
Winning entries will be selected by an expert panel of judges. Award winners will be announced in March of the upcoming calendar year.
Send Entries to:
Awards Coordinator
California Department of Transportation
1120 N Street, Room 1200, MS 49
Sacramento, CA 95814
Categories
1. Intermodal Transportation
- Commuter/passenger rail, light rail, transit, airline, or other system-wide approach to integrated transportation
- Connectivity/interface with multiple transportation modes
- Effectiveness in reducing highway congestion
- Enhancement of the transportation system
2. The Highway-Rural
- Alignment and design
- Preservation of the environment
- Reintroduction of native vegetation
- Use of innovative materials or processes
3. The Highway-Urban
- Relationship to surroundings
- Effective congestion relief
- Safety improvements
- Enhancement of the transportation system
4. Major Structures
- Bridges, tunnels, overpasses, or interchanges, etc.
- Visual impact
- Selection of structural configuration and materials
- Innovative design or construction methods
5. The Environment
- Landscape design, environmental technology, environmental enhancement, conservation, protection/mitigation/restoration, beautification, scenic preservation or improvement, etc.
- Unique or unusual challenges resolved
- Preservation or rehabilitation of existing structures
- Native plant reintroduction
- Improvement of urban environment
- Use of recycled materials
- Conservation of natural resources
6. Transportation Related Facilities
- Traveler facilities, noise barriers, roadside rests, pedestrian and bicycle facilities, parking facilities, etc.
- Compatibility with environment
- Use of recycled materials
- Ease of construction
- Signage and graphics
7. System Operations
- Operational improvements, cost savings
- Improved transportation system performance
- Improved or innovative procedure, material or equipment
- Wide applicability
8. Safety
- Reduction in accidents/injuries
- Broad applicability
9. Historic Preservation/Cultural Enhancement
- Preservation and/or restoration of historic, archeological, natural and cultural resources, cultural/social enhancement, transportation art
- Rehabilitation and integration
- Interpretation
- Community benefits
- Community involvement
10. Maintenance – Operations or Equipment (please specify one or the other)
- Roadside management, roadway maintenance, litter reduction, stormwater quality improvement, community outreach, resource
conservation, cost reduction, safety improvement, user benefits - Unique or improved procedures
- Improved public relations
- Innovative equipment and processes
11. Context Sensitive Solutions
- Innovative and conclusive approaches that integrate and balance community, aesthetic, historic, and environmental value with transportation safety, maintenance, and performance goals
- Consistency with the “context”
- Application of design flexibility
- Responsiveness to community or resource issues
- Public involvement process
- Community/resource agency support
12. Transportation Innovations
- Crosscutting, solution driven, integrated approaches to improving mobility across California
- New and improved products, materials, procedures, and processes
- Immediate and responsive
- Practical and deployable
- State of the practice
13. Seismic
- Innovative retrofit and design techniques
- Reduce visual impact
- Cost effective methods of retrofit
- Unique or unusual challenges
14. Public Awareness Campaigns
- One-time or ongoing effort to inform public of transportation projects and programs, i.e. route closures, new construction, safety campaigns, environmental enhancement
- Need for and objective of campaign
- Target audience
- Clarity of message and theme
- Results