Caltrans > Landscape Architecture > Awards and Recognition

Landscape Architecture Awards and Recognition

Welcome to the Landscape Architecture Program's Awards and Recognition home page. The intent of this site is to share with Caltrans and community partners the diversity of good work performed by Caltrans Landscape Architecture professionals statewide. This site highlights awards, publications, and other notable recognition of the exemplary work by Caltrans District Landscape Architects, Landscape Associates, and Landscape Technicians.

For information on how to apply for awards programs or get an article published, contact your HQ Landscape Architecture Program District Coordinator.

2011 FHWA Exemplary Human Environment Initiatives (EHEI)

The District 6 Landscape Architecture office won the national award in the Exemplary Ecosystems Initiatives category for the Madera Pools Restoration and Mitigation project. Recipients include the District Landscape Architect Elbert Cox, and Landscape Associates Michael Mills and Sherry Alexander. Click here to view detailed information on the Madera Pools project.


2011 FHWA EHEI award winning Madera Vernal Pools Restoration and Mitigation Project.	Sharri Bender Ehlert, District 6 Acting Director (center), with Vincent Mammano, FHWA California Division Administrator and Acting Caltrans Director Malcolm Dougherty accept the FHWA EHEI award on behalf of Elbert Cox, District Landscape Architect.

2011 Caltrans Excellence in Transportation (EIT) Awards

District 5 Landscape Architecture won two statewide EIT awards this year. First, the South Street Corridor Rehabilitation "Road Diet" won the Context Sensitive Solutions category. The project Landscape Architect was Katherine Brown. This project serves as an excellent example of the collaborative effort put forth by the surrounding neighborhood, the local San Luis Obispo agencies, and Caltrans. The result was a context sensitive project that successfully meets the needs of pedestrians, bicyclists, and motorists along this corridor. Along with other improvements, this project featured a "road diet" along South Street. A road diet is a transportation planning technique where the number of travel lanes are reduced to achieve systematic improvements that enhance overall community livability. Other District Landscape Architects involved with this project included Peter New, Pete Riegelhuth, and Jo Jackson.

South Street Road Diet Awards

A second project in District 5, the Camp Roberts Safety Roadside Rest Area, won the Transportation Related Facility category. Corby Kilmer was the Project Landscape Architect. Other District Landscape Architecture staff involved include Jo Jackson, Scott Dowlan, Linda Baker, Pat Bolger, Peter New, Tim Richards, Joseph Arnold, and Pete Riegelhuth.

Camp Roberts Safety Roadside Rest Area

For more information on the Excellence in Transportation Awards Program, please visit http://www.dot.ca.gov/awards/winners/11winners.htm

2010 California Transportation Foundation (CTF) Award Finalists

CTF Logo Small

The CTF announced the 22nd Annual CTF Transportation Awards Winners and Finalists for transportation excellence in 2010. "The Transportation Awards jury, made up of public and private sector transportation professionals, enjoyed reviewing the tremendous nominations this year," said Sarah West, CTF Executive Director. "Our selections represent the best of the projects, programs and people who made a positive difference for California transportation in 2010."

Boron Safety Roadside Rest Area

The Central Region Landscape Architecture offices project Boron Safety Roadside Rest Area was selected as a finalist in the Pedestrian/Bicycle Project of the Year category. Landscape Architecture staff involved in the project include District 6 Landscape Architect Elbert Cox and Landscape Associates R. Steve Miller and Rick Cole.

Caltrans Excellence in Transportation Awards Program

Caltrans annual Excellence in Transportation (EIT) Award honors the best transportation project across the state. Conducted annually, this competition serves to recognize excellence in transportation design, construction, traffic operations, maintenance, planning, and other improvements throughout the state.

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.

For more information on the Excellence in Transportation Awards Program, please visit http://www.dot.ca.gov/awards/excl.htm

2010: The Highway (Rural) Category

Sunflower II Project - District 5 Landscape Architecture Office

Sunflower Project

2009: Transportation Related Facilities Category

Vista point at San Rafael Bridge, Richmond, CA. - Caltrans District 4 Landscape Architecture Office

san Rafael Bridge

2009: Context Sensitive Solutions Category

Mandella Parkway Corridor Improvement Project - District 4 Landscape Architecture

Mandella Parkway

2008: Intermodal Transportation Category

Interstate 5 International Friendship Plaza, San Diego, CA. - District 11 Landscape Architecture Office

Friendship Plaza San Diego

2004: TRANSPORTATION RELATED FACILITIES Category

H. Dana Bowers Roadside Rest Area - District 4 Landscape Architecture Office

Bowers Safetyn Roadside Rest Area

2003

Sacramento Route 160 Visual Improvements - District 3 Landscape Architecture Office

FHWA Exemplary Human Environment Initiatives Annual Awards

For more information on the Exemplary Human Environmental Initiatives Awards, please visit http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/environment/ehei/exemp_init.htm

2009: Joint EHEI/EEI Recognition

At the June 16, 2010, Director/District Directors' meeting, FHWA presented a 2009 Exemplary Human Environment Initiative (EHEI) award to the Caltrans' North Region Landscape Architecture office for their Northern California Revegetation Program. Caltrans recipients included Ken Murray, District 3 Landscape Architect, Ron Flory District 1 & 2 Landscape Architect, and Ken and Ron's staff - Clare Golec, Roxanne Haatvedt, Steve Michaelson, Nellie Hamilton and Monica Finn. Landscape Architects interested in entering this competition should click here to view the Caltrans North Region Revegetation Program application.

Keith Robinson, Principal Landscape Architect, accepted the 2009 EHEI award on behalf of North Region Landscape Architecture, shown here with Sue Kiser, FHWA, left, and Caltrans Director Cindy McKim.

2009: Caltrans Northern California Re-Vegetation Program

Caltrans District 3 Landscape Architecture Office. Click here for more information on this project

Cedar Creek Revegetation

2008: Non motorized Use Category

Interstate 5 International Friendship Plaza, San Diego, CA. - District 11 Landscape Architecture Office

Friendship Plaza

FHWA Excellence in Highway Design Biennial Awards

For more detailed information on the FHWA Excellence in Highway Design Awards, please visit http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/eihd/index.cfm

2010: Award of Excellence, Rural Highways: Freeways

US Route 395, Black Rock Four-Lane, Inyo County

Hwy 395 Blackrock

The Blackrock Four-Lane Project converted 14.3 miles of two-lane highway to four-lane expressway with a 100-foot median, using the latest engineering tools and taking extraordinary care to preserve unique environmental features. Retaining native landscaping wherever possible eliminated the need for irrigation systems and reduced the long term maintenance while preserving the natural scenic quality of the corridor.

Designer: California Department of Transportation

Contractor: SKANSA USA Civil West

Owner: California Department of Transportation

2010: Honorable Mention, Rural Highways: Freeways

US Route 395, Sherwin Summit Rehabilitation, Inyo County

Sherwin Summit

The Sherwin Summit Rehabilitation Project consisted of rehabilitating pavement, widening shoulders and medians, improving culverts and drainage, modifying chain-up areas, and relocating utilities. This project is noteworthy for preserving and blending with the spectacular rock outcrops of the Volcanic Tablelands.

Designer: California Department of Transportation

Contractor: Sierra Nevada Construction, Inc.

Owner: California Department of Transportation

2008: Honorable Mention, Intermodal Transportation Facilities

Interstate 5 International Friendship Plaza, San Diego, CA. - District 11 Landscape Architecture Office

Friendship Plaza

AASHTO Center for Environmental Excellence

For more detailed information on AASHTO Center for Environmental Excellence Awards, please visit http://environment.transportation.org/documents/AASHTO_CSS_Brochure_v4.pdf

2005: Best Practices in Context Sensitive Solutions Category

Highway 1 Median Barrier Project, San Luis Obispo, CA. District 5 Landscape Architecture Office

Publications

October 2010: The Press Enterprise News, Riverside, Ca.

Blank Freeway Walls Replaced with Local Designs

Caltrans District 8 Landscape Architecture Office

Mark Zaleski/The Press-Enterprise

Caltrans district landscape architect Ray Desselle, left, and Jesus Galvan, supervising engineer for Caltrans in Riverside and San Bernardino counties, admire the new palm trees design on the Inland Center Mall Interstate 215 retaining wall in San Bernardino.

Click here to view: http://www.pe.com/localnews/stories/PE_News_Local_D_ctwalls18.24add16.html