2012 Excellence in Transportation Awards Call for Entry
Caltrans is seeking entries for its 2012 Excellence in Transportation Awards Program. Now in its 26th year, the awards program honors the best of California's transportation projects from across the State.
The Excellence in Transportation Awards Program is open to Caltrans districts, local and public transportation agencies, and private engineering and consultant firms. Public transportation improvements or projects currently in use and completed since January 1, 2009, are eligible. The deadline is Friday, January 13, 2012.
Please give thoughtful consideration to the projects in your jurisdiction eligible to compete in this year's competition.
We look forward to viewing entries of your finest projects.
Deadline for Entries: Friday, January 13, 2012
PURPOSE
The Excellence in Transportation competition is conducted annually by the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) to recognize excellence in transportation design, construction, traffic operations, maintenance, planning, and improvements throughout California.
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.
ENTRY DEADLINE
Applications must be received by the Caltrans Awards Coordinator (see below) by close of business Friday, January 13, 2012
GENERAL CRITERIA
- Innovative engineering, design or construction
- Functional efficiency
- Safety, maintenance and operational factors
- Compatibility with or enhancement of the environment
- Preservation/conservation of natural resources
- Visual appeal or impact
- Quality of user experience
- Cost Benefit Ratio
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
Entries must consist of the following, arranged in the order list below:
- Six collated sets. Each set shall include the following:
- Narrative and completed criteria
- List of entities and individuals contributing to the project
- If Caltrans entry, Director/Division Chief signed approval form
- Two color photographs ~ photocopies acceptable ~ displaying two different views of the project
- 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 (photographer’s release form available on Caltrans Excellence Awareness website).
- Label each photograph 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 photographs, identifying data assigned by photo lab must appear on back of photos.
- Collages of smaller pictures may be submitted.
- All materials entered become the property of Caltrans and will not be returned.
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
JUDGING
Winning entries will be selected by an expert panel of judges. Award winners will be announced in March.
RECOGNITION AND AWARDS
One award will be given in each category.
Awards will consist of a recognition certificate for each entity (maximum of four per project) and individual (maximum ten per project) listed on the entry form who contributed to the winning project.
SEND ENTRIES TO:
Awards Coordinator
California Department of Transportation
1120 N Street, Room 1200, MS 49
Sacramento, CA 95814
If you have questions, please email caroline.moreno@dot.ca.gov
Forms
- Categories 1 - 13 Application
- Category 14 Application
- Photographer's Release Form
- Director's Approval Form
For individuals with sensory disabilities, this document is available in Braille, large print, on audio cassette, or computer disk. To obtain a copy of these alternate formats, please call or write the Caltrans Awards Coordinator.