NPHQ > Awards & Success Stories > 2008 Winners

Highway Teams Break Tradition, Build Workforce, Improve Safety, Save Millions and Increase Taxpayers' ROI

National "Making A Difference" Awards Highlight Achievements on America's Highways

San Antonio, TX/November 6, 2008 - National awards announced today at Noon CST recognize highway project and organizational teams that are "Making A Difference" by emphasizing excellence in the principles of quality improvement. Winning teams successfully improved quality or customer service related to highway planning, project delivery, highway maintenance, safety, congestion management, workforce training, environmental stewardship or highway operations. A group of transportation experts selected the award winners, under the auspices of the National Partnership for Highway Quality (NPHQ), a one-of-a-kind coalition of highway stakeholders from federal and state government, private industry and academe.

Partnering Award Winners (video)

"Partnering among peer organizations is invaluable to the quality journey," said NPHQ Executive Director Bob Templeton. "This award recognizes pro-active, innovative organizations and the applications that have lead to quality improvements in highway design, construction, communication and safety."

Gold Award	*Michigan Department of Transportation* I-94/US-24 Interchange Project Recognized for Excellence in Vision, Design and Construction
Silver Award	*Pennsylvania Department of Transportation* Inter-County Teams Break Tradition to Get More Bang for Limited Roadway Bucks
Bronze Award	*Kansas Department of Transportation* Award-Winning Training Program Enhances Opportunities for Kansas Workers *New Mexico Department of Transportation* Broad Highway Project Team Cited as Model of Excellence

Breaking The Mold Award Winners (video)

"This award identifies champions of new ideas so that similar gains can be made by others who apply the same innovative techniques," said Templeton in presenting the awards.

Gold Award	*Utah Department of Transportation* Modular Transporters Reduce Bridge Replacement to Hours, Save Public $4 Million
Silver Award	*Virginia Department of Transportation* I-81 Bridges Over Buffalo Creek "Break the Mold" to Improve Service of Critical Roadway
Bronze Award	*Maryland State Highway Administration* National Award-Winning Program Helps Marylanders With Disabilities Navigate Maryland's Roadway System

Public Communications Award Winners (video)

"There's an old axiom that says "To be forewarned is to be forearmed," said Bob Templeton when presenting the awards. "This award recognizes teams that have excelled in safe traffic operations through well-planned public communications."

Gold Award	*Washington Department of Transportation* Drivers Receive Tools Needed to Avoid Major Construction Delays
Silver Award	*Pennsylvania Department of Transportation* Community-Assisted Cameron Bridge Re-Design
Bronze Award	*New Mexico Department of Transportation* NMDOT Conversation with Customers Earns National Recognition

Risk Taking Award Winners (video)

In presenting these awards, Templeton said, "In the highway arena, there is no greater need than to develop promising new ideas and to convince and motivate teams to take intelligent, calculated risks to find a better way."

Gold Award	*Pennsylvania Department of Transportation* Lewistown Narrows Project Keeps Traffic Flowing and Improves Waterway Access
Silver Award	*New Mexico Department of Transportation* Tribal, Local, State Governments Partner to Save 30% on I-40 Highway Project

Workforce Training Award Winner (video)

"The highway industry has a shortage of skilled craftsmen and technicians," said Templeton. "That's why we've added this award category to recognize teams that deliver exemplary programs that improve the qualifications of highway industry workers."

Gold Award

Utah Department of Transportation
UDOT Upgrades Training Programs Targeting 1,000 Employees

Director's Commendation Award Winner (video)

Calhoun County Highway Department
Innovative Vegetation Management Program Saves Money, Protects Environment and Improves Safety

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