ARTBA Foundation Recognizes Transportation Construction Industry Environmental Excellence

Contact:
Jeff Solsby 202-289-4434		Print this page

Washington, D.C. [Oct. 15, 2007]—Highway and bridge improvement projects from nine states were recognized October 10 for their contributions to environmental protection and mitigation at the American Road & Transportation Builders Association Transportation Development Foundation’s (ARTBA-TDF) eighth annual “Globe Awards” breakfast, held in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

Established by the ARTBA Board of Directors in 1998, the “Globe Awards” recognize:

An independent panel of federal agency environmental specialists reviewed all of the nominations and selected the winners. The 2007 “Globe Award” winners are:  

“Highway” Category

First Place: Florida Department of Transportation and PB Americas Inc.
“Interstate-4 Reconstruction Project,” Tampa, Fla.  

To upgrade an outdated Interstate-4 corridor in the Ybor City neighborhood in Tampa, Fla., highway, project partners PB Americas and the Florida Department of Transportation developed a context-sensitive and community oriented solution to modernize this vital east-west corridor. The project team conducted extensive research, environmental and community analysis, and historic studies. They developed a plan that relocated and rehabilitated 35 historic buildings, installed new, historically accurate lighting and landscaping, and emphasized modern environmental mitigation elements such as protective sound walls and water quality enhancements. The project was viewed as a community enhancement and a magnet for regional development and investment.

Second Place: Broshear Contractors, Inc., and Green Heron, Ltd.
“Green Heron Wildlife Sanctuary & Wetland Habitat Park”

Hamilton, Ohio-based Broshear Contractors and Green Heron, Ltd., built a 52-acre wetland and wildlife park from once-unusable land, creating a model project for community improvement in the process. The team worked to identify and preserve specific habitat and environmental needs, and establish a series of new context-sensitive plant and animal environments. Since completion, the wetland has become a magnet not only for once-rare species but also for community, environmental and student organizations as a local park and natural resource. The Ohio Department of Transportation subsequently acquired a portion of the property as a land use mitigation bank.

Third Place: Pennsylvania Department of Transportation Engineering District 9, Federal Highway Administration, New Enterprise Stone and Lime Company, Inc., and Gannett Fleming, Inc.
“Route 30 Transportation Improvement Project” 

The Pennsylvania Route 30 bridge over the Raystown Branch of the Juniata River in Bedford County, Pa., is a historic bridge along a sensitive waterway—and the central economic artery through the region. To meet the area’s growing infrastructure demand and plans for economic growth, the project team developed a corridor improvement plan that respects the architectural aesthetic, history and natural surroundings of the original bridge, while protecting the river corridor and upgrading the area’s main road corridor. The project included several examples of environmental mitigation, visual and aesthetic improvements, and successful community outreach.

“Road” Category  

First Place: City of Shoreline, Wash., and CH2M HILL
“Aurora Multimodal and Interurban Bridge Project”

Aurora Avenue is a main north-south surface street in the Seattle metropolitan area and serves as a major access route and economic corridor with some 45,000 vehicle trips per day through the Shoreline area alone. The City of Shoreline worked with CH2M HILL to upgrade an outdated and congested corridor and expand community access, economic opportunity and multi-modal transportation options. The team focused on improving pedestrian and vehicle safety, pedestrian and disabled access, meeting vehicular capacity needs, improving storm water quality and streetscape amenities. To accomplish these goals, project leaders developed a Citizen Advisory Task Force which created a 32-point check list to establish environmental and community needs were met. The project also employed innovative storm water management techniques as well as to manage right-of-way, landscaping and aesthetic impacts to the benefit of the community.

Second Place: RBF Consulting, County of Orange, City of Laguna Beach, Calif., and LSA Associates, Inc.
“SR-133 / Laguna Canyon Road Project”

California State Route 133/Laguna Canyon Road stretches from the coastal city of Laguna Beach, through the environmentally sensitive Laguna Canyon with the original road alignment at the base of the canyon, making it susceptible to flooding and a hazard to wildlife and water resources. To address these needs, and to provide safe and expanded road capacity in the area, RBF Consulting and its partners designed a new corridor to improve storm water runoff quality, provide wildlife crossings, and integrate an expanded roadway into the existing environment. The team created a citizen’s oversight committee and worked with local community and government agencies to create a project to meet current and future environmental and traffic needs, while setting a new area standard for well-managed environmental impacts.

“Bridge” Category  

First Place: HDR and Friends of Missoula Parks
“Rattlesnake Creek Pedestrian Bridge Project”

Rattlesnake National Recreation Area, near Missoula, Mont., is a popular destination for area outdoor enthusiasts, however, access across Rattlesnake Creek was limited. Friends of Missoula Parks and local residents began looking for a solution that was context-sensitive and well-integrated with the surrounding environment. Using dead and diseased trees, HDR and Friends of Missoula Parks created a new 90-foot long, 8-foot-wide cable suspension trail bridge with sustainable materials. The design and site selection accounted for 100-year flood heights and creates a protected, but unobtrusive crossing opening a popular area to additional public access with minimal environmental impact.

Second Place: FIGG, Maine Department of Transportation (DOT), Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), and Cianbro/Reed & Reed, JV
“Penobscot Narrows Bridge & Observatory Project”

FIGG, the Maine (DOT, FHWA and Cianbro/Reed & Reed JV, developed an aggressive schedule and plan for construction of a cable-stayed bridge. To meet environmental needs, the project employed a lengthy span so that piers were not used in the sensitive waterway. Naturally-colored concrete was used to match the surrounding environment, and a public observation tower was added to the top of the bridge to capitalize on the bridge tower’s height and offer panoramic views of the surrounding area.

Third Place: (Tie) Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) and City of Dallas
“Interstate-75 Underpass at Churchill Way Project”

The Interstate-75 Underpass at Churchill Way presented a prime opportunity for TxDOT and the city of Dallas to employ context-sensitive design principles. The Churchill Way project was built without excessive “right of way” acquisitions, or impacts to nearby environmentally sensitive floodplains or the adjacent Cottonwood Creek floodway. Aesthetically-designed retaining walls were used to enhance the area’s image and apply architectural finishes that integrate with the surrounding area. The project created a vital link to a major transportation artery, and also improved environmental quality and mitigation along the corridor.

Third Place: (Tie) Michael Baker, Jr. Inc., Pennsylvania Department of Transportation District 1 (PENNDOT), City of Warren, Pa., and Macaro Construction Company, L.P.
“Hickory Street Bridge Replacement Project”  

Michael Baker, Jr. Inc., PENNDOT District 1, City of Warren and Macaro Construction Company, L.P., faced an expedited timetable, environmental mitigation guidelines and important community access considerations when rebuilding the State Route 3005/Hickory Street Bridge in Warren, Pa. The team proposed a design that won community approval and also developed an aggressive mitigation plan to protect adjacent endangered species in the project area. The project was also completed with architectural elements respecting the surrounding community.

“Transit” Category

First Place: Parsons Transportation Group, Kiewit Western, Carter & Burgess, Inc., Regional Transportation District, and Colorado Department of Transportation
“T-Rex Project”

In the rapidly-growing Denver, Colo., metropolitan area, the project team employed a partnership approach to complete a large-scale, multi-modal, integrated transportation project. The project team addressed air pollution, noise impacts, wetland affects, impacts to historic properties and parks, property relocation and water quality issues. The project was completed ahead of schedule and within budget, combining light rail, highway, bicycle, pedestrian, “intelligent transportation system” technology, and other transit options. It also included 19 miles of new light rail system track, a dozen new parking facilities, 34 light rail train vehicles, new highway lanes, eight interchanges, 65 bridges, eight tunnels and related facilities. The project team employed an aggressive environmental mitigation and analysis process to ensure compliance, and also worked to ensure appropriate community support.

The Globe Awards program is a Foundation project that complements ARTBA’s “PRIDE in Transportation Construction” campaign to focus public attention on the many positive contributions the transportation construction industry has made to the U.S. economy and quality of life.

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