Last week, AASHTO announced that some Florida toll-related projects were recognized in the southern states round of the 2023 America’s Transportation Awards competition. Florida DOT’s $2.3 billion I-4 Ultimate project — the capstone of which was the construction of miles of new tolled managed lanes — received an Operations Excellence award. The judges said the project “significantly improved access to homes, schools, businesses, and world-famous attractions,” in metro area with an exploding number of residents and visitors. Florida DOT was also recognized for “usher[ing] in a new era of innovative transportation and technology testing” when it received a Best Use of Technology and Innovation Award for its creation of the SunTrax Transportation Testing Center, which, among other things, provides infrastructure for electronic tolling system development and testing. Lastly, a Quality of Life-Community Development award was conferred on FDOT for its $64 million emergency restoration of the Sanibel Causeway after it was heavily damaged in last year’s Hurricane Ian. The judges said the project “brought a level of normalcy back to local residents after the horrific storm that upended their lives.”
AASHTO noted, “Once all the [awards program] regional meetings have concluded, the Top 12′ list of finalists will be announced – comprised of the three highest scoring projects from each region. Those top 12 contenders will then compete for the two 2023 America’s Transportation Awards national prizes.”