The Georgia Department of Transportation (Georgia DOT) was named a southern regional winner in the 2024 America's Transportation Awards during the Southeastern (SASHTO) annual conference held in Arkansas this year. The America's Transportation Awards competition, sponsored by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO), AAA, and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, showcases how state DOT projects strengthen local communities by improving travel safety, reducing roadway congestion and providing more travel options for people.

This year, Georgia DOT was the recipient of not one, but two projects taking top honors during the awards ceremony. The first award given in the category "Quality of Life/Community Development, Small Project" was for the Historic Rogers Bridge Pedestrian/Bike Crossing project. The second project to win an award was for the Advanced Rail Crossing Blocking Notification project in the "Best Use of Technology & Innovation, Small Project" category. 

Projects are nominated in four categories: Quality of Life/Community Development; Operations Excellence; Best Use of Technology & Innovation; and Safety. They highlight transportation's crucial role for every person in every community, regardless of their mode of travel. In response to the increasing number of fatalities on U.S. roadways in recent years, 2024 marks the inaugural year of the Safety category, celebrating projects that effectively addressed safety challenges.

The original Rogers Bridge, built in the early 1900s, was a Pennsylvania Petit type through truss bridge crossing the Chattahoochee River between Duluth and Johns Creek, Georgia, north of Atlanta. Used for many years, the bridge fell in disrepair and was closed in the 1970s. It later functioned in a different capacity when the bridge deck was removed, and a 30" water line was installed for emergency use between Gwinnett and Fulton counties. Due to the need and historical significance, the cities and counties sought to restore, rehabilitate or replace Rogers Bridge to be used as a multi-use pedestrian/bicycle facility connecting the communities.

The Historic Rogers Bridge Pedestrian/Bike Crossing project provides the missing link between the Cities of Duluth and Johns Creek by building a replica of the historic bridge across the Chattahoochee River for bicycle and pedestrian access to Rogers Bridge Park in Duluth and Cauley Creek Park in Johns Creek. Rogers Bridge Park is a 24-acre park offering picnic pavilions, a canoe launch and the ‘Chattapoochee’ Dog Park. Cauley Creek Park is a 203-acre park in Johns Creek which has a variety of courts, fields and a 5K rubber surfaced walking trail. Walkers and bikers can now easily access both parks, not possible before.

“The resulting facility, now in place, is a "replica" truss with a patina reminiscent of the original design. The ADA-accessible bridge incorporates wide forty-foot concrete approaches that welcome pedestrians and bicyclists and offer space to sit and contemplate the river," said Margie S. Pozin, P.E., CQA, Community Development & Engineering Director with the City of Duluth. “In addition, to the beauty and countless opportunities for connection and increased recreation, Rogers Bridge serves a practical purpose, carrying critical utility infrastructure between Gwinnett and Fulton counties over the river (tucked under the bridge deck)."

Millen, Georgia, where the Advanced Rail Crossing Blocking Notification project is located, sits between Savannah and Interstate 20 and serves as a crucial link for truck and rail traffic between the port and the interstate. There are three at-grade rail crossings within the city limits, which are frequently blocked by stopped trains for long periods. Limited options for turnarounds or grade separation near these crossings created delays, congestion, and driver frustration. 
\
To address this issue, Georgia DOT installed static signs, flashers, and dynamic message signs using a combination of existing and new passive detection technology – with a video detection platform the most innovative aspect this effort. Georgia DOT engineers collaborated with a vendor to accurately detect trains based on crossing signals. Video analytics processed through a traffic signal controller send alerts to nearby signals and multiple remote Changeable Message Signs via a cellular network. Costing just $130,000, these signs notify drivers of blocked crossings, helping them find alternate routes and reducing delays. Before the signs were installed, drivers relied on navigation apps to find alternate routes, often encountering unexpected blockages.

“We are committed to delivering a transportation system focused on safety, innovation, sustainability and mobility," said Russell R. McMurry, Commissioner, Georgia DOT.  “I am extremely proud of the partnerships our team has fostered with local city and county officials to provide an advanced warning notification system of blocked rail crossings. The system is low cost, adaptable and quickly deployable leading to similar projects and locations around the state." 
 
The America’s Transportation Awards competition was created to showcase the tremendous projects delivered by state departments of transportation every year that tell the broader story on the importance of transportation. All nominated projects first compete at the regional level against projects of their own size: “Small” (projects costing up to $10 million), “Medium” (projects costing between $10 million and $100 million), and “Large” (projects costing more than $100 million).

Following the regional competitions, the “Top 12” nationwide finalists will be announced in early September, featuring the three highest-scoring projects from each region. These top contenders will then compete for the two 2024 America’s Transportation Awards national prizes.

The Grand Prize will be selected by an independent panel of judges, while the People’s Choice Award will go to the project with the most online votes from the public, weighted by state population. AASHTO will announce the winners at its annual meeting in October 2024 in Philadelphia. Winners of those awards will receive $10,000 each for a charity or transportation-related scholarship of their choosing.

Visit https://americastransportationawards.org/ to learn more about this year’s SASHTO nominees.