Caltrans projects capture regional awards

By AASHTO

The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, known in a user-friendlier way as AASHTO (pronounced ash-toe), earlier this year announced the winners of the 17th annual American Transportation Awards.

Caltrans received awards in all four categories in the Western region competition, which is called WASHTO.

Below are the categories and projects that earned judges’ praise,

Quality of Life/Community Development

McFarland Community Trail and Garden: In response to the needs of its underserved community, the city of McFarland acquired three acres of vacant, undeveloped land. Previously used by residents to access the pedestrian bridge spanning Highway 99, the city transformed this unoccupied land into an interactive and sustainable green space – advancing social and health equity, economic opportunity, and community resilience.

This $1.6 million project established a seamless trail running parallel to Highway 99, enhancing citywide connectivity while making walking and cycling safer. This multi-use trail includes native landscaping, trees, lighting, fitness stations, a community garden, restroom facilities, a small amphitheater, murals, a basketball court, and electric vehicle charging stations.

The California Department of Transportation partnered with the City of McFarland to develop a plan aimed at extending and preserving the lifespan of the project while ensuring its conservation. Through this collaboration, the city forged an agreement to entrust the maintenance and supervision of the project to the local public works department.

Operations Excellence

Interstate 10 Santa Monica Freeway Bridge Fire: In November 2023, a major fire erupted in two leased California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) spaces directly beneath Interstate 10 near downtown Los Angeles. The fire consumed multiple vehicles, trailers, pallets, and cases of hand cleaner – as well as causing extensive damage to freeway infrastructure.

This stretch of I-10, which handles up to 300,000 vehicles daily, had all lanes reopened within just eight days. This speedy $18 million restoration project was made possible by continuous efforts from on- and off-site work crews and engineers, favorable structural testing outcomes, swift debris removal, and seamless coordination among state, local, and federal authorities.

Avoiding a long-term closure proved crucial, as it could have disrupted the daily commute for up to 300,000 people and dealt a significant blow to the local economy. The potential loss of work hours and decline in customers would have affected various downtown businesses, including retailers, restaurants, hotels, sports venues, convention centers, and entertainment spots.

Technology and Innovation

Connecting the DOTs: Implementing ShakeCast Across Multiple State Departments of Transportation for Rapid Post-Earthquake Response: Following major earthquakes, the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) is tasked with assessing the condition of potentially impacted bridges on the state’s highway system. The challenge lies in swiftly and accurately assessing earthquake effects on bridges for public safety.

Additionally, as seismic risks extend beyond state borders, it is crucial to implement technology for information sharing among states facing seismic hazards. This includes engaging state department of transportation representatives within the broader region to enhance emergency response capabilities.

Through the $1 million ShakeCast initiative, Caltrans integrates real-time earthquake data to rapidly assess potential impact on infrastructure and communities, automatically generating notifications based on predefined criteria. Users can define assets and criteria for customized impact assessments, aiding emergency managers in prioritizing response efforts and facilitating informed decision-making with intuitive visualizations.

By implementing ShakeCast, state DOTs and the Federal Highway Administration have taken a proactive approach to ensure public safety and reduce economic losses due to earthquakes. It also helps state agencies expedite the deployment of responders to highly impacted areas.

With quicker response time, it ensures the minimization of negative impacts on the local community/regional economy from disruption of essential services, businesses, industries, and transportation networks. Delaying response can result in high economic costs and consequences to the local communities and the affected region.

Safety

Wrong-Way Driving Countermeasures: Following a surge in wrong-way crashes – including a high-profile incident in 2021 – the District 11 (San Diego) team within the California Department of Transportation initiated an emergency contract, followed by two major contracts, to implement wrong-way countermeasures. The $6 million project also included a comprehensive campaign to raise awareness and educate the public.

Prior to this initiative, Caltrans District 11 piloted effective wrong-way countermeasures, reducing reported incidents by over 60 percent. These measures were adopted as a statewide standard, enhancing transportation safety across California. The project upgraded exit ramp markings and installed effective wrong-way driving countermeasures, aiming to eliminate fatal and serious injuries.

Those measures have significantly reduced wrong-way driving incidents, reversing the upward trend of crashes and fatalities. Caltrans remains committed to ensuring safe roadways for all communities, continuously monitoring and enhancing safety measures.