During the 2010 AASHTO Annual Meeting, a number of state DOTs and officials were recognized for their contribution to the field of transportation. We’d like to extend our congratulations to all of the award winners–but especially to the three award winners from organizations in one of the ten MAFC states:
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Thomas H. MacDonald Memorial Award
\n<\/em><\/strong>Kirk Steudle, Director
\n<\/strong>Michigan Department of Transportation<\/strong>
\nThis award recognizes outstanding contributions to highway engineering. In his 23-year career with MDOT, Steudle has worked his way up from an engineering trainee to a national leader who has transformed a 2,900-employee agency to an integrated transportation provider overseeing roads, bridges, mass transit, rail, aviation, and marine. The department has evolved from being an expenditure-driven organization to one that is results-driven.
\nFrancis B. Francois Award for Innovation
\n<\/em><\/strong>Missouri Department of Transportation<\/strong>
\nThis award recognizes a state transportation department that has implemented an outstanding innovative program. MoDOT is being honored for construction of a Diverging Diamond Interchange at Interstate 44 and Missouri 13 in Springfield. The junction had been a recurring congestion point, with southbound traffic on Missouri 13 routinely backing up one mile during peak hours. The interchange also lacked a sidewalk or shoulder to accommodate pedestrians or bicyclists. Instead of rebuilding the interchange with a conventional design, MoDOT chose to construct the first Diverging Diamond Interchange in the Western Hemisphere to remedy the location’s congestion and safety problems.
\n2010 President’s Transportation Award for Administration<\/em><\/strong>
\nKevin Keith, Interim Director
\n<\/strong>Missouri Department of Transportation<\/strong>
\nKeith developed a new standard known as “practical design” during his previous tenure as chief engineer. The concept has saved Missouri taxpayers $500 million and its emphasis on systemwide safety has contributed to the lowest traffic death count on the state’s highways since 1950.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n